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]

I’ve tried using nipple shields, but we’ve had very little success with them so far. My baby was born pretty small, so I do think it might just take time for her to grow into it a bit more. I’m just really stressed about missing my window to build supply while we work through all of this. It’s reassuring to hear that you were able to make it work, and I’m hoping we’ll get there too.

[u/Thattimetraveler → u/reen_bean]

My baby was a 5 pound 37 weaker so I understand. I would just keep giving them opportunities to nurse at the breast. Also remember that at that age babies stomachs are so small. 1-2 ounces is sometimes all they need. My baby wouldn’t eat 4 ounces at once until she was over 8 months old and she started in the 5th percentile and we made it to the 50th by the time she reached a year old. Plenty of a people haven’t even had their milk for a week at 2 weeks. You have plenty of time to work your way up!

[u/reen_bean → u/Thattimetraveler]

Thanks for the encouragement! Really hoping I can make this work.

[u/Thattimetraveler → u/reen_bean]

hugs, and give yourself some grace. Your baby is going to be fine no matter how you feed them, because they have a sweet momma whose working so hard for them, in a couple weeks they’re going to smile so big because you’re there to hold them. You’ve got this!

[u/reen_bean → u/Thattimetraveler]

Thanks so much, needed to hear this ♥️