Q for BF Mommas (martinimomma)

martinimomma

I may cross post on the BF board...but for my BF homegirls I have a question: what did you do when LO started STTN? DS did not sleep for a 5 hr stretch until he was many many months old, and by then my supply was tanking anyway...but DD has done it a few times already now (and 6 hrs too - she might go longer but I haven't let her). We recently resolved my oversupply issues, but these long stretches are killing me. I've used a manual pump very briefly to relieve pressure, but don't want to get into a pumping cycle and risk returning to oversupply land.

So how did you handle the transition to STTN? Did you have to pump every night that LO STTN? I don't have an electric pump and hadn't planned to get one (I'll likely need to wean DD when I go back to work in January) but if this keeps up I may need to.

Sorry if this is a dumb question. I'm probably overthinking it as usual.

ETA - DD is 7 weeks old (I need to make a new ticker!)

martinimomma

mkc5869 said:

I just tried to stick it out but if I woke up and it was too uncomfortable to sleep then I pumped a little.  It took about a week before my body really got the memo and I could easily STTN with DD. 

Thanks. That makes sense. She's still doing it inconsistently (and I'm grateful she's doing it at all!) which makes it challenging too.

Mom2anAngel2

DS only started STTN at around 8.5 months. My body seemed to adjust to the change on its own in about a week. My supply is still hanging in there and is able to adjust to every change that we have made (it usually takes about a week to adjust). Now I nurse in the morning and pump at noon and 7 when I am working. But I will nurse 3 time daily when I am not working. Right now we just changed DS to 3 meals per day and 1 snack per day.

I hope your body is able to make the adjustment without too much trouble. GL!

martinimomma

Thanks Ladies. I think I'll just stay the course for a while and see how it goes.

MickeyM04

When he slept, I slept.  Period.  My supply never suffered.  He usually emptied me out in the a.m.  And if he didn't, only then would I pump.  You couldn't pay me to set an alarm to wake myself up to pump of all things.

Can I just say that I am totally jealous that your NB is already STTN?!  JEEBUS!  It took us 5 months!!!!

Junebug060609

If I woke up in pain before he woke i would pump just enough to take the edge off. Sometimes i would have to do that so the letdown wouldnt douse him, lol.

And how awesome that she is STTN. So glad she is a good sleeper for you!

martinimomma

Thanks Ladies. It is nowhere near consistent but it is a lot more than I (or my boobs) expected at this point. I've gotten a few 5 hour stretches and 6 hrs one night. I woke her that night as I was very uncomfortable. We'll see if it lasts - this question may be moot soon enough.