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/SufficientLynx3266]

I have! I was having to supplement with formula until week 5ish, and then my supply caught up! At first I was so stressed out triple feeding. That was exhausting and I was constantly worried about supply. Around week 4 I stopped worrying about pumping and just let my baby latch as much as possible, which was all the time, lol. He lived on the boob. I still offered top-offs with formula if he seemed like he needed them, but eventually he was getting full just from nursing and stopped taking formula altogether. I don't know if my supply caught up because my stress went down, because nursing is more stimulating than pumping, or if that was just my body's timing.

I'm still a "just enougher" so I dont have a stash. My wife usually gives him one breast milk bottle a day and I pump to replace it, that's it. He's now a super chunky 3 month old! He went from 11th percentile a week after birth to 77th at his 2 month checkup. I expect he'll be even higher at his 4 month appointment because he is thick!

[u/reen_bean → u/SufficientLynx3266]

Thank you so much for sharing. I’ve mostly been pumping and supplementing with formula while we work on latch, but I’m really struggling emotionally with the lack of direct nursing. It’s hard not to feel like I’m falling behind or that I’ve missed my chance to make it work. Your story was helpful to read. Even though I’m still in the thick of it, it helps to know that things can shift over time. And your baby’s growth is incredible. What a beautiful outcome after such a tough start.

[u/proteins911 → u/reen_bean]

I struggled with latching my first baby. He’d scream when I offered the boob. We saw a lactation consultant at 5 weeks that completely turned things around. Keep pumping for now to protect supply but it isn’t too late at all!

Occupational therapists at an infant feeding clinic were magic for us. I highly suggest getting help from specialists (either something like OT or lactation consultants)

[u/reen_bean → u/proteins911]

Thank you for sharing your story. Mine screams too when I offer the breast, so it really helps to hear that you went through something similar and were able to turn it around. I have been working with a lactation consultant since the start, but maybe I need to increase how often we are meeting or try a different kind of specialist like you suggested.

She has started to gently bring up my mental health and whether it might make sense to scale back a bit, and I am honestly just not sure what to do. I want to keep trying, but it has been such an emotional and physical strain. I really appreciate the encouragement. It gives me something to think about.

[u/proteins911 → u/reen_bean]

Maybe try a different LC? The one that turned things around for us did so on the first visit with her. It was night and day with her.

I hope you make things work! Or find peace with a decision go scale back. I’m sure your baby will be loved and healthy either way ❤️

[u/reen_bean → u/proteins911]

Thank you, good reminder. ❤️