Expert: ruth kraft - 5/25/2011

Question
Ruth,

My daughter is 7 months old, and I am breastfeeding and pumping (BF on weekends and twice a day on weekdays, pump 3x a day on weekdays). When she was about 5-6 months I noticed a sudden drop in milk supply on one side. The weird thing is that the drop is in the side that generally produces more milk (for the first 6 months with my daughter and also for a year with my son). She also won't eat from that side unless she is in a reverse football hold. The drop in supply is not dramatic - whereas it was producing about a half an ounce more than the other side prior to the drop, now it is producing about a half an ounce to an ounce less. The drop seems to be more dramatic when I go longer between pumping, suggesting perhaps that the breast does not store as much milk as it used to? This breast is on the side I generally sleep on - not sure if that would affect the milk supply or ability to hold milk.

I'm wondering what might cause a sudden drop like that - should I be concerned? I have no other symptoms consistent with a plugged duct (which I had several times with my son and would likely recognize). Should be doing anything (other than starting on that side when nursing and pumping on both sides equally while at work) to bring the supply back up?

Thanks
Rebecca

Answer
It seems as though the milk supply has dropped but what happens is that milk becomes more concentrated around this stage. So baby gets more in a smaller amount. Milk consistency changes every few months based on the direct needs of the baby. So there isn't anything that you are really doing to make this happen it is a normal occourance.

It is common to have more milk in the morning than in the afternoon as well.Just so you know. If you want to keep the milk supply the same most often, try to pump or nurse around the same times every day. If the baby is breastfed while with you then you don't need to worry, it will make up for any "lost" milk from being unable to pump when she is with you :)