my love hate relationship with breastfeeding

my milk supply is starting to dwindle.

perhaps this is due to the fact that my husband and i spent the last week moving all of our belongings and 4 cords of firewood into our new home and barn, and i haven't been pumping/nursing boopers as frequently as i usually do.

perhaps this is due to the fact that we are six months PBB (Post Birth of Boopers) and she is starting to eat some solid foods.

perhaps this is due to the fact that i am SUPER busy with work/the holidays/family visiting/unpacking and have had no time to RELAX. and i have a cold.

okay, so i'm a little stressed right now.

i know that stress can affect your milk supply. i know that nursing and pumping frequently can increase your supply. however, i am finding it very difficult to pump more than three times a day at work. (damn the billable hour!)

i've started taking fennugreek supplements and drinking more water, to see if that has any effect. we've made it six months with no formula and i desparately want to avoid giving any to aubrey. but i'm starting to worry that this slow decrease in milk over the past few months is an irreversible trend. maybe i'm wrong...maybe it's normal?

sigh. i've had fluctuations in my supply from the very beginning, so i suppose i'll get through this. don't get me wrong...i am so very very glad that i made the decision to breast feed, and, even though it has had its challenges (ex: sore boobs, blisters on nipples, plugged ducts, a bout of mastitis, not to mention my ravenous barracuda of a baby) i wouldn't do it any other way.

but lately, i have been finding myself longing for freedom from the boob. six months down, six more to go. can i make it?