WHAT is going on with my supply!? :(

[marigold91]

Hi all,

This might be long... sorry! I'm new at breastfeeding and am pretty much exclusively pumping due to baby being 4 weeks premature and a long NICU stay.

I've been pumping well for the last 3 weeks. Although I'm not making enough to really freeze, I'm keeping up with baby and usually have 2-3 ozs spare in the fridge. Haven't had to supplement with formula this entire time!

Then, yesterday, I started having some really serious pain in both my breasts. It wasn't nipple pain, it was more behind my nipple, like deep in my breast. They were soooo sore and I was crying through pumping and couldn't even hold baby at my chest normally without wincing! It went on for about four or five hours. I tried pumping through the pain twice and got barely anything... about half an ounce. I normally pump close to 3 ounces per session.

Finally, I tried using a heating pad on my boobs while I was pumping. I ended up getting a little over an ounce, so a tad more, but still not my normal amount. The pain subsided afterwards.

I woke up in the middle of the night completely SOAKED from leaking. It had only been 2 hours since I pumped last. I've been pumping every 2-3 hours since then and can barely get more than an ounce. What is going on?! I am going to have to supplement with formula for baby's next feed if I can't figure out how to get more milk out of me

 

[noon_child]

Is it possible that part of your pump has broken/come loose? This would make it less effective at removing milk, possibly causing you a painful blocked duct that then unblocked itself suddenly while you slept, and meaning you couldn't get much out.

https://kellymom.com/bf/concerns/mother/mastitis/

Have you tried hand expression to see if you can get more out that way? Worth a try if you think your pump might need replacing/repairing.

I've heard that thrush can also decrease milk (because pain stops your letdown from happening - but that would be true of whatever is causing your pain, and might explain why your milk could flow while you slept). Possible if your not feeding your baby directly that your breasts will be filling more rapidly than you are pumping, therefore leaking and causing the warm wet environment that Thrush likes?

 

[amy2015]

Are your breasts hard? What you described sounds like when I'm feeling engorged. Sometimes the heat can work against you, if it's too swollen.

Have you tried pumping after a shower? Maybe a warm shower while massaging any hard bits in your breasts (it will hurt!).

Otherwise, a combo of cold and hot may help
https://kellymom.com/bf/concerns/mother/engorgement/

 

[misspriss]

Sounds like a clogged duct, painful and reduces output (temporary ) i struggle with reoccurring clogged ducts. I find heat, NSAIDs, and pumping/feeding constantly to be the best cure. Rest is also helpful as well as massage.

 

[ElmaWG]

I was also thinking either thrush or mastitis/clogged ducts. The extreme pain while pumpin suggests thrush. But the night soaking suggests the pressure from engorgement (partially?) dislodging a blocked duct. Did both breasts leak overnight? Seems strange to have gotten blocked in both breasts at the same time, but it's certainly possible

Do your breast seem full when you're pumping? Do they seem empty when your done?

Edit: I see this was from a week ago. Did you get the problem resolved?

 

[misspriss]

I was also thinking either thrush or mastitis/clogged ducts. The extreme pain while pumpin suggests thrush. But the night soaking suggests the pressure from engorgement (partially?) dislodging a blocked duct. Did both breasts leak overnight? Seems strange to have gotten blocked in both breasts at the same time, but it's certainly possible

Do your breast seem full when you're pumping? Do they seem empty when your done?

Edit: I see this was from a week ago. Did you get the problem resolved?

I've had two clogged ducts in one breast at the same time, in different places. It actually makes sense as clogged ducts are caused my milk stasis, so if the milk is moving at the same rate in both breasts (as it is if you double pump) instead of one side at a time (if you were nursing a baby one side at a time), the stasis probably happens at the same rate in both sides.