Sleeping through and Milk Supply
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Category: Support
Forum Name: Infant/toddler feeding
Forum Description: From breast/bottle feeding and starting solids, to fussy toddlers, discuss it here!
URL: forum_posts.asp?TID=28790
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Topic: Sleeping through and Milk Supply
Posted By: MrsH
Subject: Sleeping through and Milk Supply
Date Posted: 17 September 2009 at 10:26am
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Hiya,
Question for those resident experts out there!! I'm expressing regularly so that DH can give our son a bottle in the evening (about 730pm) AND our son has also started sleeping through the night. Am I reducing my supply by not feeding him and just expressing at these times? I am getting up in the middle of the night to relieve engorgement and usually express about 100mls off one side. I don't want my supply to drop off (as it is I feel kind of empty in the afternoons). I know that the baby is the best breast pump around but darn it,. I just can't get him to spit it into a bottle to save for later LOL ETA: I am feeling more tired now than I was in the first 12 weeks and wonder if I need to increase my intake now that he's getting bigger and requiring more goodness...? ------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
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Replies:
Posted By: FreeSpirit
Date Posted: 17 September 2009 at 12:09pm
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Am I reducing my supply by not feeding him and just expressing at these times? I am getting up in the middle of the night to relieve engorgement and usually express about 100mls off one side.
Your son is much more efficient at getting milk from you, so you will taking less milk than he would at this time - but since you are expressing during the night as well you may be producing MORE milk - it's a supply and demand thing, if you're using 600ml a day, thats what your body will produce, I don't want my supply to drop off (as it is I feel kind of empty in the afternoons). It's normal to feel "empty" in the afternoon - this just means your son will be getting more hindmilk, which is produced after the foremilk (the milk sitting in your boob that makes you feel full is fore milk, and looks thin, hindmilk is thicker and looks creamy) I know that the baby is the best breast pump around but darn it,. I just can't get him to spit it into a bottle to save for later LOL I expressed first thing in the morning, every day, after I fed her for ages, so I had a good couple of litres spare in the freezer. (Sadly I had to throw most of it out because it wasn't used, better too much then too little spare) ETA: I am feeling more tired now than I was in the first 12 weeks and wonder if I need to increase my intake now that he's getting bigger and requiring more goodness...? You will need to be eating well, he will be drinking more in total, and your body has probably started using up your vitamin stores if you havn't been eating enough fruit and veg. Eat well, and look at getting your iron levels checked and maybe taking a good supplement. ------------- http://www.babysfirstsite.com"> 
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Posted By: MrsMojo
Date Posted: 17 September 2009 at 3:28pm
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As flutterby said it's 'supply and demand'. Your body will produce what you need. It's actually quite common for those that BF longterm not to have engorgement or even feel ultra full because your body adjusts so it is more efficient at making the right amount at the right time. If you stopped getting up at night to express 100mls (or gradually expressed less and less every night) you would actually stop feeling full at this time but it wouldn't affect your supply at other times of the day. If your baby started waking in the middle of the night again needing a feed it'd only take a couple of days of him feeding before your body readjusted to the new routine. Pretty cool huh! -------------  
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Posted By: Maya
Date Posted: 17 September 2009 at 9:08pm
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I definitely found I got more tired and drained the older she got, I think it's coz if you are exclusively breastfeeding, bubs demands increase as they grow which takes more out of you. I found it eased up again once she was well established on solids, probably around 7-8 mths. -------------  Maya Grace (28/02/03)
 (02/01/06)
The Gremlins:Sienna Marie & Mercedes Kailah (14/10/06)
Lil miss:Chiara Louise Chloe (09/07/08)
Her ladyship:Rosalia Sophie Anais (18/06/12)
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