What to do if I feel like my milk supply is running out?

Melanie - posted on 08/22/2009

My son turns 10 months next week. Some days now I wonder if my milk has gone down too but on other days it seems like I have a lot. When I feel its to low I make sure to eat oatmeal for breakfast for a few days. Adding malt mix to a few glasses of milk for a few days helped me too. I was told by the lactating consultant at the hospital where my son was born that ODouls...nonalcoholic beer works too. I cant vouch for that one because I can't stand the taste of beer but she said one or two of thoes for two days will boost you a lot.

Jackie - posted on 08/22/2009

Hi! Exact same thing happened to me at about the same time, I asked my friend who is a midwife and she just said that by that stage, your boobs are just so efficient at producing milk they produce exactly what is needed and no more, so there is no soreness etc. and I stopped leaking which I had done a lot previously but bubs probably needs less as they start to eat solids! So I wouldn't stress about it but if you want to build up the supply more, you can feed more often for a while. Good luck!

Holli - posted on 08/21/2009

I went thru the same thing so I asked the doctor and she said it was normal. My breasts weren't so tender because I was finally getting used to the milk and it was slowly started to dry up, or produce less because my daughter wasn't using it. In most cases, your breasts will produce more if the baby keeps sucking and less if they slow/or stop. Just don't give up on the nursing thing, if you feel like she's not getting enough you could always throw in another jar of baby food sometime during the day.

Peggy - posted on 08/19/2009

When I have my second I will definitely breastfeed again. She has gotten very good with the schedule she is on now and I don't want to mess with it because it took some time to get her on it. So, nursing more often is not in the cards especially since she isn't asking for it more often.

Tammy - posted on 08/19/2009

I nursed all my children, the first 1 I felt like you, jst seemed not to be enough. Same story with my second child. My third was totally different. He did not want anything fake! He wanted the REAL deal always!!! No pacifiers (that was me)! So even if you don'f make it much longer with this kid, please don't be afraid to try again. I nursed him until he was one. He has been my healthiest child out of the 3! Nursing is a wonderful experience! Wouldn't have traded it for anything!





If you want to try to get more milk to come in, try nursing more often or pumping to stimulate production.

Peggy - posted on 08/19/2009

It was super rough in the beginning but thankfully I got used to it. I told myself that I would do it until she was 6 months but this little stinker won't even look at a bottle. Not to mention that when I would pump I would get only 3-4 oz.

Sarah - posted on 08/19/2009

From what I've read, that's completely normal - your milk supply goes down once they start getting older because they don't need as much milk/formula. That's great that you were able to nurse for so long! I hit 3 wks when my tatas gave up the ghost...