Decreased milk supply after 7 months of Breastfeeding without challenges

[SwanLake]

I want to make sure that my breastmilk supply is adequate for my baby. He is 7 months old and was exclusively breastfed until 6 months. He initially just took a few bites of puree but now will take about 1-2 ounces a day. He takes about 3 bottles of breastmilk a week during the one day that I work. During that time I pump 3 times, but have noticed a decrease in my milk supply while at work. I used to be able to get 4-8 ounces each time I pumped. For the past 3 weeks I've only got 2-4 ounces. I've been giving my baby 5-6 ounce bottles when I'm gone and he'll drink it all. So now I find myself trying to pump while he's asleep to make sure that I have enough for the next time I work.

He has been sleeping through the night in his crib since he was 5 months old, but I let him sleep with me last night and nurse through the night, since that is what he does when in bed with me. :) I made myself oatmeal for breakfast this morning and some Mother's Milk tea. Am I doing the right thing?

Thanks

[Llyra]

It's very common for women to notice a decrease in pumping output midway through that first year. It doesn't necessarily mean that your supply in general is low. Sometimes it just means that your pump isn't working as efficiently as before, or that you're not responding to it as well as you did.

Things that can help:
1. Replace the soft parts of the pump. These wear out, and you don't get as good a seal and suction as you did when the pump was new.

2. It may be necessary to temporarily increase demand, which it sounds like you're already doing. Having baby nurse through the night is a terrific idea, and so is adding in pumping sessions. One thing that can also really help is having a nurse-in-pump-in weekend. Basically, you spend the weekend, from Friday evening to Monday morning, concentrating on nursing and pumping. You simulate the kind of increase in demand that comes with "growth spurts" by spending those days in a quiet place with baby, nursing as often as possible, and pumping between feeds. A lot of mamas will see a real rebound in supply after a weekend like this. I EPed for my DD1, and we wound up having to do this kind of frequency-weekend about once a month, once we got to about six or seven months.

Good luck! It sounds like you're trying really hard to keep providing for your baby's breastmilk needs. Keep up the good work!

[heatheresc]

I don't know much about pumping, but those sound like great tips from the PP.  The oatmeal & all night nursing should help, though.  I've used oatmeal to increase my supply, and occasionally Brewer's Yeast, which is really potent for milk production.  Maybe give that a try in addition to the other stuff you're doing.  Good luck!

[texmati]

It might be related to the return of your fertility as well. I would always notice a dip in pumping output a week or so before my period.