am I losing it?

[JnA]

There has probably been a million threads about this very same concern, but just humor me for a bit :)

My supply seems to have dwindled. Jade is five and a half months old, has been exclusively breastfed and has been sleeping thought he night since she was about six weeks. She has just started one meal of solids a day.
I don't seem to have as much milk as I used to. Am I losing it? :( I want to feed her until she's 12 months old, I just tried to express some milk and got hardly anything. They no longer feel full in the mornings after the full night sleep. I'm am very sad at my lack of performance, should I keep trying to express? if so how long at a time? Why does this happen?

thanks for any help.

Sad mum today...

[bec79]

Tash, I went through the same experience...don't stress. Just keep feeding and feeding and feeding...:) If you haven't had any previous problems your supply should be fine. You will probably find this is a temp. occurance and you will be back to your boobylicious self tommorow.:)

Oh, keep up your water supply.

[Goosie22]

Hi,
Around the 6 month mark your supply does settle, so no more early morning dolly parton sydrome. Don't be put off by not getting much when you express some women find it really hard. I used to only express if I was at work, but prior to that it took me about a week to get enough for a feed. Unless you want to get up in the night and express when bub is not wanting to feed this will boast your supply as Prolactin(milk production hormone) is more abundant at night and when your at rest. If you try offering more feeds your supply will pick up in no time.


Try ABA they have some good info on the subject:)

http://www.breastfeeding.asn.au/bfinfo/supply.html
http://www.breastfeeding.asn.au/bfinfo/express.html

That is just a few, but I am sure you will make it to 12months at least.

[Riley's Mum]

I had a similiar situation, but as Beck79 said "just keep at it". Some things that might be worth considering is your general health - are you eating enough (ie: not dieting too much), are you at a comfortable level with your exercise, also how is your fluid intake and general stress levels. I find these things (especially the stress part) can effect my flow.
The other thought is that our boobs have a wonderful knack of adjusting to what is needed, perhaps bub isn't needing as much now that she has started solids? My bub is 10 1/2 months, and because he has solids three times a day and just morning and bed time visits to the booby-bar I have also lost that super-full feeling in the morning.
As for expresssing - if you don't need to make bottles for reserve then save yourself the discomfort and rest assured that our bodies will do exactly as we need :)

[Elfin]

In addition to all the good advice already given you could try taking Fenugreek (sp) from the health food shop. This is supposed to help boost supply.

However, if Jade is happy and having plenty of wet nappies still you probably have nothing to worry about.

Good luck I hope it works out well for you:)

[JnA]

Thank ladies for the response and great links too. I will try not to stress about it.. it seems better today anyways, I might just make it to my goal after all :)