Long stretches at night without feeding/pumping

[Tiger22]

During the day lo eats at least every 2 hours but at night she will go 4-6 hours sometimes even 7 hours without feeding..I wake up feeling very full and will wake her up or go pump sometimes..is it ok to do this, going this long between feelings just at night? I don't want to decrease my supply but I also don't want to wake her and would also enjoy the sleep myself..what's the best way to handle this? Thanks!

 

[missk1989]

I would just ride with it for now. You will find that in a few days your body will realise you dont need as much milk at night and will reduce what its making so you will feel less engorged. if you pump your body will think your baby needs the milk and keep producing it. This will not affect your supply throughout the rest of the day.

 

[New Mrs W]

Hi. Mickey has started sleeping 7 hour stretches and I was waking up engorged with very wet breast pafs. Lasted about three nights and now I wake up full but no where near as wet. Think my body must be adjusting x

 

[Kimber]

I had the same situation and worry when my baby was younger. Best advice I got was "don't question a good thing!" lol I just went with it and no supply problems. Still going strong bf at 6 months.

 

[SpotlessMind]

Gwen has gotten a 5 hour stretch of sleep at night since she was home for 4 days. Lucky us! At first I think it did take me a bit longer to regulate, going back and forth between feeling a little low during the day when I didn't get full at night OR normal supply during the day but super engorged/drenched at night. However, I did regulate. Now I get full at night but not painfully (it just comes out fast for her night feeds, which is equally awesome because it makes them quicker so I get back to sleep more quickly!) and have plenty during the day. You don't HAVE to get up to pump, you will regulate, but if you're uncomfortable you can. You can also just place a warm washcloth on your breasts and let it drain a little which won't increase your supply as much as pumping does.

 

[jinglebear]

it depends on what u want to do..... some ppl say dont let a baby go longer than 4 hours at night in order for you to up your milk supply in the early days, but im like you if they are sleeping let them sleep. the engorgement does get better. my lo is going about 6-7 hours at night and my breasts are def less sore than the early days (shes 13days now) i still wake up feeling really full but if i hand express a small amount it really helps. sometimes i even pump in the morning from one breast and then 1oz of the second so it makes it more comfortable for me. if its too uncomfy just wake lo and let her feed x

 

[seaweed eater]

Let her sleep! She's over 2 months old. If she starts waking more frequently again your supply will adjust back upward. Enjoy your sleep!

 

[hopingforit]

I go 10 hours without pumping most nights and it hasn't hurt my supply. I pump at 1030-11, bed at 12, babies wake at 8-9, pump at 9-10. I've been doing this for a month now nd haven't had a problem though sometimes it is painful when I wake up.