Signs Your Milk Supply Is Decreasing: A Guide for Breastfeeding Parents

 

Breastfeeding can feel like a rollercoaster, with moments of confidence mixed with worry about whether your baby is getting enough milk. It’s common to question your milk supply, especially when you notice changes in your body or your baby’s behavior. But not every change means your supply is low. In this guide, we’ll break down the real signs of a decreasing milk supply, clear up misconceptions, explore why it might happen, and offer practical steps to boost production. Our goal is to empower you with clear, actionable advice to support your breastfeeding journey.

How Milk Supply Works

Your body produces milk based on demand: the more your baby nurses or you pump, the more milk you make. As your baby grows, your supply adjusts to their needs, which can lead to changes like softer breasts or shorter feeds. These are often normal, not signs of a problem. To gauge your supply, focus on your baby’s health and behavior rather than your own perceptions.

Reliable Signs Your Milk Supply May Be Low

Look at your baby’s cues to determine if they’re getting enough milk. Here are the key indicators of a potential low milk supply:

1. Fewer Wet or Dirty Diapers
   By day 5, your baby should have 6–8 wet diapers daily and frequent bowel movements. Breastfed newborns often poop more than formula-fed babies, with stools shifting from dark, tarry meconium to greenish-yellow by day 4, then to a mustard-yellow, seedy texture by week 1. A drop in diaper output could mean your baby isn’t getting enough milk.

2. Poor Weight Gain
   Newborns may lose up to 10% of their birth weight initially but should regain it by 2 weeks. If your baby isn’t gaining steadily or falls off their growth curve, it might suggest a supply issue. Regular pediatrician visits can track this.

3. Dehydration Symptoms
   Watch for:

   • No urine for several hours

   • No tears when crying

   • A sunken fontanelle (soft spot) on the head

   • Unusual sleepiness or low energy
     These signs require immediate contact with your pediatrician, as they may indicate dehydration.

4. Constant Hunger or Fussiness Post-Feeding
   Babies are usually satisfied for 1–3 hours after nursing. If your baby seems hungry (e.g., rooting, sucking fists) or fussy right after feeds, they may not be getting enough milk.

5. Lethargy or Excessive Sleepiness
   If your baby is overly sleepy or struggles to stay awake during feeds, they might not be getting enough calories. While newborns sleep a lot, persistent lethargy should prompt a doctor’s visit.

Common Misconceptions About Low Milk Supply

Some changes are mistaken for low supply but are actually normal. Don’t worry if you notice:

1. Frequent Nursing
   Babies often nurse 8–12 times daily, especially during growth spurts or for comfort. This is normal and not a sign of low supply.

2. Cluster Feeding
   Short, frequent nursing sessions, often in the evening, are common during growth spurts or developmental leaps. They’re exhausting but don’t indicate a problem.

3. Night Feedings
   Breastfed babies have small stomachs and often wake at night to eat. This is expected, especially in the early months.

4. Softer Breasts
   After 6–12 weeks, your breasts may feel less full as your supply regulates to match your baby’s needs. This is a sign of efficiency, not low production.

5. Low Pump Output
   Pumps are less effective than babies at removing milk. Low output can also stem from stress, incorrect flange size, or worn pump parts, not necessarily low supply.

6. Less Frequent Poops in Older Babies
   After 6 weeks, breastfed babies may poop less often, sometimes going days or even up to 2 weeks without a bowel movement. If they’re gaining weight and producing wet diapers, this is normal.

7. Evening Fussiness (Witching Hour)
   Many babies get fussy in the evening due to overstimulation, tiredness, or discomfort. This isn’t always linked to hunger or low supply.

What Causes a Drop in Milk Supply?

If your supply is truly decreasing, possible reasons include:

1. Latch or Feeding Problems
   A poor latch or weak suck can leave milk in the breast, signaling your body to produce less. This can also cause clogged ducts or mastitis, further reducing supply.

2. Hormonal Shifts
   Resuming your period, starting hormonal birth control, or getting pregnant can lower milk production due to hormonal changes.

3. Reduced Feeding Frequency
   Going back to work, using formula, or introducing solids can decrease nursing sessions, reducing demand and thus supply.

