Try not to worry. Stress isn't too supply-friendly
Okay. At this age my supply dropped and at the same time AF showed up with quite the entrance AND I think my body switched to producing pretty much on demand rather than the whole producing and storing BM (those big breasts we start out with are stocked for emergencies!).
So. What can you do if you feel your supply is low? First up, accept that the way your breasts work / produce milk does change to producing on demand which makes them seem emptier and softer. Especially when compared with before. Next, don't judge your supply by doing a yield test with a pump. All that will show you is how much milk the pump extracts; not how much your baby extracts. Okay?
And then, try some of the following. As your milk supply is established and given your LO's age, I'd suggest trying Oatmeal (flapjacks, porridge, put it in smoothies) and taking a supplement like Fenugreek or Mother's Milk Thistle (I think that's what it's called). If you're really concerned about supply, try the switch side feeding, skin on skin etc.
So, here's the supply increasing list
Things that you can do to increase your supply:
*First and foremost - your lo! Nothing will stimulate your supply like your baby so key here is to nurse, nurse, and nurse some more
*Skin to skin contact - as much as you can - strip yourself off - strip lo off and climb into bed. Play, cuddle, nurse etc. Spend the whole day in bed if you can. Failing that, make sure the house is nice and warm and strip your lo off and yourself and just play like that all day. Bathing together etc... This will increase teh level of oxytocin (one of the primary milk producing hormones) and therefore help a LOT
*switch nursing: when lo has finished with the first side, offer the second. When done with the second, offer the first. When finished with the first for a second time, offer the second again. This will normally stimulate a further let down with each switch and tells your body to make more milk.
*Pumping directly after the feed preferably for at least 15 mins per side although anything is better than nothing. You can also "switch pump" which is basically going back and forth between the breasts when the milk stops coming...
Things you can consume to help:
*Fenugreek, Blessed Thistle, Mothers Milk Tea & Brewers Yeast are all things you can buy at your local health food store that can be really great for helping to boost supply. With the fenugreek, it's arguably the most effective but unless you are smelling like savoury maple syrup (and I mean everything - your urine, your sweat, you!), you're not taking enough haha!
*Oatmeal/porridge. This can be great for some - I personally notice a difference with this When I've been low in the past, I've had it for breakfast and for lunch - you can also eat tons of flapjack or oatmeal cookies ~~~ porridge is great for me: porridge, milk, cinnamon, pinch of ground cloves, drop of vanilla essense and fresh berries - really helps my supply everyday. Also, oatmilk available from healthfood stores and some UK supermarkets - even do chocolate flavour
*make sure you're getting plenty of water - this really can be a major factor for many! In those early months (up to 6 months or so), I'd drink a large glass of water or milk during / or with each BF. All other drinks during the day I saw as drinks / hydration for me.
*make sure you're eating properly - well balanced diet, with enough calories, enough dairy fats and health fats (such as are found in seeds and nuts etc). Up until 9 months or so, I ate an awful lot. I viewed main meals as nutrition for me, and then additional meals and snacks as feeding the boy...so I'd have breakfast and then toast an hour or so later... lots of healthy, carby nutritious snacks all day. It helped me make sure I was taking on enough to feed us both.
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Hope this helps. Let me know what you think and how you get on?
Charlotte