Low Breast Milk Supply

by Katie
(NJ)

Low Breast Milk Supply

Visitor Question: I have a 7.5 month old and she will not take solids and the last 2 nights my supply has been very low.

Most times Colleen is fine with just one breast, lately I have been going on both sides and it still doesn't seem to be enough. She is very whiney during our breastfeeding sessions as though she is frustrated.

She is slapping me and seems very uncomfortable. I have not changed my diet, doing more exercise nor am I stressed. Can this be the end of my very successful breastfeeding run???? HELP! MY DAUGHTER HAS TO EAT!!!

Breastfeeding Magazine Response:

The most likely culprit is actually not that your breast milk has decreased, but instead that your little one is having a very normal growth spurt.

During these growth spurts, expect her to breastfeed more often than usual (sometimes as often as every hour) and often act whiny and fussy like she is. It helps increase your milk supply as well.

The good news is that it is temporary and should only last a few days.

Children often have these same reactions (increased breastfeeding with or without increased fussiness) when they are trying to learn to crawl, walk or talk. Your milk is for the perfect food growing the brain as well as a growing body!

You may also want to try a nursing necklace to help distract her while she is nursing so she has something to look at and play with and is less impatient and happier in her nursing sessions.

However, if this continues and lasts for more than a week, you may want to also try to increase your breast milk supply by drinking more water and try taking an herb called fenugreek which works wonders for a lot of moms!

Good luck!