My 4-month-old has slept through the night for some time now. Recently, I've stopped waking her up for a "last feeding" at 10 or 10:30pm. Her pediatrician said she would make up the calories during the day and so far, it's been going well. However, I've still been pumping at 10:30 or 11pm b/c I'm a bit afraid of going so long between feedings. Her last feeding is now around 7:30pm or 8:00pm and she'll wake up anywhere between 5-6am.
Can I drop this pumping? Will it just take a few days for my breasts to adjust? Milk supply had thus far not been an issue for me. Just worried that it might get uncomfortable or painful, or that dropping the pumping could possibly effect milk supply. However, if there's no demand from her for a late night feeding, am wondering if my supply should just adjust accordingly?
Would love to hear what has worked for you.
Thanks!
H.
Thanks, moms, for all the advice. I did end up dropping the pumping. Some mornings, I would wake up with really full breasts, but now, two months later, her last feeding at about 7pm and the next one isn't until 7:30am and it's still all fine. No issues with supply or anything. Thanks, again!
When I stopped pumping at night, I gradually decreased the amount of time pumping. So if I usually pumped for 10 minutes, I'd pump 8 for a night or two, then 6, etc. Actually, I was so afraid of waking up engorged in the middle of the night, that I probably took it even slower than that, but it probably wasn't necessary. I had no problems with engorgement or keeping my supply.
unless you would like to save that extra bottle i would stop pumping. you might wake up a little sore for a day or two but your body will adjust. personally, if you are awake i would do the pump just to have a little extra. but if you are heading to bed just forget about it.
Another thought if you deside to stop pumping at night would be to pump a bit after each feeding durring the day. I am in the same boat but I am not pumping at night. The first few mornings were a bit full. If it seems like he is hungry sooner or even starts to wake in the night to me that will be signs he is not getting as much as he needs. If the pumping after the feedings does not increase my supply I will increase water, drink mothers milk tea, and get more reast durring the day before I will pump at night.
Good luck!
It definitely sounds like you can drop that pumping unless you just want to store expressed milk to take a weekend away or something of that nature.
To go away from pumping, try pumping half the normal time the first couple of nights and a quarter of the time the 3rd and 4th nights and then try going without pumping. You may need to pump off a little for 5 minutes for the 5th through 7th night, but then your body should realize that it does not need to produce at that time. If you don't get super engorged, you could just quit pumping completely the first night or start off pumping for just 5 minutes to release any pressure and signal your body to quit producing. If she later picks up this feeding, you will have breastfeed and possibly supplement with expressed milk that you've frosen until your body begins producing at that feed time again. Our bodies are SO amazing! Good luck with your little one sleeping through. One of mine was a good sleeper and I loved it!
If you keep pumping, then you are creating the demand. If you need to stock up this is the perfect way to do so.
It will take few days for your body to adjust. Fortunately, my milk supply was lower later in the day, so these were the best feedings drop initially. It could get a little painful, but each day should get easier as you go.
Congrats on getting your baby on such a great sleep schedule at 4 months!
I went through the same thing with my baby girl. It sounds like your little one dosn't need that last feeding, so unless you want to keep pumping to store your breastmilk, you should be fine dropping it.
For me, sometimes Chloe would nurse well right before bed and I would be fine skipping pumping, other times she wouldn't drink as much and I would be uncomfortable in the night and need to pump.
One thing to remember is your breasts should NEVER become uncomfortably full! This puts you at risk for plugged milk ducts and mastitis (breast infections).
It sounds like breastfeeding and pumping is going well for you, so there is absolutely no reason why you should have to be uncomfortable or in pain!
If you start to feel uncomfortably full or engorged, just pump until you are comfortable and then stop. This allows your body to slowly and safely reduce your milk supply without unnecessary risks to yourself.
Good luck! :)
Hello!
I would say if your daughter isn't needing it, you should probably stop pumping. It will be a little uncomfortable at first (I am going through it right now as well), but every day I am less and less engorged. Your supply will adjust with what the baby is taking. If she needs more during the day, your supply will get used to more during the day and less during the night.
Good luck with it!
S.
Hi H.,
I hate to be the nay-sayer, but my 4-month old started sleeping well about a month ago (at 3 mo.s) - which also corresponded to our 2-week family vacation - so I had stopped pumping in the morning for the vacation - and she stopped eating during the night cuz she was sleeping. I thought it was just vacation and I would get back on track with pumping extra in the morning, but then I was staying at my cousins and she gave my baby formula in the evening and it helped Viola get to sleep without all the crying. Needless to say, I bought a can. then after vacation, went back to work - and my supply hasn't gone back up. I try pumping extra, but with her away from me all day she eats twice as much as I produce and i can't catch up again. I don't know why, but I am now ok with half formula, its actually liberating compared with trying to worry how to get my supply up. Looking back, I'd say don't mess with a good thing unless you're prepared for being flexible. I'm happy with it all, but I get annoyed at this theory that somehow we can change our supply by increasing pumping- I don't see that happening at all now since its gone down.
good luck - and do whatever works best for sanity and your baby will be fine! I personally prefer sleep :)
D.
I think you can skip the pumping, bc of the supply and demand. If your baby doesn't need the 10:00 feed, then your body will adjust to not producing it. I don't think your supply will affect it negatively, it will affect it the way it should. If they get sore though, you probably could just pump a little bit to relieve some pressure, and I think you'd be fine.
Yes! You can stop pumping! YAY! Breast milk production works by supply and demand- there may be one day of your baby nursing more to increase the demand if s/he ever needs but you should not be afraid to stop pumping. Be happy! It is so nice not to! It may mean your breasts are a little full the first day as the demand decreases but the baby will balance it all out.
Enjoy!
