Possible causes of low supply Your baby does not feed often enough. Nearly all babies need to feed at least 8 to 12 times in 24 hours. Your baby does not feed effectively at the breast. You have started using formula milk as well as breastfeeding.
The most common reason for low milk production is a slow start with breastfeeding – not enough milk being removed from the breasts in the early days after birth. Milk supply usually reaches its peak around four weeks after birth, with most of the increase happening in the first two weeks.
Increasing your milk supply will take time, so don't give up. Even dry pumps (when you pump but nothing comes out) sends a signal to your body that more milk is needed on tap, so it's getting the work done even if there's no output to show for it right away. Stick with it and you'll see the results after a few days.
Estimates on the prevalence of low breastmilk supply vary. While a handful of studies suggest low supply affects 10 to 15 percent of mothers, the lactation consultants I spoke to said it is one of the top reasons they receive calls for help.
Generally, moms should be pumping every 3 hours. Pumping more often can help stimulate breasts to produce more milk. Moms can try pumping both breasts for 15 minutes every two hours for 48-72 hours. Then moms can return to their normal pumping routine. Pumping for longer than 30 minutes may not be beneficial.
While it takes dedicated effort, it is possible for most people to increase or resume their breast milk supply. From herbal therapy and medications to breastfeeding more often and pumping, there are many ways to reestablish your breast milk supply if you've stopped nursing or simply want to be producing more.
Re-lactation is typically achieved through a combination of skin-to-skin contact with the baby and breast stimulation either through a latching baby and/or pumping every two to three hours day and night, which mimics how often a baby feeds.
Something I recommend to moms is the 5-5-5 rule. Try and use milk within five hours at room temperature, five days in the fridge, and by five months in the freezer.
Ultimately, if your baby has reached its birth weight and you're pumping enough milk during the day, it's okay to sleep eight hours without pumping at night. Keep in mind there is an adjustment period for your body as it begins to acclimate to the decrease in overnight milk removal.
To put a number on it, it usually takes about 20 to 30 minutes after feeding to generate enough milk for your baby, and about 60 minutes to replenish fully. The more often your baby feeds, and the more they empty your breasts, the more milk your body will produce.
Your breasts feel softer
This happens as your milk supply adjusts to your baby's needs. The initial breast fullness reduces in the first few weeks. At around 6 weeks, breast fullness is completely gone and your breasts may feel soft. This is completely normal and has no effect on your milk supply.
Milk supply is lower in the afternoon and evening because prolactin levels naturally decrease throughout the day.
Not being able to produce a full milk supply for your baby can be a stressful and upsetting experience for many mothers. While most mothers can make plenty of milk for their baby (or babies), the evidence for the commonly stated 1-5% of women not being able to produce a full supply is very weak.
You're not getting let down. If your breasts feel like they're full but you're not able to get the milk flowing out when you pump, it could be that you're not achieving let down. The let down reflex releases your milk from the milk ducts. This only occurs when you're either breastfeeding or pumping.
Will my milk supply decrease if I choose to night wean? The short answer is, yes it probably will. However, for most breastfeeding mothers, the dip in supply will not be drastic enough to cause any adverse effects on the breastfeeding relationship.
If you are concerned about milk supply in the first six weeks, schedule a visit with your lactation consultant as soon as possible. While it is possible, it becomes more challenging to increase supply after the six weeks so it is best to be proactive.
Your “magic number” is the number of times you need to empty your breasts per 24 hours in order to keep your supply robust. On average, your magic number is 8 (hence the recommendation to breastfeed every 3 hours).
If you do thaw it, use it within 4 hours. If you're storing your milk in the freezer, you need to use it within 3 months. Remember, never re-freeze or re-warm breastmilk, and discard any remaining or unused milk after the completion of the feed.
Use rule of 4s: General guidelines for milk storage are 4 hours at room temperature, 4 days in refrigerator, and 6 months or longer in freezer. Thawed frozen milk should be used within 24 hours.
It is normal for pumping output to vary from session to session and day to day. Having an occasional low volume day is not unusual. During a growth spurt, don't be surprised if baby drinks more expressed milk than usual, making it harder for mom to provide enough expressed milk.
Also, keep in mind that it is perfectly normal for a new mother's breasts to feel less full, or even “empty,” after the first 6-12 weeks of breastfeeding. This is part of the natural adjustment that your body makes from the first days of breastfeeding.