During the first few days of breastfeeding, you wait anxiously for the milk to come in. Then follows a few weeks or months when you've got a great supply. You may have filled the freezer with pumped milk and wondered when you'll ever use it.

Then you go back to work, or are hit with some other stressor, and you watch your milk production dwindle. You start to re-think your plans for breastfeeding for the full first year of your baby's life—but of course you can hear the pediatrician's recommendations ringing in your head. Guilt or anxiety sets in and then weaning your baby off your breast milk seems inevitable.

I remember these feelings and experiences quite vividly. The stressors that slow your milk production are many. Exhaustion. Mastitis. An illness affecting the baby. Work. Finding the time to pump. Finding a place where you can pump. Synchronizing feeds around your work hours.

There are medical reasons behind a reduced supply, too. Many women will develop an underactive thyroid gland after delivery and a case of thyroiditis will likely prevent you from keeping up a good supply. Infections of the breast, often emanating from cracked nipples, can also lead to reduced production.

The most common reason for losing the milk supply is simply the stress of returning to work. In addition to that stress, a breast pump is just not as efficient at pulling milk from the breast as compared to a baby. Also, it's easy to get so busy at work that you hesitate to take the time to pump. As the intervals between pumping periods get longer and the efficiency of each feed or pump lessens, milk production drops. A bottle of formula is added here and there, further reducing the demand for milk production.

So what's to do?

First, decide on a reasonable time period when you'll be able to breastfeed your baby. One month? Three? Six? Twelve? While the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends 12, the best goal is the one that you and your baby can realistically accomplish together. Any breast milk is a good thing, and formula still has everything your baby needs to grow.

Next, check in with your obstetrician to see if any medical issues might be reducing your supply. This will likely involve just a quick exam and a possible blood test.

Then, improve your schedule. Maximize the number of feeds you're able to provide directly to your baby and also up the number of times you pump your milk. Over a few days, you should be producing more milk.

Last, take care of yourself. Get rest, eat well, and reduce your stress!