Why is my supply dropping?

It’s common to notice ups and downs in your milk supply during breastfeeding.

There are a few main reasons why supply may dip. But small changes are often all that’s needed to boost supply and ensure baby is getting enough milk.

Breastfeeding and your baby

Your breasts make more milk if baby takes more milk. But this also means your supply may drop if baby removes less. There are some common reasons why your baby may not be taking enough milk to keep your supply up:

Too few breastfeeds
Most young babies need 8 to 14 feeds or more in 24 hours. Read more about feeding patterns in the early months.
Missed or delayed feeds
Letting your baby breastfeed whenever they are ready helps to keep your supply healthy. Look for early signs of hunger and try not to delay breastfeeds with other comforts such as a dummy.
Timing feeds
If you limit the length of your baby’s breastfeeds they may not remove enough milk and your supply may decrease. You can watch your baby rather than the clock to know when they have had enough. It may be time to swap breasts if baby’s sucking slows, they let go or they fall asleep. If they do the same on the second breast, they may have had enough.
Baby not breastfeeding well
If your young baby is still learning to breastfeed, they may not be able to remove enough milk to build up your supply. Ask for support if you are unsure if your baby is feeding well. An older baby may also have times when they don’t breastfeed very well, such as when they are unwell or teething.
Giving formula or other foods
Some mums are told that giving their baby formula or solid foods will help baby to gain weight or sleep longer. But this can make them less hungry for breastmilk and cause your supply to drop. It is possible to reduce top-up feeds and continue breastfeeding as your baby starts to have other foods.

Did you know?

There are lots of ways to increase your supply if you’re worried you aren’t making enough milk. Offering more breastfeeds or your expressed breastmilk will help your baby to grow well while supporting your supply.

Find out more

You and your supply

It is common to notice small changes in your supply at times, even if breastfeeding has been going well. Sometimes these are related to your health or wellbeing.

Hormonal changes
Some women find that changes to their hormones affect their milk supply. You may notice a short term drop in your supply when you ovulate or around the time of your period. A few extra breastfeeds on those few days can help ensure baby gets enough milk. A longer lasting decrease in supply can happen with pregnancy or the use of some types of contraception.
Illness and medications
Your milk supply may drop briefly if you are very unwell. Some medicines can also affect your supply. You might like to discuss this with your doctor or pharmacist.
Alcohol, caffeine, nicotine
Some mums find that too much alcohol, nicotine or caffeine may affect the way they make and release milk. These also pass through your milk to your baby and can make your baby fussy or restless. This can affect the way they breastfeed and reduce your supply further. Try to limit these while breastfeeding to help support your supply.

Is it really low supply?

There are also a few common reasons why a mum may think she has a low supply but it’s actually okay. Checking your baby's wet and dirty nappies, their growth and the way they behave can tell you more about whether your baby is getting enough milk.

Increasing your supply

Following your baby’s lead and feeding them as often and for as long as they need is the key to keeping your milk supply going well. If you do need to increase your supply there are many simple steps to help you do this.