Milk production is all about supply and demand – so when your infant's sleep and feeding patterns start to change around 3 months, it’s common for a nursing parent to wonder if their milk supply will start to change, too.
The truth is any changes to your milk supply you notice 3-months postpartum is just normal regulation and part of your body adjusting according to your baby’s needs.
In this article we’ll answer the common questions about maintaining your milk supply while supporting your baby’s sleep. We’ll also touch on common questions like, “Does breast milk supply decrease at 3 months?”, “How to increase milk supply at 3 months?”, and “What are signs your milk supply is decreasing at 3 months and what to do about it?”
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Does Milk Supply Decrease at 3 months?
If you’re breastfeeding or chestfeeding your infant and have an established milk supply, milk supply typically will not decrease at 3 months, but it likely will start to change. This is why many moms start to wonder if their milk supply is suddenly dropping at 3 months.
For the first 6-12 weeks postpartum with a newborn, your supply is in overproduction – your body is still figuring out how much your infant needs and since their stomachs are so small, they are seemingly constantly feeding.
At 3 months, when babies may start to sleep longer stretches as their circadian rhythm develops and they can drink more milk at one time, your body will start to shift away from overproduction. It has a better idea of what your baby needs in total, so will be more efficient.
This happens alongside your baby starting to be on a more consistent sleep schedule, which usually begins around 3-months. With sleep being more consistent, feedings also will start to get spaced out and fall into a rhythm, with more milk being consumed in fewer sessions.
Instead of nursing every 2-3 hours like you did during the 4th trimester, your established supply will naturally adjust to these changes in feeding patterns, timing its milk production to when your baby is now asking for feeds. The days of waking your newborn for a feeding may be behind you!
How Much Breastmilk Will a 3 Months Old Need?
How many ounces of breastmilk for a 3 month old can change from baby to baby, but typically an exclusively breastfed 3-month-old baby at 3-months should consume about 24-30 ounces. It may be spread out over less feeding sessions compared to when they were a newborn. Here are more 3 month milestones to look out for.
Many people can produce the exact amount of breastmilk their baby needs. Some moms even have an oversupply which can be frozen for the future. However, it’s normal, common, and healthy to supplement feeds with formula or expressed breastmilk to make sure your baby gets what they need. Babies rely on breast milk or formula as their main source of nutrition until their first birthday, even with the introduction of solid foods.
If you’re no longer producing enough milk to satisfy your baby, speak to your healthcare provider or a lactation consultant to get personalized advice.
Do Hormones Cause Milk Supply Dropping at 3 Months?
Hormones can cause your milk supply to drop at 3 months or change to account for when and how much your baby is feeding. Prolactin and oxytocin, the two hormones that oversee breastfeeding, act in response to your baby feeding or sucking, or to you pumping. The more you stimulate your breasts, the more oxytocin will be released to let down your milk and more prolactin will be released to tell your body to keep making milk. As feeding patterns change, your body will adapt to make sure it keeps producing milk at the times that your infant feeds.
There is research showing that prolactin levels are highest at night and in the morning. This could be to make sure you keep producing milk even if your baby is not waking as often at night. This is also why your breasts may feel fullest at that first feed in the morning.
Additionally, according to breastfeeding support organization La Leche League International, if hormones from menstruating can also cause a temporary drop in milk supply. However, for exclusively breastfeeding parents, it’s common to still not have gotten your period back 3 months after childbirth.
Finally, if you’re overly stressed or not getting quality sleep, extra stress hormones like cortisol could be released and affect your supply. Though your body will expect some stress and exhaustion, doing your best to maximize your sleep and ask for help if needed can prevent it from affecting your supply.
Having an infant at home can be exhausting – especially with nighttime feeds. To keep your supply up, try to fully drain your breast with each feeding, even if that means adding a late-night pumping session after nursing.
Does birth control reduce milk supply?
Many women begin taking a progesterone-only birth control around 3 months after giving birth. This birth control is not known to decrease milk supply. However, birth controls with estrogen can decrease milk supply. Avoid estrogen birth control or supplements while breast feeding.
If you return to birth control and your milk supply drops to unsustainable levels, you may want to consider either stopping birth control or switching to formula for your baby. Speak to your healthcare provider for personalized guidance.
Are Milk Supply and Baby Sleep Related?
