Supply decrease after stopping pumping...

[handsandfeet]

Posting here b/c it seems only working/student moms pump...

So this week, DS is 13 months, and I finally cut out my last pumping at work. The thing is, DS doesn't want to nurse right when I get home, only at bedtime, so the first day I went from 5:30 AM until 8 PM without pumping/nursing. He LOVED how full I was at bedtime and chowed down like crazy -- then slept for FIVE hours straight!!! (he never goes more than 3, and usually 2). I swear it was the big milk snack before bed. Anyway, since then, my boobs have adjusted too well, and now not only do I not have a bunch at bedtime, but now when he wakes up every 2-3 hrs to snack, there's almost nothing (only 1 letdown per side, and he only chugs briefly).

So it seems my supply has taken a big hit... how much effort should I go through to increase it? He's drinking about 9 oz of cow's milk a day, and I could probably increase that a bit, but I really really really wanted to continue nursing him for another year or more.

Anyone else?

[abiyhayil]

hmm, maybe mama milk tea after dinner?

[akayerich]

I had the same problem when I stopped pumping at work. I thought it would be fine, since I only work 2-3 days/week and was down to pumping once/day when I was there anyway. I expected my supply to level off, but it really seemed to decrease a lot more than it should have. I think the fact that DS was eating more and more and MORE solids around that time and nursing less in general contributed to the decrease. But now its been a few months and I have enough milk most of the time again, unless DS needs an extra nursing during the evening that my body isn't used to making. Then I'm pretty low at bedtime. I think maybe my body has just readjusted.

I've also started giving DS a snack and some cows milk ( like 2 oz) before bed so he doesn't need quite as much. Maybe not a perfect solution, but it does keep him from being frustrated at the breast when he's trying to go to sleep. I realize that giving extra cows milk can potentially cause more supply issues, but so far it hasn't and we've been doing it for a few weeks now...

[handsandfeet]

Thank you! I am going to try both suggestions tonight. Maybe some yogurt before bed (he only takes cow's milk from the nanny!). I appreciate the responses!

[Altair]

Ha, I just posted a similar question!