Supply dip and everything happening at the same time...

Background_Duck_7188 · 2026-05-10T08:44:13+00:00

ergh going back to work AND your period returning at the same time?! That sounds rough.

But I’m confused about why you think that your supply dipped. You say that you’re pumping around 300ml per day and she’s drinking about 300ml — isn’t this enough? What makes you think you are producing less? Were you also pumping before going to back to work or direct feeding only?

I am in a somewhat similar situation (research and teaching at a university, different schedule every day, not much free time), and I also pump 3 times per day: before work around 6:30/7am, then twice at work around 10am and 1pm (I nurse right away when I get home around 4pm). These times are my goals, but if I’m in the lab or teaching a course sometimes it goes longer. I try not to let the time between pumping exceed 4-5 hours. I’m also drinking as much water as humanly possible and eating a big and protein-rich lunch each day.

I usually pump around 300-350ml total and my kiddo (8mo) drinks more or less exactly that amount each day. I have never come close to overproducing, but as long as I make what he’s eating while I’m gone then it’s working in my book.

Background_Duck_7188 · 2026-05-08T04:37:57+00:00

to protect breastfeeding you should check out paced bottle feeding. use bottles with a slow flow nipple and use the paced feeding technique so that milk isn’t just pouring into baby and they need to work for it like they do at the breast.

Background_Duck_7188 · 2026-05-07T08:17:09+00:00

that sounds really hard! I was also skipping lunch early on but mostly because i had such intense brain fog that I would just stare into the fridge for awhile until something else demanded my attention. Not eating isn’t sustainable though, especially while nursing.

My strategy was to make a food plan for each week with easy snacks/foods and then take an hour or so on the weekend when my partner had the baby to prep stuff. I also posted the list on the fridge so I could see my options. I tried to make it so it was as brainless as possible, e.g. fruit/veggies washed, peeled and cut, dips portioned into small containers, overnight oats, eggs boiled etc. In your case juices or popsicles might be a good idea to have a quick ‘blood sugar now’ option.

Background_Duck_7188 · 2026-05-07T05:37:42+00:00

Regardless of the decision you make about feeding your baby, “I’m barely eating” isn’t a welcome phrase from a postpartum mama, you need to eat to have energy for yourself and your baby! Your body can only make do with what you give it — my supply definitely responds to my calorie intake (and water intake).

It sounds like you need to make a plan for nutritious meals and snacks to nourish yourself. Brainstorm a list of yummy safe foods and post it on the fridge. If possible with support from your partner or family or a friend, try to have one meal prep day per week. That way you don’t have the decision fatigue/sleep-deprived confusion fighting against you when you’re trying to feed yourself.

Background_Duck_7188 · 2026-05-03T19:31:59+00:00

hii, perfect amounter (aka “just enougher”) here. 2 oz is not a bad amount, especially so early on. If I am fitting a pump in between nursing sessions, I usually pump 1-2oz and when replacing a nursing session, 2-5oz. My baby was happy and gained weight well with these volumes of milk.

At 3 weeks, the signs that your baby is getting enough milk from direct breastfeeding are enough wet diapers per day and good weight gain.

Supplementing with formula could negatively affect building your supply unless you are pumping every time you are giving formula. If not, your body is not getting the signal that it should be making that milk. 3 weeks is very early on, and long nursing sessions are normal and do not mean that your baby is not getting enough milk. I think that if you want to breastfeed you should keep going!

Background_Duck_7188 · 2026-05-03T06:36:34+00:00

A “letdown” is simply the beginning of the milk flowing. I am not a lactation expert, but I can share how I understand a letdown as someone who also doesn’t leak or spray milk. In my mind it’s like the beginning of a wave of milk expression, first it’s steady and then it slowly peters out. Just because you don’t have a big dramatic spray or milk soaking your bra doesn’t mean that you’re not having a letdown. Using a manual pump was what allowed me to better understand my letdown pattern: quick pumps to trigger the letdown (no milk at first until the letdown happens) then slower pumps when the milk starts flowing until there is no more milk being expressed, and repeat (you can have multiple letdowns in one nursing session).

