EBF moms: supply after starting solids

How did you know if your supply was dropping and/or if dc was getting enough? Are there any "signs" that I should be looking for?

We're going on 8 1/2 months & my supply has been strong for a few months now, but the past 2 weeks (since we've introduced lunch into his schedule) I've been struggling to pump enough to cover his 2 daily (6 oz) bottles & cereal. Today we had to start using water w/his cereal to conserve milk for his regular bottles He seems fine (his normal happy self), but I'm wondering if my supply is dropping & if he's getting enough...?

In the meantime, I guess I have to get back on the oatmeal & Fenugreek again

Re: EBF moms: supply after starting solids

My supply started dropping a little while after DS started solids. He started STTn 1 month after starting solids. He also dropped down to nursing 4 times per day around that time. My supply really tanked when DS was 9-10 months. At that point, I started taking More Milk Plus and relying on my freezer stash just to get by. If you're worried about your supply, you can always cut back on the solids so DS nurses more.

Re: EBF moms: supply after starting solids

Thanks for your reply. I think I'll try that More Milk Plus & will try decreasing his solids a little bit I have a very small freezer supply so I'm trying to hold off for as long as possible on hitting that

So long as he seems happy/content/his regular self he's probably getting enough right? That's really my biggest concern...

Re: EBF moms: supply after starting solids

Are you drinking enough water? With the weather getting warmer you need more water to keep your milk up. And remember every caffeinated beverage you have cancels out one of the non caffeinated ones.
I still do oatmeal every morning, avoid caffeine and drink a lo of water. I don't have supply issues with dd bu did with ds so I keep up my helps just in case.
Another thought is do you have yor cycle back? My supply would dip at O and af. Then it suddenly tanked. I only had enough for 3 feedings a day. 8 months later dd was born tuns out I was pregnant and the hormones made my supply tank.

Re: EBF moms: supply after starting solids

my supply has taken a nose dive in the last week.

I am upping my pumping and gorging on oatmeal this week.

he is taking his bottles fine but has added an additional wake up at night...basically about every 2.5 instead of every 3 and I think my decreased supply is why.

either that or he is teething again.

I am just not sure...I mean the ped said he'd probably start scaling back milk intake as he increased his solids, but that hasn't really happened yet.

I guess we'll just wait and see.

Re: EBF moms: supply after starting solids

Posted by imyself

Are you drinking enough water? With the weather getting warmer you need more water to keep your milk up. And remember every caffeinated beverage you have cancels out one of the non caffeinated ones.
I still do oatmeal every morning, avoid caffeine and drink a lo of water. I don't have supply issues with dd bu did with ds so I keep up my helps just in case.
Another thought is do you have yor cycle back? My supply would dip at O and af. Then it suddenly tanked. I only had enough for 3 feedings a day. 8 months later dd was born tuns out I was pregnant and the hormones made my supply tank.

Re: EBF moms: supply after starting solids

Re: EBF moms: supply after starting solids

Posted by jam11308

Posted by imyself

Are you drinking enough water? With the weather getting warmer you need more water to keep your milk up. And remember every caffeinated beverage you have cancels out one of the non caffeinated ones.
I still do oatmeal every morning, avoid caffeine and drink a lo of water. I don't have supply issues with dd bu did with ds so I keep up my helps just in case.
Another thought is do you have yor cycle back? My supply would dip at O and af. Then it suddenly tanked. I only had enough for 3 feedings a day. 8 months later dd was born tuns out I was pregnant and the hormones made my supply tank.

Thanks for your advice - I appreciate it I drink close to 3 liters of water a day so I hope that's enough - I can't handle any more lol Other than 1 big cup of coffee in the morning I don't drink any more caffeine, but maybe I'll cut that down to 1/2 the size to see if it makes a difference. I haven't seen AF yet, but the past month & a 1/2 or so I've been convinced she's on her way (I've had a few noticeable hormonal changes lately), so I wonder if that might be part of it I had a moment of panic a few weeks ago & tested so I know I'm not pg I'll keep up w/the water & oatmeal, though, and will try cutting back on the caff - thanks again!

Message edited 5/21/2010 4:54:41 PM.