body no longer responding to pump?

[dextersmom]

Hi everyone. I am new here, just joined. I decided to join to see if anyone has ever experienced what I am going through now. My son is 10 months old and has been exclusively breastfed other than 1 oz of forumula in the hospital that I let them talk me into. For the first 6 months I had enough milk for 3 babies and never had any issues with pumping. Lately it seems that my body is becoming "immune" to the pump. I just can't even begin to pump enough when I'm at work. I only get like 1 or 2 oz at a time, which for someone who used to pump 8oz at one time, this is tough. As it is, I can only pump one side at a time and have to really compress my breasts to get anything at all. Is this something that happens? Is there anything I can do? I know it's not my pump, because I did rent one from the hospital and got the same results. Thanks in advance for any help.

Danielle

[Stephanie]

If he is eating more solids, your supply may just be adjusting. But my body does this, the longer I pump, the less I get.

Have you started your period, yet? Many women experience a supply dip right before or during their period.

[dextersmom]

Yes. I do notice it dips when I get my period, also I am getting over a virus which I know doesn't help. It just seems that overall, as time goes on, I get less results with the pump. I know he's 10 months old at this point and if I have to supplement while I'm at work, it'll be ok. I guess I'm just also wondering what will happen if I have another baby. Is it once your body is done with the pump, it never works for you again, or will I be able to pump again with the next one?
Thanks,
Danielle

[Stephanie]

When dd was born, I could pump more in one sitting than I ever did with ds. But the same thing happened, over time it started to decrease. For the first 6 months or so, it was great.

[paigesmomma]

I had that happen around 9 months with dd. Every time I got my period, my supply would dip. It would rebound a little, but then the next month dipped more. By 12 months I was barely getting anything out of my pump. Now with ds I have had great sucess again with the same pump. In anticipation of the big supply drop, I have started really building up my freezer stash. That way I should have more than enough expressed milk to make it through ds's first birthday!

[dextersmom]

Thanks everyone for the info. I'm glad to hear that the pp had success with the same pump for the next baby. I started taking the Fenugreek again, and that has bumped it up a little so I can at least manage. Just another 6 weeks or so to go. Then I don't think I'm going to pump anymore, just bf him when we're together. Thanks so much! It's nice to hear that what is happening to me seems to be the norm.