Things starting to affect pumping supply...

[MoonJelly]

So, DD is about to turn 6 months. Things were fine and dandy with my supply but after a tweak in our schedule she is sleeping a longer stretch at night. I now get her up when I really need to in the morning to be on time to work, so she's going to bed quite a bit earlier and staying asleep all night.

However, today was the second day in a week that I didn't pump enough for the next day at daycare. I am guessing they're related. I usually have had oversupply if anything.

So, I have a "good" sleeper which is crazy to me because DD1 was a night nurser, marathon nurser and all around high needs. I think I never used to believe those who said their babies slept through the night but DD2 actually does. It's insane. I mean it's great for me to get good sleep, but at the same time, I don't see her all day, so it's a little sad, and then now I am starting to worry about supply.

Anyone have any BTDT advice? I think I am going to try to offer her the breast even more in the evening when I get home though it's a challenge with a high strung kindergartener who also hasn't seen me all day. Don't know if it will help. I am trying offering an extra time in the morning. I hate to interrupt her sleep but I don't want to blink and my supply is gone and she's not even through the first year.

[bluebunny]

Can't relate as I've had all-night nursers.

But, could you try to up your supply by adding a pumping session before you go to bed, which I assume would be much later than when your DD goes to bed?
Or what about eating oatmeal or taking fenugreek?

If it has only been a few days, your body might compensate and your pumping output could go back up. I've had a few times where my output was poor but then regulated. GL!

[AnnaNova]

my supply was affected a couple of months into working and pumping. i started out pumping like 3-4 oz from each breast and then i was lucky if i got 3 oz total...
adding extra pumping sessions definetely works. fenugreek an doatmeal did nothing for me.
the only other thing that helped was coconut juice. i read somewhere that gatorade might be helpful because its so hydrating, and i started looking for a better substitute for it and someone on here recommended coconut juice. thats the only thing that helps.
also google 'maximizing milk production'. its a video with a researcher from like yale university or something like that showing how to get as much milk as possible using hand expressions...
and good luck!

[Carita]

I had some 6 mo mark problems too - no chance you are introducing solids at DC? - I think that has some effect on my supply/demand system.

[Ruthla]

I think you need to add in another pumping session every day. If you're already pumping at work as much as you reasonably can, then this extra pumping session needs to be at home. Find a time that works well for you- evening, before bed, first thing in the morning- the key is to be consistent. You might want to try pumping one side and nursing DD on the other, either first thing in the morning or when you first come home from work (times when your supply is likely to be high and DD may not want all the milk you have available.) Mornings may work best- get up, pump, then wake the baby to nurse. Since you're only pumping the side she's not nursing on, it doesn't matter whether you pump or nurse first, or even do both simultaneously.

If you get into the habit of pumping daily, even on the days you don't work, you'll have more overall milk. The milk pumped on non-work days means you have a little "wiggle room" in case you have trouble pumping later in the week, and also, by pumping daily, you're training your body to make more milk.