Ideas? Nigthweaning seems to be drying up all my milk!

[MujerMamaMismo]

After 20 months of nursing every hour or more most nights, we gently and easily (!!!!) nightweaned our DS about 3 weeks ago. He now mostly sleeps through from 7.30pm to 6am when I feed him again and we doze for another hour or so.

He's now nursing far more frequently (basically hourly) during the day but is getting very frustrated - slapping my boobs and crying and saying 'no no no' (and driving me nuts) because I just don't have the supply I used to have. There's milk there and sometime I just have to squeeze some out to prove it and he's fine but mostly, nursing is not fun right now. Is this just a matter of persistence in order to get my supply back up during the day or do you think the nightweaning has put us on the path to drying up/complete weaning?

I've always had oversupply so this is a very strange problem for me to be having. Does anyone else have some insight or experience with this?

[handsandfeet]

I also had over supply issues, and when I nightweaned DS at 15 months I nearly dried up. DS ended up getting used to it and not having a problem, but it was very frustrating for me. I had to add in cow's milk and he drank lots of water. I think he was probably only getting maybe 5 oz from me total. I tried all the herbs and stuff, but it seemed that the nighttime prolactin stimulation is what I needed to keep up a good supply. I do think that some ppl will improve with persistance, as it seems most can nightwean and still have a normal supply, but it didn't work for me. It wasn't detrimental to our nursing relationship, however, I just was sad I didn't produce enough to meet his needs.

[MujerMamaMismo]

I'm glad to know you didn't totally dry up - I'd be really sad if I couldn't get DS to 2...he hates other milks and doesn't eat much other food so among other things, drying up would make meals a whole lot trickier.

I can't believe though that it was the night feeding that had such an impact on my massive supply - honestly, he didn't drink that much, just latched for comfort mostly...I guess it was just the constant stimulation.

[MujerMamaMismo]

Anyone else have any experience of this?

[MujerMamaMismo]

Folks, it's getting worse. My supply is dwindling. By the end of the day, I don't even have enough milk to get him off to sleep. Help!

[LCBMAX]

So sorry to hear this - I was afraid of it myself (in spite of oversupply issues) when we nightweaned, but it didn't go like that for me. In fact, this week I'm engorged again due to some seriously constant nursing behavior.

OK, how's your hydration? Tank up on teas and water.
All the herbs and supplements that are recommended - check kellymom.com for a regimen.
Quinoa!
Consider a pumping protocol, just like you were trying to bring up supply with a newborn.
Could even consider pumping at night a few times (sorry sleepy mama) to compensate til the daytime levels adjust.
A daytime nursing vacation like some folks do with a newborn? Lots of skin to skin, and physical snuggles when not nursing?

How's it going this week?
Good luck!