Sudden drop in supply 11 weeks PP

[fikmama1986]

Hi ladies,
My son was born 7 weeks early and due to his nicu stay I have been EP-ing for almost 12 weeks now. The past 3-4 days I have noticed my output is dropping considerably. I used to get 5-6oz during my overnight pumps and 2-3oz during my daytime sessions. I'm now barely getting 1-2 oz and that's with constant breast compressions and no changes to my fenugreek intake.
Has anyone else experienced this issue with sudden drop in output? Can it be rectified?
Thank you in advance.

[fikmama1986]

I got a period a few weeks ago and nothing since.

DH is home today so I'll probably hand off SD and SS so I can increase my pumps today. It's been hard to stay on schedule with 2 little ones and an infant but if that's causing a drop I have to figure out a way around it

[Deleted]

yeah somewhere between 6 weeks growth spurt and 3 mos growth spurt your supply regulates to equal demand rather than having a hormonal component that keeps supply artificially higher than demand--meaning there's not always going to be extra milk in there easy to get out with a pump.

A calcium/magnesium supplement can help stabilize hormones if it's related to cycle return, ovulation and your period returning.
increasing demand with power pumping and upping your calories and water intake temporarily should help.

[ajacot924]

I'm in the same boat. I was pumping 24 ounces a day for the past 12 weeks. My baby is 14 weeks and today I went to 21 ounces all of a sudden.

I had dropped to 5 pumps at 12 weeks and my supply maintained. Could it be that it is a supply/demand issue all of a sudden? I am also wondering if I have clogged ducts. Today when I pumped I noticed that no matter how long I pumped and did compressions, my breasts never quite emptied. Since this just happened only today and my amount was low only today, I'm wondering if that is the cause, not supply/demand.

Any insight ladies? @amyg

[madalynw]

Don't give up yet. With EPing your supply can still go up at this point. Many straight BFers, including LCs, are not sufficiently experienced and informed about EPing. I highly recommend visiting tje EPing group on BabyCenter. It's called The Exclusive Pumpers! They hae SOOOO much info and loads of women who have been pumping for years for their kids!

[Deleted]

Jun 24, 2015 20:04:46 GMT -5 ajacot924 said:

I'm in the same boat. I was pumping 24 ounces a day for the past 12 weeks. My baby is 14 weeks and today I went to 21 ounces all of a sudden.

I had dropped to 5 pumps at 12 weeks and my supply maintained. Could it be that it is a supply/demand issue all of a sudden? I am also wondering if I have clogged ducts. Today when I pumped I noticed that no matter how long I pumped and did compressions, my breasts never quite emptied. Since this just happened only today and my amount was low only today, I'm wondering if that is the cause, not supply/demand.

Any insight ladies? @amyg

did supply go back up yet? I get so many tags I sometimes miss stuff, so I missed this one.

did you figure out clogged ducts and get them to clear?

If you still need help, I would

up water intake, it's summer people, you need more water!!

add in a gatorade

up your calories, it's summer so lots of people are eating lighter meals, more salads, less calories.

add in some oatmeal

try breast compressions and massage

power pumping

try a different pump, so like a small hand held.

Get more holding baby time, skin to skin, take a bath together or whatever, this raises prolactin hormone which helps supply. Hormones are not as strong of an influence at this point, but it won't hurt to try to raise them.

[gldnbearz]

madalynw Thanks for pointing out the EP group on BabyCenter. Somehow, I've missed this resource.

[ajacot924]

@amyg Thanks for the advice. It's been fluctuating up and down. I've tried pumping more and that helped clear the ducts and increase supply. I need to drink more water for sure.