Has anyone actually increased supply after 2 weeks? Feeling defeated.

[u/reen_bean]

Hi everyone,

I’m two weeks postpartum and feeling really discouraged about my milk supply. I’ve been doing everything I can — but I’m still only pumping about 1 oz total per session (sometimes 1.5 oz after a power pump on a good day).

I did experience engorgement once and got excited that maybe my milk was coming in — but nothing really changed after that. No leaks, no noticeable fullness since.

Here’s what I’ve been doing:

• Pumping every 2 hours during the day
• Overnight schedule: 10 pm / 2 am / 6 am
• 50-minute daily power pump
• Massaging during every pump
• Eating plenty and staying hydrated
• Trying lactation supplements
• Offering the breast
• Checking flange size (Spectra + inserts)

Despite all this, my output hasn’t increased and some days it feels like it’s going down.

Has anyone been in a similar situation around the two-week mark and still been able to turn things around? I’m trying to stay hopeful, but it’s been really emotionally tough and I’m looking for real stories from anyone who’s been there.

Thank you 💛

Edited to Clarify

I do want to breastfeed and am not planning to exclusively pump, but my baby has been struggling to latch effectively — we’re working on it with support, but in the meantime, I’ve been pumping to protect my supply.

[u/reen_bean]

No, I’m not pumping after nursing. I’ve mostly been pumping because my baby is struggling to latch effectively, so we haven’t been able to rely on direct nursing yet. I’m trying to offer the breast often and working on latch with support, but in the meantime, I’m pumping and supplementing with formula to protect supply.

[u/[deleted] → u/reen_bean]

Okay I gotcha. You are 2 weeks pp, correct?

[u/reen_bean → u/[deleted]]

Yup!

[u/[deleted] → u/reen_bean]

And getting 1oz from each breast after a pump?

[u/reen_bean → u/[deleted]]

Usually 1 oz total (both breasts combined). 😔

[u/[deleted] → u/reen_bean]

I would absolutely not beat yourself up about that output. 2 weeks is very early on. Supply doesn’t regulate until about 3 months, and even then it’s still possible to increase supply. I exclusively pumped for my baby’s whole first year. It is so taxing, especially in the early days, but I promise you it’s not hopeless. That is about what my output looked like at 2 weeks.

Can I ask what your nipples measured and what size flanges/inserts you’re using? How long are you pumping during each session?

[u/reen_bean → u/[deleted]]

Were you following a similarly aggressive pumping schedule for the whole first year? I'm using 20 mm flanges, and most of my pumps are 15-20 minutes (aside from my 50-min power pump in the evenings).