Milk Diminshing??? Time to stop?

Hi....!!!! Just curious if anyone else experienced this????? My son is 11.5 months old will be a year old on July 8th, I still nurse, well pump on demand now as he is just way to curious to pay attention and nurse, so I pump for him. I am getting ready to get my monthly *Period* and I know that when that comes it seems to effect my milk supply, but my milk supply has taken a big decrease, I went from pumping 8-9oz's every three hours to barely getting 1 1/2 ounces...!! So I'm am just wondering, is this the process of my body telling me it's getting to that time to stop? Or could this be from my period/stress??? I have milk saved up so I'm ok on milk but just wondering? I plan on nursing him until after his 1st birthday, I want to stop probably a month or two afterwards, my goal was to go the full year and I've almost made it...!!! :-) But wondering if my body is changing?? And also how much is your babies drinking at this age?? Just curious? Thanks for all of your help.

[Super_sally888]

Hi,

Hol, it is normal for milk supply to dip a bit around the time you get your period.  Yes, it does fluctuate.  Don't throw up your hands yet.  

I continued pumping and BF on demand until MG was 15 months old.  She was drinking about 12 - 16 oz of pumped milk and on demand feeding at that time.

After 15 months I decided  no more pumping and that we just BF on demand.  Also 'cause I'm trying for baby no. 2.  She mainly drinks at night now, and a big drink when I arrive home in the evening, and in the morning when we wake up.   Have no idea how much she gets, but still considerable I'd think.  I recently tried pumping, just 'cuase i was curious how much milk I still have, and was able to express 4 oz.  I know baby can get more than this.

We will continue BF as long as she wants.  My sister is still BF her 2year old.  He only drinks 2 or 3 times a day now.... morning and evening, and if he needs comforting.

[zazou]

I'm still breastfeeding my daughter, she turned 1 last week. I don't pump as she refuses to take a bottle with breast milk (or any other milk when I'm around). But I do notice at the beginning of my period that my milk does reduce. Are you stressed out? That may play a role. Fennel is good for increasing the supply, I drink that 1-2 times a day (as tea) and also malt is great as well.

[karenml]

My daughter will be 10 months' old in 2 days. When she turned 9 months, she refused breast milk in a bottle at the babysitter.  The babysitter then tried formula milk and she gulped it down. I've asked the babysitter not to give anymore formula.  Since then, she either don't drink milk during the day or just 2 oz max.  I breastfeed her in the morning before I leave for work, in the evening when I return and throughout the night (she wakes up 2-3 times and breastfeed).  Is that enough milk for her or do I need to supplement with formula?  She seems healthy, average weight and very active.

[Super_sally888]

Hi,

from what you've said your baby is getting enough milk from  you with the mornign and evening and overnight feeds.  For some mothers pumping just doesn't work and baby won't take from the bottle.

What you've described is what i've read about on other websites and is a perfectly valid way of providing your baby with breastmilk (Dr. jack Newman talks about this approach to feeding on his website).

No, you don't need to supplement her on formula.  Just make sure she eats good healthy foods (fruits, veges, meats, etc) while she is not with you.  

You can continue feeding her this way as long as you like.

My daughter is now 17 months old.  I was pumping and giving expressed milk while I was at work up until 15 months.  Then I said, enough of pumping!  So now like you I feed her before and after work and also over night. My milk supply is consistent and adequate for her this way and we're both happy.  I can continue doing this for as long as she wants.

[tiredbuthappy]

Karen- how many ounces was she taking in a feed before refusal started? You should aim for 24 oz a day. If she was taking at least 6 oz a feed you should be ok. You can always sneak a few extra ounces in by using breast milk to make cereal.

Hol- I noticed that my supply drastically dropped with the return of my period. It mostly rebounded within a few days, but I personally used it as an opportunity to begin weaning since I was pumping and not nursing so I can't tell you long term effects firsthand. Just remember that if you were nursing instead of pumping, the baby probably would have nursed more frequently and longer to compensate a bring you supply back up. You may need to emulate that for a few days to bring your supply back up.

[allmymarbles]

You have taken him through the first year of his life. It will not harm him if you wean him now. If you want to increase your milk supply, drink about 12 ounces of beer a day or, better yet, some Guinness Stout. That is the solution of our grandmothers, and I am here to say that it works.