Sudden supply drop at 10m

[cww]

I've had a major supply drop, and it seems somewhat sudden.  Tonight DD couldn't get enough milk at supper or at bedtime, or at the 11pm feeding - each time she was clearly still hungry and unhappy after feeding, and I had to supplement with the only BM in a bottle that I had on hand (what she is supposed to drink tomorrow when I'm at work :().  I've been feeling that she was getting a bit less than she wanted over the last week, but nothing this dramatic. 

My supply may have gradually decreased since she has been sleeping 8h stretches at night for about a month (she used to nurse at least every 3 hours and often more than that), and because she has recently really started eating more solids.  For many months she has also had one long stretch of no nursing during the day - when she is with grandma she gets very busy playing and napping and eating solids, and she goes around 5h without nursing (although she nurses more often than that at other times of day). 

I BF her about 5 times per day at least, and she gets about 2 meals of solids, but we do BLW, so it's very variable how much and what solid foods she eats.  I pump a few times a week for the days when I can't get a break from work to go over to my MIL's to BF in the middle of the day.  Last week I got 6oz in one pumping session (replacing a full BF session), but today I only got 3.5oz, even though it had been 5 hours since she ate (in the past I would have been really engorged at that point, but today I almost forgot to pump because my breasts never felt full). 

I have had a ton of EWCM for the last several weeks, so I've been wondering if I am gearing up to ovulate pretty soon, but I don't have a temp rise yet, so I know I haven't ovulated yet.  But I was wondering if this had anything to do with it. 

I'm already taking some herbs to boost supply, and plan on adding some more tomorrow.  I'm really worried about my supply going down now, though because 1) I want her to get enough to eat (I don't know how much she associates solids with feeling full yet) and 2) I want BF to be her primary nutrition for many months yet and 3) I want to BF until at least 2 yrs, as long as she is still interested. 

I'm so depressed at the idea that I may run out of milk!  I've seen a bunch of advice about supply for younger babies, but there is not much out there for older ones.  I'd love to hear some advice and hear about your experience from anyone who's BTDT!

Thanks in advance for reading my post!

[cww]

I've also been having major menstrual cramps and bloating today (I had some cramping over the weekend, but didn't think anything of it then) - but I know that I didn't ovulate already, and in fact I have some major EWCM right now. 

I've heard of women having period-like symptoms for months before they actually ovulate - has anyone else had something like this?  I'm really wondering how long it might take my supply to come back!  (Also, cramps aren't fun...)

[Ariasmommy09]

You haven't started birth control recently have you?

If not, the supply drop is probably temporary, not permanent.  The presence of EWCM speaks to estrogen rising in your body, and when estrogen rises, prolactin drops, temporarily reducing your supply.  You can combat this with 1500 mg of calcium supplements per day, until your supply returns.  Same with during a period, once that returns.  Some women have a supply drop during their period, and some have it during period and ovulation.  The calcium supplements will help to keep it higher.  Your daughter might also be fussing because the milk gets salty during ovulation and period, not because of a lack of milk.  She just might not like the taste.  It will go back to normal soon.

[cww]

Thanks for the reply, Ariasmommy.  I haven't started BC, but I think my estrogen has been pretty high - the EWCM, and my temp has dropped (from pre-O levels to even lower pre-O levels).  I am taking calcium, but probably not quite that much - I can try upping it a bit to see if that helps. 

Has anyone else had luck with adding more calcium?  If so, what particular type did you use?  (I already swallow 6 Bluebonnet calcium pills per day, so I'm not nuts about even more pills - has anyone found a good liquid that isn't full of sugar or chemicals?)

I did start some blessed thistle last night, so I'll see if that helps at all...

[Megan73]

It definitely sounds like the issue may be your fertility returning. I've heard that a combined calcium and magnesium supplement can help with cycle-related supply dips but I think the major thing is to just nurse, nurse, nurse.

[sosurreal09]

I think AF is on her way! My supply always dropped around that time (usually a whole week before UGH) just nurse on demand (increased demand unfortunately LOL) It will be OK!

[vicxtoria]

I actually came here to post the same thing. DS is now 8 months and nurses at least every 2 hours (sometimes even 1-1.5 hrs).  I've been spotting randomly since Saturday and since then, I've only been able to pump 1 ounce since, whereas I usually I pump 3 ounces. I only pump twice a day -- once before I go to work for 3 hours and once after nursing DS when I get home from work.  I do not use BC pills.  I changed the membranes on my valves thinking that might be the problem. I have been drinking mother's milk tea and taking calcium/magnesium supplements and none of that seems to be working... is AF coming?  Any other ideas to get my supply up?

[sosurreal09]

Oatmeal, beer...It could very possibly be AF. I got mine back when DD was 6 weeks old and never had to supplement. just nursed a lot more!

[cww]

Thanks for the replies, everyone.  My supply seems better after a day or so - I don't know if it is just time passing, or the blessed thistle I started taking, or the fact that I've been paranoid and started putting the LO on the breast every time it seems feasible (also not great - my nipples are so sore! - we've always had some untreatable pain while BFing and extended time sucking doesn't help!).  I still haven't Oed - it seems like my body keeps trying to but not making it there...

vicxtoria, I've been told by a number of different people that the teas are weaker and not likely to make a big difference, but that taking supplements in pill form is more effective.  I took fenugreek for a while when I needed to get my flow faster to help my daughter with tongue tie nurse better (my supply at the time was actually fine, but I kind of had to supercharge it to help her get more milk, since she couldn't nurse so effectively).  With the fenugreek, I took 2 pills three times per day (I think they were around 600mg per pill, but I can't remember exactly), as recommended by my BF doctor, and they worked after about 2-3 days.  I also got similar results with goats rue, which is more expensive.  The BF doc also recommended blessed thistle, which I tried adding a few days ago, but I'm not sure if that has helped me or not. 

Our LO seems to want to nurse a lot right now - I can't tell how much is my supply and what might be another developmental stage?  For example, before bed, I used to be able to nurse her until she was full, and then gently put her to bed, but now she wants to nurse indefinitely - I'm not sure that it's because she is still hungry since she does then go to sleep with some rocking/bouncing and stays asleep for longer stretches.