Decreased pumping output at 8m

[Kirsten~]

I don't know if I am having a pump issue or a supply issue. I work FT, so I pump twice a day around when DD is getting her bottles. She is 8mo. Until about 2 weeks ago, I was pumping enough at work each day to cover her bottles. Now, seemingly all of a sudden, I'm not getting much at all.
I used to pump 15 mins and get about 7-8oz in the morning, and then 4-5oz in the afternoon. Now, I'm getting maybe 4-5oz in the morning and more like 3-4oz in the afternoon. DD take 2x6oz bottles still.
I'm taking Fenugreek, which I thought was helping initially, but now I'm back to getting very little. I cannot think of what would've changed. She seems to still be nursing "normally", but is is possible she is taking in less milk and my supply is dropping?
Any ideas or help? I really want to keep BF for a little longer, but I don't know what to do about this issue.

[Erin M]

Has your period returned?  That can mess with supply, especially if it's come suddenly.  Any changes in your diet?  Or LO's diet?

[Kirsten~]

Thanks Erin!

Has your period returned?

No, but I have an IUD, so I'm not sure that I'll get one (birth control of any kind tends to keep my periods very light or non-existent).

I've been trying to think of any changes in my diet or activity, and I cannot think of anything. I exercise, but I'm really only running 3 days a week, which isn't very much for me. Would DD's diet affect things? I'm introducing new foods to her still, but I don't think anything new has become a staple. I wondered if because of her age she might be taking in less? Either that or something else is up, and I'm sort of freaking out about it because I'm not sure what I can do since I'm already pumping twice a day. I could pump once at night some nights, but man, I cringe at the idea of doing more pumping!

[Fiver]

Did you get the IUD recently?  Is it a hormone one like Mirena?  If yes, it could be the progesterone in it is giving you a bit of a dip in supply.

Also, it is normal for the amount of milk that a LO takes to decrease as they get older and also if they're getting teeth or some sort of illness.

Have you been under any particular stress recently?  Remembering to drink to thirst?

[Kirsten~]

No, I got the IUD about 6wks after I had DD, so it's been there a while. It is Mirena...do you think that could be causing an issue this much later?

She did start to STTN a few times around 2 weeks ago, but since then she's gone back to one NF most nights, but usually not until about 4am (unless we're having a bad teething night). She has been teething, and she seems to be nursing for about the same amount of time, but she is on and off the breast more often (even though I nurse her in a quiet room with no one or noise around).

No new stress or anything significant lately. I do drink a ton of water usually. The only other thing I can think of weight loss. I really have not been trying to lose weight at all, but it just seems to be happening, which is lovely. I have no idea how much I've lost, but more and more clothes just seem to fit. I'm trying eat lots of things like eggs, and I can add avocado back in regularly. Any other idea food-wise?

I think I'm going to have to do a nightly supplemental pump on the nights when I can. I just don't know how to get around that since the babysitter needs the milk for DD's bottles. Do you ladies know of anything else I should do besides Fenugreek and an extra pumping session?

Thanks for the help! I'm sort of worried about this.

[Fiver]

I know it doesn't help any, but you've got to try not to worry as that could make it worse, which you obviously don't want.

From my limited knowledge, it would seem odd for it to take 6.5m for the mirena to make a difference to you supply.  I'm happy to be contradicted there, though!!

The extra pumping will hopefully help and eating a good healthy diet also makes a difference.  Apparently blessed thistle with the fenugreek can make a difference too.

Lots of great info here - Pumping - too

[Baileysmom31112]

This happened to me when LO turned 8 months and when I thought about it, I had actually skipped a pumping session here and there for a few weeks. Also, my LO has been nursing less and more often which I think made my supply a little confused...

 I talked to a lactation counselor, who told me to go back to doing what I was doing when LO was 3 months old which I couldn't really remember... So, I decided to add in one more pumping session a day. This got me the extra bit I needed to have enough for two bottles - so I pump twice at work and then once about 3 hours after LO eats before he goes to bed. I also upped my water, gatorade, coconut water intake and I started to eat oatmeal cookies every day. After a week and a half of this, my supply crept back up so that I could drop the third pumping session. Now, I find that I have one week of normal supply, one week of oversupply and then a week or two of undersupply/just enough (because I do have my period back :-(...)

Around this time your LO might also get a growth spurt which caused havoc with my supply for a good week and a half...

Other food tips - more protein, avoid peppermint. Oh! And more sleep/less stress is possible (that one's hard though!)

And about your pump, I would also suggest changing the membranes on your pump in case they are not working as well.How old is your pump and what kind is it? Sometimes local nursing equipment stores can test the suction on your pump. And you can also rent a hospital grade Medela Symphony if you want to figure out if it's your supply or your pump. I have done that a few times and I did have to get a new pump after all. Good luck!

[Erin M]

You can try pumping and then pumping again 20 minutes later, I've heard that can be a great boost to supply.

[Kirsten~]

Baileysmom, thank you so much for all this information! And I am very glad to know that I am not the only one with this issue. I am, somewhat begrudgingly, doing a 3rd pumping session now about 2 hours after DD goes to bed. I hope I have the same experience as you and only need to do it for 1-2 weeks before things change. Before this happened with you, did you tend to lean more towards the over supply side of things?
I have a great lactation office as part of our local hospital. I'll have to leave work early to get there before they close, but I think having them check my pump is a great idea. And peppermint??? Really?? That stinks...guess they'll be no candy canes for me this year!

Amanda, thanks for that link. I did not realize that women with over supply sometimes seem a change in supply regulation as late as 6-9 mo PP. That could be what is going on with me since I think I usually had a pretty strong supply.

Thanks again, ladies, for all your help and input! Unfortunately, I really don't have time when at work to pump on and off. I have heard that it helps though. We'll see what ends up helping (hopefully something).

[Baileysmom31112]

Hi Kirsten, I hope you're seeing results from adding in that extra pumping session? And to answer your question, yes, I did tend towards oversupply for the first 6+ months. I got my period back at month 7 and after that my supply has really fluctuated throughout the month. One thing that has been really effective for me for some reason is eating these lactation bars that I make myself. Here is the recipe: https://leslieagoldman.wordpress.com/2012/10/11/212/