So my little Rosie is 5 weeks and slept through the night last night, 9:30-6:30. I don't know that it'll become a regular thing just yet, but I wouldn't be surprised since my other babies started sleeping through about this time as well (don't hate me). But I wasn't still breastfeeding my others at this point anymore, so this is completely new territory for me.
I have Insufficient Glandular Tissue and therefore don't produce enough milk to feed a growing baby, but instead of just throwing up my hands and quitting completely again this time, we're nursing every 3 1/2-4 hours and then she gets 4-5 oz. of donated breast milk from a bottle (was planning to use an SNS, but we haven't quite figured it out and this seems to be working). Anyways, but if she's going to start sleeping through the night, I'm trying to decide if I should be getting up to pump at least once. I was leaking when I woke up this morning and we nursed for a good long time right away- the tissue I do have works just fine, there's simply not enough of it. I really like a full night's sleep (like, really, really), but I also want to preserve what little supply I have and be able to keep our breastfeeding relationship going as long as I can, even if only for bonding, and I know that it's a supply and demand thing. So I'm in a bit of a quandary. Any thoughts? How do moms with normal boobs do it? I think my only problem is a lack of tissue and not related to hormonal problems.
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I didn't stop pumping at night until my LO was 3 months old, and even then I would pump once at 11 pm and once at 5 am so I just went 6 hours (I would dream feed her at 11 pm before I went to bed). It wasn't until LO was 5 months that I started going a full 10-12 hours at night without pumping.
But I'm an exclusive pumper and I really wanted to make sure I kept my supply (have never had supply issues btw.).
I really like my sleep, too but I wanted to establish my supply the first 3 months.
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How old is she? Until my LO was three weeks I woke her every five hours at night to establish my supply. After that, if she was sleeping, so was I. Honestly I found that good rest was one of the most important parts of keeping my supply up.
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@Anagram: I should have added that I generally only max out at 1 oz. from both sides combined when I pump. Which I know is not indicative of what she actually gets out when she nurses, but it's kinda like, I'm really gonna get up for that?
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I had the opposite problem and had to pump when DS slept through the night occasionally (he didn't sleep through regularly until he was a year) because I would literally spray milk all over the bed...not fun. I would say pump for a bit over night and see if she's really ready to sleep through the night. Then you'll at least maintain that supply if she goes back to needing that nursing session. If she does start sleeping through the night regularly I'd pump right before you go to sleep and try to transition your body to that schedule and hopefully you'll still maintain a bit more of that milk.
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@MamaMoose: She's 5 weeks. But different things I read put different lengths of time for how long it takes to establish supply.
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@Beyond2: Good thoughts, thanks!
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My LO started STTN at 4 weeks and I EP due to low supply...I stopped pumping in the MOTN once she was sleeping through. My supply didn't seem to take a hit.
ETA: The first few mornings I would wake up really engorged and leaking, but it didn't take long for it to adjust.
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You know I dealt with something very similar. I got the most milk pumping at night both times. Mr. T would get everything ready, and make me a little nest of pillows in the bed and then he would scoot Lorelei over to him if she was still sound asleep and I would doze/pump (having a hands-free pumping bra was great, and so was the hospital pump where the milk couldn't back up into the tubes if I got sleepy enough to not be paying attention). I stopped after not too long because she was getting enough from me without supplementing any breastmilk (so we used what I had pumped and frozen to mix with foods when she got a little older), but if you are wanting to supplement with your BM as well, it might be worth it for you to do.
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First of all, are you in the IGT & Low Supply Facebook group? That place is amazing & full of women who have been there, done that! I would definitely recommend it. I actually asked this question there & most said they don't get up & their supply was not affected.
My LO didn't STTN until 8 weeks, and my LC told me supply is typically established at 6-8 weeks. Still, if I woke up & felt full, I would get up & pump. I liked having breast milk to supplement with at one feeding instead of formula and as others gave said, I get the most at night. Shortly thereafter, her bedtime moved up & I started pumping at 11pm before I went to bed. Lately she has been waking up at 2:30am again but we are trying to get her to STTN with an 11:30pm dream feed, which worked last night. So I will nurse at 9pm, pump at 11pm, dream feed a bottle at 11:30pm and sleep until she nurses again at 5am. I often am really full at that morning feeding so I pump behind her to fully empty, as I think going longer has been giving me clogged ducts.
PS: I hope you don't mind me asking, but why you supplement with 4-5 oz of donor milk at 5 weeks? If she is transferring 1 oz from you, that's 5-6 oz a feeding which is more than my 11 weeker eats! Every baby is different but I wouldn't want you to be over feeding your precious stash. Breastfed babies also need less than formula fed - many stay at around 25 oz a day for 6 months.
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@daniellemybelle: *blush* Yes, I am in that group, but for some stupid reason I'm always scared to post there. Too intimidated by all the breastfeeding awesomeness there, or something.
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@FarmWifeGina: Oh man, I post there everyday it feels like! Don't be intimidated! Though HB is my "safe place" too
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