BF Moms-- What do you do when your DC no longer eats during the night

Sasha no longer takes a bottle in the middle of the night-- which DH would give. We are working on the sleep training, and she can make it through til 5 without eating-- then I just give in and nurse her.

So, this leaves me with a few questions...

Should I continue pumping? I just had to throw out 6oz cause I pumped over a day or so, then there was no opportunity for a bottle. I usually pump in the AM and at night-- but, I am thinking now it's for no reason-- except to go out, but then I won't get enough to create a substantial bottle if I do it every now and then. AND, I cannot freeze my milk.

I don;t know what my pump schedule should be-- and my boobs are totally ok in the morning after her not eating for 10 or so hours.

Re: BF Moms-- What do you do when your DC no longer eats during the night

The first week or so, I was waking up anyway, even if he didn't - so I did pump. But I was working too so I liked getting the extra session in to have it for my stash.

Then I stopped and just pumped first thing in the morning before he woke and would get about 16oz that session (at the height of it).

Your body should adjust to her not needing it anymore.

Why can't you freeze your milk? Fresh expressed milk should last more than a day and a half in the fridge - usually 5 days is a good rule of thumb.

Message edited 7/9/2009 4:18:50 PM.

Re: BF Moms-- What do you do when your DC no longer eats during the night

Re: BF Moms-- What do you do when your DC no longer eats during the night

How do you know if your milk went bad?

Re: BF Moms-- What do you do when your DC no longer eats during the night

My DD has not eaten in the middle of the night since 9wks old.....she will now be 4 months on monday...there is no need to pump in the middle of the night. Your supply will regulate itself to Sasha's needs. Our bodies are amazing - they know when to make the milk and when not to...it is extraordinary! When Julia first stopped eating in the middle of the night I was so engorged in the am, an over the past 2 months, my supply hs totally regulated so that although I am full in the am, I can now shower before feeding her and I don't feel like I am going to explode!

If you want to pump so that you have a bottle handy for that day, the best time to do it is after you first feed her in the morning. And as far as the lipase thing goes - I freeze my milk and it does have a bit of a smell to it, but DD drinks it just fine when I give it to her....unless it smells RANCID, it is probably just fine. I would give it a shot - I bet you it's not bad. I was totally paranoid after reading this lipase thing - even kept taste testing and the frozen stuff tastes different than the fresh stuff, but like I said, Julia takes it no problem - has for the past 4 weeks. She gets 1 bottle a day of frozen milk and 2 fresh bottles since I went back to work. I have been freezing some new stuff and giving her the old stuff since I want to make sure I always have some frozen. Seriously give your frozen milk a try. If it's bad, Sasha won't take it.

Message edited 7/9/2009 7:40:43 PM.

Re: BF Moms-- What do you do when your DC no longer eats during the night

randi, where are you storing your BM in the freezer? I noticed that when i stored closer to the door, my milk bags went sour..i noticed it AFTER id defrost them for Melania..i thought i had that issue too, but it turns out mostly it was just because i was storing too close to the front and the door gets opened alot...
when Mila stopped nursing at nite, i stopped pumping at nite a week later..
your body will adjust to know that she will only be eating during the day..
if you do continue to pump though, i would try what i said in the freezer, or make sure you surround it with ice..i swear, maybe its just not cold enough. good luck!!

Re: BF Moms-- What do you do when your DC no longer eats during the night

ok-- I never pumped in the middle of the night... I guess I phrased my question wrong.

I guess my real question is what's the point of pumping if you are not going to give a regular bottle?

AND, if you don't pump regularly-- how do you get enough to pump for when you need a bottle-- like if you want to get out for a few hours away from the baby.