Does stress affect supply??

[[M]umma[M]ia]

Just wondering if a massive amount of stress would affect my supply?

[onthefly]

How massive are we talking?
Generally speaking, no, it won't affect your supply - breastfeeding is a pretty robust system and women can feed through all sorts of situations. It can affect letdown however - and it's the 'watched-pot" syndrome, the more you think (worry) about it, the longer it takes.

[starangelk]

I found with dd that it was the other things that accompany stress that affected my supply. Actually, thinking about it, it wasn't the stress - it was the lack of sleep and loss of appetite and therefore energy that probably affected it.

[Sagres]

I was going to say a similar thing, if the stress is causing a lack of sleep it may have an impact.

[Heaven]

It can effect my let down if I am just a bit stressed or anxious so it could be that if she's fussing.
I hope everything's ok

[RainbowBrite]

I think it can.
I always had a good supply with my 5 older kids but with the stress of extreme Premmies I had major supply issues, even the LC told me that the stress of the situation would be affecting my milk... I did work through it and they came home BF.
Maybe some people it effects more than others as other mums in the same situation have a great supply.
I hope you are ok

[emc2]

It affected mine I think - bubs was a footling breech, we arrived in an ambulance, then I also had a GA, caesarean, antibiotics, relationship break up, it all reduced my supply. I think in terms of BF it means both physical and mental "stress".

[Kmn]

Usually stress has a much bigger effect on letdown than on actual supply. If you can really try and physically relax when you are feeding that can help. Also hand-express to get things started if you have to.

[Barb Glare]

MadB summed it up well. Your supply isn't affected by stress, and in fact your letdown is only marginally effected, ie a few more sucks to get to letdown. Often when you are in a really stressful situation, it does affect your perception. things seem worse than they are. If baby is fussing, you are stressed and people around you are telling you your supply will be affected, then the tendancy is to conclude that the fussing is lack of milk. But it could be change in routine, or catching that everyone in the family is upset, or it could be just normal behaviour, but you don't have the ability to deal with it like you would normally do.