Sudden drop in supply

[Kmn]

One way to get more into bub is to give her an extra bf in the evenings - even if it's only an hour between them. And baby sucking will be more effective than pumping at maintaining supply.
Can you hand express (i.e. with your hands) once the pump stops getting stuff out - sometimes squirting out the last bit can send the "make more" signal.
Also - serious distraction whenever you can - reading (I used to read draft reports that didn't matter if they got milky), music, anything but watching milk dribble!

You may have a period back too - that can do funky (but temporary) things.

[starangelk]

Thanks Kmn, I actually can hand express a bit of milk out after the pump stops but it's generally only drops. It's a really good idea to give her an extra BF though because DH already gives her a smaller bottle around 6pm since she does like to cluster feed around this time. During the day I usually call DH and chat to him and find out how much milk our LO has drunk etc etc but I might try reading a book or something, great idea! No period here but I have woken up during the night feeling a bit off so maybe my body was fighting sickness yesterday. Time will tell.

[onthefly]

Any extra feeds you can get in would be great. If you can get some feeds in during the day instead of pumping they would be more effective - she'll get more than your pump will in any case.

Anyway, great job mummy

Belle_S are you expressing as well as feeding or only expressing? 2-hourly feeds at this age are totally normal and it doesn't matter how your boobs feel - it's quite normal for that early 'full' feeling to disappear with a bit of time. It just means your breasts are becoming more efficient at making the right amount of milk. If you feed, you'll make the milk you need - you don't need to fill up in the meantime. Also, if you're expressing as well as feeding - many mums find they can express plenty in the early weeks as they have an oversupply. But as supply settles down it can become harder to express - changing pumps or experessing patterns may help if you need expressed milk.

[starangelk]

Thanks again so much everyone for your speedy responses. I am so grateful for the support and I just wanted to give an update.

My milk is still low but the very next day after I posted this I woke up with aches and pains and felt very tired. I think I am fighting the flu or a cold or maybe even a tiny bout of mastitus as I am prone to lumps. I've been feeding DD at every opportunity and expressing an extra 2 or 3 times a day and been blessed enough to be able to continue to express the normal amount of milk I usually get (but it just takes longer!!!)

I am very keen to continue breastfeeding/giving EMB and I really really value the support from here. I took DD to the Dr this morning as she's got a chesty cough and he commented on how "robust" looking she is so I am taking that as a compliment to my boobs for their milk making

[UntoldAngel]

Yay for Miss X on her robustness... hope she gets over her cough quickly
Been thinking about you and how your boobs have been going... yep I think about another woman's boobies because I had a massive drop in supply for 5days, couldn't express anymore than 30ml combined! The most I managed was 60ml and that was in the morning when I haven't fed for 11hrs!!! But woke up this morning and hey presto my boobs are back to their milk making goodness Honestly never thought I'd be soo happy to wake up and feel rocks on my chest again

[trishalishous]

I only express parttime (1-2 times a day, mainly to check my supply as I have health issues) but I know that if Im under the weather my supply drops.
Yesterday I only got 50ml first thing in the morning - I usually get at least 100, and today I got 140mls.
I took heaps of vitamins and had a nap yesterday, so I think that helped.
Stressing really doesnt help, but its SO hard not to!