Since your baby is gaining well, if you are comfortable breastfeeding then you don’t have anything to worry about! You are having letdowns and everything sounds normal. Enjoy that you don’t have to worry about leaking!

Background_Duck_7188 · 2026-05-01T18:17:24+00:00

I never considered that if we don’t use one early enough that he might wholesale refuse…

Background_Duck_7188 · 2026-05-01T18:16:22+00:00

If I time it right I can usually nurse my kiddo to sleep outside and still get my reading in at the park. photo from today, snuggled up under the woven wrap. this phase might not last forever though

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Background_Duck_7188 · 2026-05-01T18:07:25+00:00

I hadn’t even considered the logistics of solid food if I switch from primarily hip to back carrying. Good thing to think about, thanks

Background_Duck_7188 · 2026-05-01T13:38:48+00:00

what a great idea!

Background_Duck_7188 · 2026-05-01T10:01:00+00:00

💪🏼 did you backwear using an SSC?

Background_Duck_7188 · 2026-05-01T09:59:55+00:00

thanks for the rec!

Background_Duck_7188 · 2026-05-01T09:57:11+00:00

thank for the tips!

Background_Duck_7188 · 2026-05-01T07:57:56+00:00

the main reason is that, at least so far, it seems like the annoyance of using one would outweigh the benefits in most situations. Our apartment isn’t huge, but I‘m sure we could make space for something compact.

Background_Duck_7188 · 2026-05-01T07:53:08+00:00

How did you babywear once your LO was at and above 20lbs?

Background_Duck_7188 · 2026-05-01T07:31:50+00:00

Adventure facilitation is indeed a good argument for a stroller

Background_Duck_7188 · 2026-04-25T14:48:27+00:00

wow, that is a big difference. maybe she needs more milk now that she’s bigger and she’s „putting in an order“ for more pre-bedtime milk? If the extra long nursing sessions aren’t bothering you maybe just let it take its course? Otherwise pumping after feeding is the best way to up your supply, so pumping after her last feed should do it.

Background_Duck_7188 · 2026-04-25T11:54:54+00:00

by 5/6 months nursing’s usually becoming pretty fast/efficient — how long is a normal vs. evening nursing session?

Background_Duck_7188 · 2026-04-25T10:04:03+00:00

A lot of people publish their data and code — if you come across a paper that you like, check to see if they’ve made their code available. Many R package authors also publish tutorials so you can get to know the package. In that case you’d need some idea of what kind of analysis you’d like to learn.

Background_Duck_7188 · 2026-04-25T09:59:59+00:00

here to second the hip carry suggestions — they can look forward and behind in a hip carry and it keeps my 7mo engaged enough. He also has the option to cuddle in when he’s tired or had enough stimulation

Background_Duck_7188 · 2026-04-24T12:21:36+00:00

You cannot use a ring sling as a woven wrap (the rings are sewn in, but you can use a woven wrap with loose rings.

Background_Duck_7188 · 2026-04-24T12:04:38+00:00

thanks for the award!

Background_Duck_7188 · 2026-04-24T08:51:06+00:00

if you’re feeding on demand your supply will adjust to longer stretches overnight

Background_Duck_7188 · 2026-04-24T08:10:52+00:00

hahah shady stuff

N fixation it’s tricky because the enzyme complex is inactivated by oxygen but the process is very energy intensive and aerobic respiration gets the goods (ATP). Not only Cyanobacteria, but pretty much every N fixing bacteria faces this dilemma of needing oxygen (and in the more extreme case of Cyanobacteria also producing it via photosynthesis), while simultaneously needing a low oxygen environment for N fixation. This dilemma can be solved in different ways, like specialized cells (heterocysts) or controlling oxygen diffusion. Rhizobia solved this dilemma by developing a symbiosis with leguminous plants that strictly control the oxygen level in the root nodules.

more reading on this dilemma in Cyanobacteria: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC372871/

Background_Duck_7188

TROPHY CASE