Hi mamas -
Posting again about my 10 month old as things keep changing...
I feel like my milk is drying up and I have no idea if my baby is getting enough and it's causing so much anxiety and worry.
My baby goes to bed around 8pm. I regularly pump before bed around 10-11pm and have always gotten around 4-5oz. On the rare occasion I am separated from her I've pumped at regular intervals and have gotten this much as well. So I figure this is more or less a full feeding.
For the past 1-2 months we've been dealing with the usual issues at this age: biting, distraction, teething, etc. But I keep offering and offering and sometimes I'll pump if too much time elapses and give her what I pump. But she's always come back to the breast and so, as discussed in a previous post, it doesn't sound like she's weaning. I feel like all I do is feed her. And since she's so difficult to nurse in public, nowadays I just stay home in order to nurse.
Nonetheless I've been feeling my supply wane for the past 2 months as well. I hardly ever feel "full" anymore and when she nurses it's usually for 3-5 minutes TOTAL. Both breasts. It just does not seem possible that she can get 4-5oz. from a soft-feeling breast in that amount of time. Also, the most I can get her to nurse is 5-6 times a day, which has always been her pattern.
Now the pump is backing up my theory as when I pump at night I'm getting more like 2-3oz. total instead of 4-5oz. This is in 15min pumping, both breasts, with the Medela Symphony which I've been renting from day one because it was the only thing that helped relieve multiple plugged ducts which plagued me the first 5 months.
Why would my milk just fade at 10 months? And how do I know if I need to supplement my baby? She's never been good at telling me when she's hungry.
I keep reading getting my period back should not have stopped milk production but that's the only thing that coincides with this slow-down.
On the one hand, I am so worried I am not giving her what she needs. On the other hand, I am worried I am over-thinking this and it will cause me to wean her early thinking we are done when we are not done.
I've started taking fenugreek and more milk plus. How long before I can assess whether it's working? I always have a big bowl of steel cut oats in the morning as well.
Please help! Thanks in advance!