"My Milk Has Disappeared” — What’s Actually Happening? E12
“My milk has disappeared.”
It’s one of the most common messages mums send in panic — often around the 8–10 week mark.
Breasts feel soft, leaking stops, letdowns change… and suddenly everything feels different.
In this episode of The Latch Revolution, Katie James and Johanna Sargeant (IBCLCs) explore the common experience of breastfeeding mums feeling like their milk has suddenly disappeared.
They begin with the classic scenario around 8–10 weeks, where breasts feel softer, leaking reduces, and sensations like letdown are no longer as noticeable. This shift can feel alarming, particularly as many mums are no longer receiving regular support at this stage.
Katie and Joh explain how this change is often a normal transition from the early, less regulated phase of milk production into a more efficient, demand-led system. The body has learned how much milk to make and no longer needs to overproduce.
The conversation then moves into other situations that can feel like milk has disappeared, including illness, hormonal changes, return of periods, pregnancy, and thyroid changes. They explain how these factors can temporarily affect milk supply but do not mean that milk is gone permanently.
Finally, the episode explores a more sensitive and complex topic — how grief and significant stress can affect the milk ejection reflex and make it feel as though milk is no longer there. They discuss how this is a physiological response to overwhelming stress, and the importance of compassion in these situations.
In This Episode We Cover
– Why breasts feel softer around 8–10 weeks
– Why leaking and letdown sensations can disappear
– How milk production becomes more efficient over time
– Why babies are the best indicator of milk supply
– Temporary changes from illness or hormonal shifts
– The impact of returning periods on milk supply
– Pregnancy and breastfeeding changes
– Thyroid conditions and milk production
– How grief can affect milk ejection
Want More From Katie and Joh?
Check out our courses for professionals:
Decoding the Suck: Gentle support for babies with sucking difficulties
“My milk has disappeared.”
It’s one of the most common messages mums send in panic — often around the 8–10 week mark.
Breasts feel soft, leaking stops, letdowns change… and suddenly everything feels different.
Episode Summary
In this episode of The Latch Revolution, Katie James and Johanna Sargeant explore the common experience of breastfeeding mums feeling like their milk has suddenly disappeared.
They begin with the classic scenario around 8–10 weeks, where breasts feel softer, leaking reduces, and sensations like letdown are no longer as noticeable. This shift can feel alarming, particularly as many mums are no longer receiving regular support at this stage.
Katie and Joh explain how this change is often a normal transition from the early, less regulated phase of milk production into a more efficient, demand-led system. The body has learned how much milk to make and no longer needs to overproduce.
The conversation then moves into other situations that can feel like milk has disappeared, including illness, hormonal changes, return of periods, pregnancy, and thyroid changes. They explain how these factors can temporarily affect milk supply but do not mean that milk is gone permanently.
Finally, the episode explores a more sensitive and complex topic — how grief and significant stress can affect the milk ejection reflex and make it feel as though milk is no longer there. They discuss how this is not a failure of milk production, but a physiological response to overwhelming stress, and the importance of compassion in these situations.
In This Episode We Cover
– Why breasts feel softer around 8–10 weeks
– Why leaking and letdown sensations can disappear
– How milk production becomes more efficient over time
– Why babies are the best indicator of milk supply
– The role of nappies and swallowing as evidence
– Temporary changes from illness or hormonal shifts
– The impact of returning periods on milk supply
– Pregnancy and breastfeeding changes
– Thyroid conditions and milk production
– How grief and stress can affect milk ejection
Want More From Katie and Joh?
Check out our courses for professionals:
Decoding the Suck: Gentle support for babies with sucking difficulties
“My milk has disappeared.”
It’s one of the most common messages mums send in panic — often around the 8–10 week mark.
Breasts feel soft, leaking stops, letdowns change… and suddenly everything feels different.
Episode Summary
In this episode of The Latch Revolution, Katie James and Johanna Sargeant explore the common experience of breastfeeding mums feeling like their milk has suddenly disappeared.
They begin with the classic scenario around 8–10 weeks, where breasts feel softer, leaking reduces, and sensations like letdown are no longer as noticeable. This shift can feel alarming, particularly as many mums are no longer receiving regular support at this stage.
Katie and Joh explain how this change is often a normal transition from the early, less regulated phase of milk production into a more efficient, demand-led system. The body has learned how much milk to make and no longer needs to overproduce.
The conversation then moves into other situations that can feel like milk has disappeared, including illness, hormonal changes, return of periods, pregnancy, and thyroid changes. They explain how these factors can temporarily affect milk supply but do not mean that milk is gone permanently.
Finally, the episode explores a more sensitive and complex topic — how grief and significant stress can affect the milk ejection reflex and make it feel as though milk is no longer there. They discuss how this is not a failure of milk production, but a physiological response to overwhelming stress, and the importance of compassion in these situations.
In This Episode We Cover
– Why breasts feel softer around 8–10 weeks
– Why leaking and letdown sensations can disappear
– How milk production becomes more efficient over time
– Why babies are the best indicator of milk supply
– The role of nappies and swallowing as evidence
– Temporary changes from illness or hormonal shifts
– The impact of returning periods on milk supply
– Pregnancy and breastfeeding changes
– Thyroid conditions and milk production
– How grief and stress can affect milk ejection
Want More From Katie and Joh?
Check out our courses for professionals:
Decoding the Suck: Gentle support for babies with sucking difficulties
https://thelatchrevolution.com
Breastfeeding & Lactation: The Fundamentals
https://katiejames.site
The Feeding Couch® – Breastfeeding SOS
https://katiejames.site
You can also access the 5 Gentle Questions Booklet — a clinical tool designed to support deeper conversations in breastfeeding consultations: https://www.thelatchrevolution.com/gentle-questions
If this episode stayed with you, leaving a review helps more mums and professionals find these conversations.
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Katie: @katiejameslactation
Johanna: @milkandmotherhood
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Medical Disclaimer
Disclaimer: The content of this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for personalised medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Listeners should always seek the guidance of their own healthcare provider, midwife, or lactation consultant with any questions they may have regarding their own situation or that of their clients. Katie James and Johanna Sargeant do not accept responsibility for any decisions made based on this content.
Keywords
milk supply disappeared, breastfeeding 9 weeks, soft breasts breastfeeding, breastfeeding panic milk gone, letdown disappeared breastfeeding, breastfeeding hormones period return, thyroid breastfeeding milk supply, pregnancy breastfeeding changes, stress milk supply, grief breastfeeding