4. Illness or Medications
   When you’re sick, your body may prioritize recovery over milk production, though this is usually temporary. Some medications, like decongestants or certain contraceptives, can also lower supply. Check with your doctor about any medications.

5. Health Issues
   Conditions like hypothyroidism, diabetes, or PCOS can affect milk production. Chronic stress may also disrupt hormones needed for lactation.

6. Poor Nutrition or Hydration
   Not eating enough or staying hydrated can limit your body’s ability to produce milk.

How to Increase Your Milk Supply

If you’re concerned about low supply, try these strategies to boost production:

1. Empty Your Breasts Fully

More milk removal signals more production. Here’s how:

• Massage Breasts: Gently massage before and during feeds or pumping to encourage letdown. A warm compress can help.

• Combine Nursing and Pumping: After breastfeeding, pump or hand-express any remaining milk. Hands-on pumping (massaging while pumping) can boost output.

• Improve Latch: A lactation consultant can help ensure your baby is latching effectively.

2. Nurse or Pump More Often

Frequent stimulation drives supply:

• Feed on Demand: Nurse whenever your baby shows hunger cues, like rooting or sucking hands, rather than sticking to a schedule.

• Try a Nurse-In: Spend a day or two focused on frequent nursing, rest, and skin-to-skin contact to stimulate milk-making hormones.

• Power Pump: Mimic cluster feeding by pumping for 10–20 minutes, resting 5–10 minutes, and repeating for an hour, 1–2 times daily.

3. Take Care of Yourself

Your body needs resources to produce milk:

• Stay Hydrated: Keep a water bottle handy and sip during or after nursing.

• Eat Well: Focus on nutrient-rich foods like whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats. Milk-boosting foods (galactagogues) like oats, fenugreek, fennel, brewer’s yeast, or nuts may help. Lactation cookies or teas are fun options!

• Rest When Possible: Lack of sleep can affect milk-making hormones. Nap when your baby does, if you can.

4. Get Expert Help

A lactation consultant can:

• Conduct a weighted feed to measure your baby’s intake.

• Assess latch and sucking patterns.

• Suggest tailored pumping schedules or other tips.

5. Review Medications and Health

Talk to your doctor about any medications or health conditions that might affect supply. If you’re ill, keep nursing (if safe) to maintain demand, as supply often recovers post-illness.

Tools to Track Feedings

Monitoring feedings and diaper output can help you spot trends and gain confidence in your supply. Apps like Huckleberry let you log nursing sessions, pumping, and diapers, making it easier to track patterns without stress.

When to Seek Help

Contact your pediatrician immediately if your baby shows signs of dehydration, poor weight gain, or excessive lethargy. For breastfeeding challenges, a lactation consultant or your healthcare provider can offer personalized solutions to improve latch, boost supply, or address other issues.

Final Thoughts

Worrying about milk supply is normal, but many signs—like frequent nursing or softer breasts—are just part of breastfeeding. Focus on your baby’s diaper output, weight gain, and energy levels to assess your supply. If you suspect a drop, frequent nursing, full breast emptying, and self-care can help. With support from a lactation consultant or doctor, you can overcome challenges and continue nourishing your baby.

Breastfeeding is a unique journey. Trust your body, lean on experts when needed, and celebrate the bond you’re building with your little one.

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Sources:

• La Leche League International. Understanding Milk Supply.

• American Academy of Pediatrics. Infant Feeding and Dehydration.

• CDC. Breastfeeding and Milk Supply.

• Mayo Clinic. Dehydration in Newborns.

• WHO. Infant Growth Standards.

• KellyMom. Signs of Adequate Milk Intake.

• International Lactation Consultant Association. Growth Spurts and Nursing Frequency.

• Medela. Pumping Tips for Breastfeeding.

• Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine. Causes of Low Milk Supply.

• LactMed. Medications and Lactation.

• Journal of Human Lactation. Stress and Breastfeeding.

• NIH. Nutrition for Lactating Parents.

• Breastfeeding Medicine. Milk Supply Facts.

• La Leche League International. Boosting Milk Supply.

• American Academy of Pediatrics. Breastfeeding and Formula Feeding.