Pumping at Night? - Saint Paul,MN

I wouldn't (and don't) pump at night, because then your body will continue to make that much milk at night. As long as your daughter is sleeping through the night, you do not need more milk. It may be uncomfortable for a while, but your body will make less and less at night. Everyone's body makes more milk in the morning for some reason, so you'll still be plenty full in the morning. My daughter is 3-mo old and I'm getting through the night fine w/o pumping. They are full in the morning, but that's okay. Good luck!

No, it's not necessary. Pump and/or nurse right before you go to bed, and then pump and/or nurse immediately when you wake. You will wake up engorged and uncomfortable the first couple of days, but your body *will* adjust to the new times. Breastmilk is a supply-and-demand issue; once you stop pumping in the middle of the night, your breasts will no longer fill up overnight like that.

If the pain wakes you, consider taking a pain reliever right before bed. If you feel you must express some milk to get comfortable, only do a little bit. You can even do it by hand really quick so you don't have to drag the pump out.

Congrats on the little one sleeping through the night, and enjoy it!

A.,

Your supply will naturally decrease at the times you don't need it and increase it at the times you do according to when you release milk and in what quantities. It really is a miraculous system. So you may feel engorged for the first couple of nights, but your body will adjust. As your baby gets older and takes more milk in a feeding, you will have more milk at those times of day.

Good luck,
S.

When I went back to work and I was pumping on schedule during the day, during the night-time hours, if I didn't co-sleep and let baby nurse at will throughout the night, I did get up at least once in the middle of the night to pump and would then pump again before heading off to work.

For all of my children, I nursed up to a year. I co-slept/nursed until they were about 6 months and then moved them to a crib when they started solids and sleeping through the night.

But back to your question, I think if you're "well-established" and more importantly, you get adequate time during your workday to make up the difference in pump-sessions, you could probably get the extra sleep.

The key with keeping your supply up, is making sure you pump and/or breastfeed several times during the day so that your body doesn't "think" you're begining to wean. My little formula for success (especially when I was working) was being sure to pump no less than every 3 hours for no less than 10 minutes on each side (even if very little is expressed). I was lucky enough to be less than a mile from where I worked, so I breastfed the baby during my lunch break. And then exclusively breastfed during the evening hours, letting the baby nurse for as long as they wished, and as often as possible. The pumping was really reserved for times I was away from the baby. But when I was home, pumping took a backseat, and I offered the breast whenever possible. The natural way to feed a baby will always trump pumping. The machine can not express anywhere as much as your baby can, and this is where the risk of diminishing milk supply lies.
So if you want to keep supply up, feed naturally whenever possible. Look at pumping during the work day as a way preserve backup supplies and to maintain the "factory's production" if you will.

As I mention earlier, one very good way to ensure you still get sleep, but can continue to feed the baby throughout the night is by using the "co-sleeping" method. If you and your dh don't mind sharing the space with your little one during the remainder of her "nursing months" the baby can nurse at will during the night. There are lot's of books about night nursing. Go to www.lalecheleague.com and check out the many titles they sell on the topic. The most comprehensive of their books is "The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding" and this topic is addressed. You might also find stuff on their website.

The great thing about co-sleeping and nursing is (as you will learn if you research this more) that your body is it's most productive (milk-wise) when you are at rest (deep sleep) and within a short period of time you will produce milk abundantly. It's also a great way to bond and make up for the time away from your baby while you've been at work.

Hope this helps.

PUMP PUMP PUMP. I say this only because if you've got it, give it! Your baby needs it .... it the only substance you should give your baby for at least 4 months. I know it is difficult (frankly it sucks) but you must dedicate yourself to being a milk factory for your little one. Be thankful you are properly equipped and able to do it as many women are not. And I can tell you from experience (I pumped for two years for two kids) your milk supply WILL reduce and it WILL NOT recover. Honestly. This is a cold hard fact and it is hard to accept, but the road for us is hard to walk sometimes and women SACRIFICE for their children. I am not being preachy or tongue in cheek here - women do more, give more and lose more in the child rearing years than men.

I wish you stamina and fortitude and I encourage you to do your absolute best to continue providing the necessary nutrition for your child's optimum development. (I do say, Power to the Boobies)!!!!

A.- when my daughter started sleeping through the night i remember waking up and feeling very engorged too! i would just pump when i would wake up do to the discomfort. if it was close to when my daughter would wake up i would not pump my self dry would leave some for her. as i'm sure u know she can get more milk out than the pump can. my morning pumping is the way i have built up a good supply in the freezer!! good luck and enjoy the time it goes so fast