BF moms... how long do you go without feeding at night?

Hi!... So my DD has been finally sleeping through the night... sometimes as much as 7-8 hours... she is almost 10 weeks... During the day we go every three hours with feeding... at night, I feed her last at 10, and then not again until 4 or 5ish... however, my boobs start to become so filled that I wake up anyhow uncomfortable... should I be pumping in between night feedings to keep my milk supply up? What happens to my supply if I am not using it for 7-8 hours straight? What is the longest you go at night without pumping or feeding? Will it always feel uncomfortable? Thanks!

Re: BF moms... how long do you go without feeding at night?

I BF and pumped for a year. Inever woke up in the middle of the night just to pump, and I always had plenty of milk. Your milk supply won't decrease if you don't pump or feed at night. If you want, you can pump before you go to sleep.

What I DID do was pump first thing in the morning and I would get 10oz. I would bank that for the future. I was able to stop pumping a month in advance of weaning because I had SO MUCH milk in the freezer.

Re: BF moms... how long do you go without feeding at night?

You are blessed, our almost 2 year old nursling has never slept more than a 5 hour stretch You can pump if you want but Breast Feeding is all about supply and demand and your body will simply adjust knowing it won't need to produce milk during those resting hours.

Re: BF moms... how long do you go without feeding at night?

Sometimes DS sleeps all the way through, some nights he gets up once to eat.

That being said, his last feeding is usually around 9:00. I try to get up around 1:00 to pump because I like to get the extra milk. DS is eating 7.5 ounce bottles during the day and when I pump, I usually get only 5-6 ounces so I have to make up for the difference somewhere... because I am not supplementing with formula right now.

If I do go a night where DS sleeps all the way through and I don't feel like getting up to pump, my boobs are usually very full in the morning and they are sore. I prefer to not let them get like that. Not sure how it affects my milk, though!

Re: BF moms... how long do you go without feeding at night?

Unless you want to be having to wake every night to pump, then no, don't pump in the middle of the night. Because of the reduced feedings, your body will regulate itself and stop producing so much at night, but will rpoduce what it needs to during the day.

I used to wake up engorged in the middle of the night and would pump a little ONLY if I was totally uncomfortable. Now, I wake up full after a full night of no nursing (which doesn't happen often)~ but I have plenty of milk during the day.

GL! And congrats on the great sleeper!!!!

Re: BF moms... how long do you go without feeding at night?

Re: BF moms... how long do you go without feeding at night?

I have never pumped and have been BFing for 6 1/2 months. Your breasts will get use to it.

my son will sleep on average around 6-8 hours as well. Once in a while he will go 9-11 hours during the night.

Im sure you've heard it before but it is supply and demand and if your DC goes longer than 8 hours one night, your breasts may be engorged and leak a little but it will get better.

Hang in there.

Re: BF moms... how long do you go without feeding at night?

Like everyone said, your boobs will adjust. I just had to get used to this myself and it took about 4-5 days before I woke up in the morning with no pain or engorgement and I had plenty to feed with.

Re: BF moms... how long do you go without feeding at night?

DD is almost 12 weeks, and I would say within the last week or so - I can go a good 6-7 hour stretch without waking up in pain or leaking. It is heaven! DD has been sleeping through the night for awhile, but I was still getting up to pump .

Re: BF moms... how long do you go without feeding at night?

I think I am the ONLY idiot who has to wake up and pump during the night. I am a very bad pumper, don't get much at all, maybe 2 oz. So I started getting up in the middle of the night a while ago (DD is 4 months this Sat.) because that is when I get the most milk. I like to have bottles so DH can feed her or in the event that I actually get to leave the house to do something for me!