Does Sleeping Through the Night Decrease Supply?

phillipsbr

We got the go-ahead from the pediatrician to let baby sleep through the night. The first two nights he slept for 6 hrs and 7 hrs (praise hands emoji) but I woke up totally engorged since we had been doing about 2 feeds throughout the night. Does this mean my supply will decrease eventually? Does anyone have any experience or advice on this? I'm returning to work Monday and am already concerned about pumping enough to keep up. Thanks! 

thatgirlree24

My LO isn't sleeping thru the night yet so idk. But if you're waking up engorged, why don't you at least pump and then you can save it for when you go back to work

phillipsbr

@thatgirlree24 well I feed him first thing when I wake up and then pump right after. I'm hoping that'll do the job enough. 

tesary

Your supply regulates around 6-8 weeks. 
I personally wake up and pump if baby sleeps more then 5 hours to avoid clogged ducts. You can always try sleeping the 6-7 hours. Then if you notice your supply going down start pumping during the night to boost your supply back up. 

Court11152325

Technically your supply should regulate to what you need for the night. My LO is sleeping in regular 5.5-6.5 hour chunks. I'm much less engorged, but half way through I usually wake up very full so I hand express some for comfort and go back to sleep. If you're very concerned you could get up and pump, but that will just be telling your body to make lots of milk at that time. 

Court11152325

Some articles to check out: 

https://alphamom.com/your-life/postpartum/the-night-leaker/

https://forums.llli.org/showthread.php?98323-Sleeping-through-the-night-and-milk-supply

JackJacktheCat

I've been sleeping as long as LO sleeps - 3-8 hours for the first stretch. Those 7-8 hour stretches are glorious, but I wake up VERY engorged. I feed her when she wakes up, then I pump all the rest out. Usually this is the only time I pump each day. I've been getting more & more during this pumping sesh, and I've been doing it this way for a month or so. I've got a pretty good freezer stash going now, woohoo! It definitely hasn't decreased my supply, in fact my supply seems to have increased. Hope it works like that for you! Sending you good vibes! 

kdoak2015

There's a breast feeding forum. 

mhg54

LO sleeps 8 hours. I get up around the 4 hour mark to pump. Your hormones produce more milk at night as well so I've built up a great supply as this is the only time I pump. I absolutely hate watching my little guy struggle when I'm engorged (gagging, hard time latching, stopping to gasp to breath) plus then he ends up spitting a ton of it up! 

I know that dosnt answer your question about supply, but just my experience with it!

oregonmommy-2

I also let him sleep and feed him as soon as he wakes. Once he is finished eating I will pump the rest out and that is the only time I pump throughout the day. I have a pretty good stach for when I go back to work in a few weeks! 

JulieK79

I pump right before I go to bed which seems to help get me through the night. LO is 12
weeks now and I'm finally feeling like they are engorged too often once LO wakes up.

dmendo01

DD sleeps 5-7 hours and I read your body adjusts to that. I haven't noticed a decrease in supply. I don't pump after I feed her either. But...take this with a grain of salt because I got a clogged duct two days ago and had to work hard to get it out. But overall other than that I think I'm adjusted ok. Not engorged when she wakes up anymore and I've been doing this for about 1.5 weeks. 

angetralala

I was engorged with the first few days of 7 hour stretches, but my body regulated and it didn't affect my supply whatsoever. DD is in the middle of a growth spurt right now, and she cluster fed to build my supply back up for multiple night feedings. I see engorgement back in my future once the spurt is over!

phillipsbr

Thanks for all the helpful feedback! And you girls who get up to pump in the middle of the night...phew! You're good!