Why is my milk supply decreasing after 3 months?

Understanding DecreasedReasons for Decreasing Milk Supply After 3 Months
Hormonal Changes
As your baby grows, your body’s hormones go through natural changes that can affect your milk supply. Around the 3-4 month mark, your body’s estrogen and progesterone levels start to fluctuate more, which can lead to a decrease in milk production.
Increased Solid Food Intake
As your baby begins eating more solid foods, they may start to nurse less frequently. This reduced nursing time can signal your body to produce less milk, as it adjusts to your baby’s changing feeding needs.
Improved Feeding Efficiency
After the first few months, your baby becomes more efficient at nursing. They are able to extract milk more quickly, so they may spend less time at the breast. Your body may interpret this as a need for less milk production.
Birth Control Use
Starting hormonal birth control, especially those containing estrogen, around the 3-4 month mark can also contribute to a drop in milk supply. Progestin-only birth control is less likely to impact milk production.
Stress and Dehydration
Other factors like stress and dehydration can also play a role in decreasing your milk supply over time. Maintaining a healthy diet, staying hydrated, and managing stress are important for sustaining your milk production.
Monitoring Baby’s Growth
If your baby is continuing to gain weight and grow along their normal curve, this is a good sign that your milk supply is adequate, even if it has decreased slightly. Consult your healthcare provider if you have concerns about your baby’s growth or feeding.

What is the hardest month of breastfeeding?

If you’ve been asking everyone you know when does breastfeeding get easier, you may be relieved to know that for most people, the first weeks are the trickiest. Many women feel that breastfeeding is easier and more manageable once their baby reaches six weeks.

What is the 3 month milk crisis?

A growth spurt, also sometimes called a breastfeeding crisis, is a response by the baby to a clear increase in milk demand. Your baby will now ask to breastfeed at all times and may be nervous, irritable, and seemingly insatiable. Coincidentally, these demand increases occur around the same time for all babies.

Why is my 3 month old breastfeeding less often?

As your infant grows, feeding will change. Babies will start drinking more milk during each feeding, so they won’t need to feed as often and will sleep longer at night. Your baby’s appetite will increase during growth spurts.

How to tell if breast milk is drying up?

The following are signs your baby isn’t getting enough milk:

1. Poor weight gain. It’s normal for newborns to lose 5% to 7% of their birth weight in the first few days – some lose up to 10%.
2. Insufficient, wet or dirty nappies.
3. Dehydration.

What is the 3 month breastfeeding crisis?

As you may have read in my other blog about a baby’s breastfeeding crisis, a breastfeeding crisis, sometimes called a growth spurt, is a common phrase used to describe a phase where mothers may encounter significant breastfeeding challenges, typically related to an increase in milk demand from the baby.

Is it normal for breast milk supply to decrease at 3 months?

As time goes on, you may no longer experience breast fullness thanks to supply regulation and our body’s ability to make milk “just in time.” This does not necessarily mean that you have lost your supply or are experiencing a decrease in milk production.

Do soft breasts mean low milk supply?

Your breasts feel softer
This happens as your milk supply adjusts to your baby’s needs. The initial breast fullness reduces in the first few weeks. At around 6 weeks, breast fullness is completely gone and your breasts may feel soft. This is completely normal and has no effect on your milk supply.

Why is my milk supply suddenly dropping?

Stress is the No. 1 killer of breastmilk supply, especially in the first few weeks after delivery. Between lack of sleep and adjusting to the baby’s schedule, rising levels of certain hormones such as cortisol can dramatically reduce your milk supply.

How can I increase my milk supply after 3 months?

Feed your baby from your breast whenever you can. Get plenty of sleep, and eat a healthy diet. Pump or express your milk. Pumping or expressing milk frequently between nursing sessions, and consistently when you’re away from your baby, can help build your milk supply.

Why is my 3 month old not producing enough milk?

Things that can affect your milk supply
Poor attachment and positioning. Not feeding your baby often enough. Drinking alcohol and smoking while breastfeeding – these can both interfere with your milk production.