supply issues & delay in milk "letting down"

[mamasthree]

what are the most common causes for supply issues and slow let down of milk after 1 year? I am experiencing a dramatic loss of supply in a short period of time, and along with that, it often takes 4-5 minutes for the letdown reflex to occur (if my dd makes it that long--she wants mama milk and she wants it NOW ).

My dd is 13 mos. old. My fertility returned around the 1st of the year, and I'm thinking this may be related somehow...though I've also been super tired, maybe it's a thyroid issue? I'm not pregnant. What can I do?

[pbjmama]

My first thought was anemia although thyroid is a good one too. Some women experience a dip in supply around ovulation or menstruation. I'm assuming you are eating, drinking and sleeping enough. No new added stress or anything?

[mamasthree]

Everything has been pretty consistent, with the exception of the return of fertility. I just never had that happen with my other kids.

In the past 2 days, I've nursed dd 5-6 times when the milk just would not "let down"...I don't feel "empty", so to speak, but she isn't a comfort nurser and won't continue to nurse if there's no milk after a few minutes. This has even happened in the middle of the night, and that's usually when let down happens the fastest. I guess there's just a drop in supply and that's what is causing the slow response.

It's so sad, because she wants the milk, and she just isn't getting it