Milk supply and baby sleep are related because your body makes milk in response to how often your baby feeds. In the early months, babies eat and sleep round-the-clock and wake frequently to eat. If they sleep longer than 2 or 3 hours at a time, healthcare experts and pediatricians will suggest you wake them to make sure they get the nutrients they need. Feeding guides when a newborn sleeps – they need lots of feedings to fuel their rapid early growth. The rapid feeds at this age also helps establish your milk supply for the months to come.
Around 3-months of age when their circadian rhythm develops, they start to feed more during the day and less at night. They also will start to drink more milk in each session and be able to go longer between feeds. This is when the balance between feeding and sleeping and milk supply begins.
The increased milk needed during the day will cause your supply to shift – it may start to feel smaller at night when feeds are less. Your supply naturally balances out so they are fully satisfied during each feeding.
For help balancing sleep and feeding needs, take this free 3 minute sleep assessment to get a personalized sleep plan and schedule to better navigate all the changes ahead. You can track feedings in the Smart Sleep Coach by Pampers™ app which makes following the Eat Play Sleep schedule much easier.
Normal Milk Supply Changes at 3 Months Versus True Supply Issues
If you notice your breasts feel less full and softer throughout the day, don’t immediately worry – this is normal as your body becomes more efficient and knows when your baby will eat. Same goes with faster feeding times, your baby too gets the better hang of nursing!
However, if you notice your letdown sensation becomes subtle or disappears, your baby doesn’t seem satisfied after a feeding, or they aren’t properly gaining weight or have fewer wet diapers, you may have a true supply issue. Speak to your pediatrician or healthcare provider to address any concerns with your baby. There is no shame in offering your baby a bottle – whether it be expressed milk or formula or a combination of both. Fed is best!
You can also follow our suggestion how to increase milk supply at 3 months and speak to a lactation consultant for personalized support.
Can You Increase Milk Supply at 3 Months?
Here some recommendations for how to increase breast milk supply at 3 months as your baby’s sleep and feeding patterns begin to change.
- Breast Feed More Often: Even if your baby doesn’t feed as much at night, simply bringing them to your breast will stimulate your body to produce more milk. You can also add a dream feed to your schedule to maintain a more regular, uninterrupted milk flow. Keep your regular Eat Play Sleep daytime schedule to keep up with demand as well.
- Strategic Pumping: In addition to keeping you comfortable and helping to prevent blocked ducts, consistently emptying your breast through pumping can help keep your milk production on a healthy, rhythmic cycle and save up or store breast milk for feedings once you return to work, for example. If you go to long without draining your breast, it could affect your supply. So, if your 3-month-old is sleeping longer at night and you’re wondering how to increase supply, add in a 15 minute night pumping session or pump after nursing,
- Breast Compressions (before feeding): Also known as “draining your breast,” breast compressions move milk toward the front of the breast, making room for a “Top off”. To compress your breast, gently cup your breast from the back and slide your hand forward to move the milk closer to your ducts.
- Take Care of Yourself: This is good advice in general, but particularly so when breast feeding – hydrate, eat well, and get as much rest as you can. Breast milk is almost entirely water so by drinking more water you give your body more of the raw material needed to create more milk. It’s also incredibly taxing on your body and ensuring you’re well-nourished is key to getting your supply where it needs to be. Remember: babies shouldn’t drink water until they start solids, usually around 6-months-old.
Does Breastfeeding Help Babies Sleep?
A baby that is well fed and nourished will often sleep better. Hunger is a common reason for frequent wakeups or a fussy baby at night. Feeding is one of the ways to soothe a crying baby. Research shows babies who drink breast milk need more frequent night feedings than babies who drink formula. This is because babies digest breast milk faster than formula. As a result, many breastfed babies continue to wake multiple times a night for a feeding for longer.
Final Thoughts
Supply regulation at 3 months is normal, healthy, and should be expected – and it’s usually not a sign of a decreased milk supply. It’s been twelve weeks since childbirth and your body is getting a hang of nursing and matching your baby’s needs.
As they get older, they will eat a little less often and your body adjust accordingly: producing more milk less often. This “readjustment” can make it seem like you’re producing less milk overall, which you may be, but you’re also most likely still going to produce enough for your baby. Your supply is more “on demand” than “ever ready.” Wow! Isn’t the human body incredible?
That said, very rarely milk supply does drop off. If you’re producing far too little milk, or none, or have concerns about your supply, consult a lactation expert or your healthcare provider.
For more helpful tips on helping your baby sleep, including how to breastfeed when your baby is ready to start sleep training, or for step-by-step guidance while you continue to balance sleep and feeding needs, take this free sleep assessment and download the Smart Sleep Coach by Pampers™ app.
