You’ve made it through those wild early weeks — you know, the ones where you felt like a human milk fountain — and suddenly… crickets.
No more leaking.
No more rock-hard breasts.
No more waking up in a puddle.
And your first thought?
“Oh no. My milk’s gone!”
Take a deep breath, mama. Your supply didn’t ghost you — it’s just regulating.
The Science: What’s Actually Happening
In the first few weeks postpartum, your milk production is driven mostly by hormones — specifically prolactin and oxytocin. It’s like your body heard, “A baby was born!” and hit the “ALL SYSTEMS GO” button.
That means lots of fullness, leaking, tingling, and even the occasional geyser situation.
But somewhere around 6 to 12 weeks postpartum, your body starts to get the memo that you’re not feeding triplets — and production shifts from hormonal control to supply-and-demand control.
This is the magical process called regulation — where your milk production syncs with your baby’s actual needs.
So yes, your breasts may feel softer, lighter, or even “empty,” but that’s not low supply.
That’s efficiency.
Your body is now calibrated like a pro.
How This Feels for Moms (and Why It Freaks You Out)
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had moms say,
“I used to leak all the time — now nothing. Did my supply crash?”
Or,
“My breasts don’t feel full anymore. Is my baby getting enough?”
These changes can feel unsettling because they’re different, not because they’re bad.
When your supply regulates, it’s normal to:
-
Stop leaking or feeling letdown sensations
-
Have softer breasts even before feeds
-
Pump less volume (especially if baby is feeding efficiently)
-
Notice shorter feeding sessions
Your body’s not quitting — it’s just becoming a smooth operator.
How to Know Your Supply Is Still Enough
Let’s go back to the real indicators of milk transfer — because firmness and leaks don’t count.
If all of that checks out, your supply is chef’s kiss.
Honoring the Dance: Supply & Demand
Your milk supply is a relationship — and like any good relationship, it’s built on communication and consistency.
Every time your baby nurses, your body gets the message: “Keep this milk bar open.”
Skip feeds or stretch them too long, and your body might misread the signal.
That’s why this next part might sting a little…
The Unpopular Opinion: Sleep Training Can Complicate Things
Look, I get it — you’re exhausted, you’d trade a kidney for a 6-hour stretch of sleep. But in those early months, long overnight gaps or rigid feeding schedules can throw off the supply-demand rhythm your body’s trying so hard to learn.
When nighttime feeds are dropped too soon, your breasts don’t get the memo to keep up production. And since prolactin levels peak at night, those missed sessions can subtly chip away at supply.
Regulation first. Routine later.
What To Do Instead
✨ Keep feeding on demand — your baby knows how to balance your supply.
✨ Offer both breasts and use gentle breast compressions.
✨ If you’re separated from baby, pump when you’d normally nurse.
✨ Remember: softer breasts don’t mean less milk — they mean balance.
The Milk Drunk Truth
Your body isn’t broken. It’s brilliant.
You’re moving from milk chaos to milk harmony — and that’s something to celebrate.
So next time you notice your breasts feel different, remind yourself:
I’m not losing milk. I’m leveling up.
Welcome to regulation, mama. You’re officially in sync.
