How would you know if your supply was low?

[MummaSue]

As the title asks..... how do you know if you have low supply? What are the main indicators?

Not that I think I have, but I was just reading somewhere that women can often have low supply around the 4-6 month mark - how would you know this?

Would baby be unsettled?

I have found that as time has gone on, my breasts are less full (pretty much constantly soft) and don't leak as much. But that can happen regardless of supply hey?

Just wondering, thanks.
Sue xx

[Traveller]

You're right, soft breasts and less leakage are normal as your body gets used to feeding. In my humble opinion, low supply at 4-6 months is a myth. What is actually happening is the baby is going through a growth spurt and feeding more often to increase your supply. This tends to last for a few days and then your body will catch up.

[Barb Glare]

Hi, there,

Low supply is rare, and if it does happen, is easily solved. Basicly, the more you feed your baby the more milk you make. That's pretty much all there is to it. There is no reason milk supply would drop at 4-6mnths. Suppl = demand - that's what women need to know.
The most common reason mums stop breastfeeding is 'percieved low milk supply' - that's a whole lot different to actual low milk supply.
While most women have a relative oversupply compared with their baby's needs in the early days, and their breasts can feel hard and full, for most of the time we are feeding our breasts pretty much feel soft and normal most of the time.
Signs of low milk supply would include low weightgains, unsettledness (but there are many reasons for unsettledness). In a newborn, lack of poo is a sign baby is getting not enough milk - but older babies, over 12 weeks may go a week or more without a poo and it's fine.

[MummaSue]

Thanks for the responses, that is exactly what I thought. I just have a few friends just now talking about "low supply" and they were saying some stuff that I just didn't think was true.

You've both confirmed what I thought.

Thanks again
Sue xxx

[onthefly]

It's very common for women to think they have low supply at that age, as Barb says. If your friends are worried about this, it might be helpful to reassure them with the signs that Barb has listed. And maybe remind them to call the ABA for advice.

Also, another reason mothers think they may have low supply at this age is becuase around the 3-5 month mark (varies a bit) babies can become suddenly more aware of their surroundings. This makes them distracted at the breast. They may pull off alot, or their feeds may become much shorter. This can worry mums used to their babies feeding for 20+ minutes. They will sometimes interpret this as low supply - a belief with is only reinforced by all those stories they will h ave heard from other mothers believing their supply also dropped off at the same age.

[MantaRay]

I'm glad you are feeling reassured now. Aren't you glad you asked the question!!

Unfortunately the "low supply" myth gets perpetuated every time someone thinks it has happened to them. I joined a play group when DS was a bit older and later found out every mum in the group "ran out of milk" at 3 months. All of them! What a pity I wasn't in the group then to let them know they weren't running out! I guess the problem is one mum thought she had run out, so when the next mum got to the same stage mum 1 says "oh, that's what happened to me, I had run out of milk and had to stop bfing" so mum 2 stops too etc! It's really quite sad that good information is too hard to come by.

[MummaSue]

Yeah, it's quite sad really. The friends I was chatting with both gave up b/f really early - when they thought they had low supply. This was a while ago for them, so it's not like I could advise them of who to talk to - I guess they just didn't have the support that I do.

Thank goodness for BB and the ABA!