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Help! Pumping supply dropping...what is going on?

Kristen - posted on 08/23/2010 ( 7 moms have responded )

My daughter just turned 10 months old, and I have been pumping for about nine of those months. When I first went back to work (when she was 3 and a half months), I was easily able to get out 15 ounces or more over three pumpings. By the time I went on summer vacation (I am a teacher), that amount had dropped by over half despite my taking fenugreek the last two months. I have pumped religiously over the summer so that she would have a stock for when I go back to work this week. At the start of the summer, I got out at least 7 ounces per day over 1-3 pumpings. Now I am getting out at most 4. I haven't seemed to have any problem with supply when I nurse (she seems satisfied after nursing), only when I pump.

First, do you have any insight into what might be going on? Second, is there anything I can do to increase my pumping output? I cannot pump more often at work due to my teaching schedule. I plan on nursing for as long as possible past her first birthday, but if I cannot continue pumping, I am afraid that will not be for very long.

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Angela - posted on 04/02/2012

You might try using herbs to increase your milk production. A good one to try is Breastea from http://www.breastea.com. I've had a good increase in my milk supply since I started. Just make sure to drink daily.

Angela - posted on 08/22/2011

It's not uncommon for pumping moms to lose milk supply as time goes by. You could try using herbs to increase your milk output. I personally use Breastea from http://www.breastea.com. You might need to somehow pump more often.

Corisande - posted on 10/11/2010

It might be that your little one is eating more solids, so it doesn't need as much as before. By the time children reach the age of one, the total amount of food needed during the day decreases, so she might be a bit early or you are simply running out due to changing hormons. Pump an extra session during a week or so to give a little boost to the milkproduction. If after that week it drops again to the same level, your child might not need as much as it used to. If you cannot get the production on a highler level, sad but true your body is changing. If the production stays on the higher level, you had a little dip.

Penny - posted on 10/09/2010

I am also a teacher and pump during my break (planning period). So far I've been able to keep up with my little one's demands (she is 7 months old). This is my 4th child -- breastfed the others for all 15 months each. I learned a little bit more with each one. There are 2 things that really helped me to pump more: #1) Water, water, water.... I have a tendency to sometimes forget to drink water b/c I am so busy teaching and monitoring students....but you must do that... it seems to make a difference in the amount I pump. #2) Read a book or something to keep your mind off of what you're doing. If I think about something that agitates me or the work I have waiting for me, then my anxiety causes me to produce less (wild, huh?) I keep a book with my pump and it helps.

Gabrielle - posted on 09/19/2010

my daughter was born premature and is in the NICU so i am exclusively pumping and the past few days i have also experience a decrease in the amount i get. she is just now learning to breastfeed and i'm afraid i will not have enough to exclusively breast feed.

Amanda - posted on 08/25/2010

In the Breastfeeding Mothers Guide to Making Making More Milk (by Diana West and Lisa Marasco; entire book is available on google books), they talk about the seasons of nursing. It sounds like you may be entering your "autumn" phase. This can be triggered by your little one just not needing as much milk, as she has probably increased her solids, or your own hormonal fluctuations.
Some solutions may be to pump as many times as you can during the day, every day. Dr. Sears says that it is the number of letdowns that triggers more milk production, not how long a single pumping session is or how much milk you pump in a single session. If you can find time to pump even just for a letdown (usually 1-3 minutes), it will help re-set your"demand" signal. If you can't squeeze in another pump session, you could try to trigger more letdowns in the time slots you do have to pump. I would turn my Medela PISA off and then back on about 10 min into my pumping session to trigger a second letdown (sometimes even a third), which never happened when I was nursing. You could even just pump enough for a letdown when you are home between nursing sessions.
Also, there may be supply fluctuations if you're monthly cycle has returned. I found that my supply would drop a few days prior to the onset of my cycle, but would pick back up after.
I hope this helps and that you are able to keep breastfeeding and pumping as long as you would like to :)

Brooke - posted on 08/24/2010

Have you replaced any of the parts to your pump? I replace my valve membranes every month or so and it makes a huge difference on how much I can pump. Obviously you're not new to pumping, but do you do compressions when you pump? I can get about twice as much if I do them during a let-down. The only other thing I can think of is maybe since your baby is 10 months old and probably eating solids several times a day now, maybe she doesn't need as much milk. My baby used to drink at least 16 ounces a day at daycare but now that she eats solids she only drinks 8-12 ounces a day. Since you are a school teacher, I know you can't break away to pump often but maybe between classes you could run to the bathroom and hand express some milk just to keep it flowing regularly and then pump when you can. (I can get a couple of let-downs in just a couple of minutes hand expressing so that might be feasible for you?)
Just do the best you can and I'm sure it will work out. Good luck to you!