Article on milk supply decreasing at 6 mo

[rost0037]

I should state, I'm in my mid-20s and happily childless. But I grew up watching my mother breastfeed, weaning my siblings after 2.5ish years each, and always thought it was obviously the greatest part of mothering a young child. Why would you do anything else--in fact, the main reason I would want a baby is to experience breastfeeding.

Anyway, I am currently a nutrition educator and do breastfeeding education as part of it. The other day I was ranting to my dad about how awful it is out there, and there are all these awful myths and women don't want to or think they can't breastfeed. If nothing else, he's from another culture, so he doesn't understand why a baby wouldn't be breastfed, and I appreciate that (I was like that before this job!). My (feminist) roommate overheard us, and interjected with a classic "but some women really can't breastfeed" comment, based on her nannying experience. I didn't want to get into it, so I left it alone. But now it's really bothering me, and I want to show her something so she knows if SHE ever has kids, or so she can assist a friend in the future.

Basically, she nannies, and now the baby is 6 months and the breastmilk isn't doing it--she had to introduce formula. The mom was exclusively breastfeeding and pumping for six months (obviously the mom is working, which I'm sure has an impact) and all of a sudden can't produce enough (there have been no sudden traumas, either)? Obviously supply and demand must be at work here, or something else external.

Is there some article I could send my roommate--not just the standard "supply and demand" deal, but addressing when milk starts to dry up when solids have been introed, around half a year? This is really bothering me, and I get so emotional talking about breastfeeding, so I think explaining it this way would work better than explaining in person. She also has the potential to be a real breastfeeding ally, otherwise I would just drop it.

Thanks for any suggestions. I figure it's good to have allies everywhere, to truly promote a breastfeeding culture.

[dulce de leche]

Why doesn't she believe that she is producing enough? Some moms mistakes their bodies natural adjustment (lack of engorgement, etc) to mean a drop in supply when the supply is just fine.

If she had stopped nursing as much by introducing solids, then yeah, as you pointed out, the whole supply and demand issue comes into play. Since solids are about play rather than nutrition at this point, it is much better if she nurses before each meal so that he still gets enough milk.

Also, is he still night nursing? Hormone levels are usually different at night, and night nursing helps stimulate supply.

www.kellymom.com has some good info.

[rost0037]

Yes, I also question if the supply truly was ever low (of course maybe now it is, since she's giving formula). I don't know the mother, I just don't want my roommate to believe the myths... I thought I could just drop it, but it was actually like two weeks ago, and it's still bothering me. I will look on that website for something, thanks for the quick reply.

I know that the small things with breastfeeding DO make a difference, I've seen it... and I've had friends get really surprised by how passionate I get when they say things like, "Well, but lots of women can't breastfeed, right?" or "But formula is pretty similar, right?"-- they hardly hear or think about it, so what I say really makes an impression that could impact choices in the future. That's why, although it'd be easier to leave it alone, I'd rather speak up.

[prettypixels]

There are lots of ways to promote a breastfeeding culture, and none of them involve referring to formula as "baby junk food." No offense to you, but there actually ARE lots of moms here who have had to feed their babies formula.

[captain optimism]

One important thing is the schedule of usual growth spurts. Six months is one of those. During the period right before a growth spurt, a baby will nurse a ton. Formula companies know this and send their samples on this schedule--at ten days, at three weeks, at six weeks, at three months, at six months. The reason that babies start nursing like that is to bring up supply, but if you are a new mom it can look like you don't have enough milk. And, there's another issue too.

If the mother has gone back to work and isn't around to nurse extra during the growth spurt, her supply (what she's expressing for bottle feeding) won't necessarily keep up with the demand. I worked full time for my son's first year and the growth spurts that happened during the time I was working were scary. I was lucky to get some long weekends during those periods and I nursed a lot. We also had a least a little reverse-cycling going on--nursing at night more than during the day--and we were cosleeping, so that was possible for me.

[rost0037]

Okay, I sent an email going over it and why I thought it was important. She's out of town, but we'll see how she responds in a few days. This kind of makes me look like a weirdo, since none of us are married and/or having kids any time in the near future. But I feel good about it.

I did mention in the email what true causes for low milk supply might be. Undoubtedly it does happen, which is a reason wet nurses have always existed and why many of the scientists that invented formula were surely well-meaning. But I want her to know that normally the body does make enough provided that the mom can consistently nurse the baby.

[APmomto3boys]

I think it is great that you are so supportive of bf'ing before you have had any kids! Keep up the good work!

With both of my first 2 boys, I lost the most amount of weight around 6 months, during that growth spurt. I can imagine if the mom is working and pumping, rather then nursing all day during a growth spurt, then her supply would drop or no longer be enough for the growing, mobile baby.

[cschick]

Originally Posted by rost0037

Okay, I sent an email going over it and why I thought it was important. She's out of town, but we'll see how she responds in a few days. This kind of makes me look like a weirdo, since none of us are married and/or having kids any time in the near future. But I feel good about it.

I did mention in the email what true causes for low milk supply might be. Undoubtedly it does happen, which is a reason wet nurses have always existed and why many of the scientists that invented formula were surely well-meaning. But I want her to know that normally the body does make enough provided that the mom can consistently nurse the baby.

If you're looking for an article, here's one about dealing with the (very common) 6-month slump:

http://workandpump.com/6month.htm