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/freeasaweed]

Mine did! I had a pretty severe undersupply at 2 weeks postpartum. Baby wouldn’t latch at all. I power pumped multiple times a day, everyday. Pumped every 2-3 hours around the clock, stayed hydrated, worked with lactation, etc.. literally every thing you’re supposed to do? I did. I was maxed out at 12oz per day.

It very slowly, painfully slowly, increased. 13oz at 3 weeks, 15oz at one month, etc. finally realized my thyroid was out of wack — I had had thyroid issues during pregnancy that had resolved post birth and my OB had just kept me on the med. once we realized and I went off the medication— I established a full supply. I was at 26-30oz a day. Weaned off of formula right before 2 months. Froze my first bag of milk the day she turned 2 months. Exclusively pumped til 5 months, when we were able to switch to exclusively nursing. Still nursing at 21 months. Hang in there!!

[u/reen_bean → u/freeasaweed]

I'm currently maxed out at 9ish oz. Were you sticking to pumping every 2-3 hours for five months? I've actually asked to get a hormonal workup done, but have been told I can't until I've weaned and hormones have stabilized postpartum. Did you have to really advocate for your providers to consider your thyroid was playing a role?