Help- I am freaking out! We have been on an LC-approved schedule of 10pm nurse, 1am bottle of pumped milk, next feeds are nursing, plus one am pump session to make up for the bottle feed. I have been pumping over 5oz so wasn't worried about my supply until tonight- LO just can't seem to get full and I am panicked I screwed up my supply by sleeping 7-7.5 hrs without nursing vs 5-6 as the LC recommended the last 2 nights in a row. Is it possible I'm already losing my supply from this stupid mistake?! I have a call w an LC in 30 mins but any reassurance would be helpful 
oh LO is 17 days old. She was up ALL NIGHT trying to eat the first week which is why we decided to add a bottle in the first place.
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I'm not a professional, but I don't think you've messed your supply up. Are you drinking a lot of water? I pretty much exclusively pumped and supplemented with formula the first week of my son's life.
After the first week I pumped 90% of the time and nursed to top him off if he wanted more.
Try not to stress since it can affect your supply. Drink lots of water.. And I swear my supply has increased since I've been eating more pork and granola..
Good luck! -
My LC told me never to go more than 4 hours without nursing or pumping during the first 6 weeks. Am I understanding right that you went 7.5 hours without doing either? If so, I do think your supply would drop, but you can still get it back up!!!
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It could've caused a dip but increased fluids & extra nursing should recover it fine.... Your lo is probably due for a growth spurt too so that would cause increased feedings.
ETA: I wouldn't go more than 5 hours without nursing in the first few months! Night nursing is actually GREAT for supply bc more prolactin triggers are laid at night than daytime.... I nurse through the night still at 13 months to help maintain my supply!
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It might have contributed to the dip, but if you go back to the every 5-6 as per your LC, your supply will go back up! I would only suggest that you not continue with the 7-7.5. Good luck!
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Maybe this article would be helpful? Even though it's an article about formula, I think it does a good job of explaining evening fussiness/hunger.
http://www.ivillage.com/formula-should-you-offer-formula-nighttime-feeds/6-n-137565 -
Thanks everyone. Yep I now know 7-7.5 was too long
I won't do it again, just hoping I can still recover the supply. The game an tonight is to skip the bottle and ill nurse her all feedings- I am just so nervous she's never going to be satisfied and we wil be up all night again like in the beginning. Sigh.
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@JoJoGirl: Ummm sweetie, at 17 days you ARE still at the beginning! Lol. Until your supply regulates around 3 months I would really try & refrain from not nursing, especially since frequent nursing is imperative to supply. Is your LC an IBCLC?
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@runsyellowlites: yep she is. I just mean the first few nights home from the hospital when I was getting an hour of sleep. I think my milk hadnt come in yet. It was hell!
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@JoJoGirl: All that nursing that keeps you up all night and makes you crazy will actually help you down the line. That is the very best way to establish a great supply, which will save you headaches in the long run. Hang in there!!! There won't be too many nights like that! And your LO won't starve. She may also be nursing for comfort/bonding.
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First off, you are fine. Just don't do the 7-8 hours straight without nursing again. Meanwhile I'd drink some papaya juice (which always help with my supply) and eat some lactation cookies. Worse come to worst there is always "more milk plus" or even beer. Chill! Stress doesn't help with your supply either.
I think your baby is just going through a growth spurt. There were times my baby (when at your baby's age) would nurse every hour and I would be scared of him because my breasts went all soft and he'd be crying again!
Second of all - wow. Your baby is already sleeping 7 hours straight at night, or did you just put ear plugs on and sleep (and let your husband deal with it)? Thinking back I don't think I could sleep for 7 hours straight on the 17th day! I would be seriously engorged. I remember there were nights my baby slept through for 4+ hours, and I'd be up in pain and a soaking wet shirt (due to leaky breasts), holding the pump and looking at my baby wondering if I should wake him or if I should pump. Ahh.
ETA: One more tip.... I agree with everyone else: if you can, don't pump, just nurse her (if she's good and efficient). Pumping this early of the game can actually affect your supply I think. A baby gets more milk out of you and increase your supply, and your body regulates according to her growth spurts, but a pump won't. Don't worry about if you will regulate and what not, you will! if she wants more, your body makes more.
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@runsyellowlites: I still nurse at least once a night too and DS is 14 months old. If i feel my supply dipping cuz I'm pregnant the first thing I plan on doing is adding a night time feeding.
Im surprised a LC told you to give a bottle at night so soon! I agree with the other ladies that you should only nurse at night till LO is at least 3 months old. But don't worry, 2 nights wouldnt ruin your supply FOREVER, just drink LOTS of water the next few days
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You'll be fine, just get back into a routine and your supply will come back up. It's a demand system
LO might also be having a growth spurt so all that extra nursing is a good thing, she's stimulating your body to make more milk. You're doing a great job, momma!
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Gatorade really helped me the first few months - would've loved lactation cookies but no way in hell was I cooking anything, lol
& the way I'd recover from a drop in supply was non-stop nursing for the next couple days.
It gets so much easier, I promise. The first six weeks are really crazy!
xo -
I agree with what the pp's have all said and I was also thinking that you're probably about to hit the three week growth spurt!
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Hang in there you are doing great. The good thing about your supply regulating the first 3 months/6 weeks is that its really easy to also INCREASE your supply if needed.
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Thanks everyone!! Talking to the LC last night was super helpful. No more sleeping longer than 4-5 hrs max, and she thinks LO was overtired last night, not hungry. Once we finally got her down she slept over 4 hrs! Who knew they root when they're tired... We are skipping the bottle for a bit til things regulate.
Appreciate everyone's feedback
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