Breastfeeding
Should I pump if my LO's STTN?
I have a 2 month old... Since the get-go, I've woken her up for her feedings... started out every 2&1/2 - 3 hours. For a few weeks now, we've only done one night feeding at 3am. But, she has STTN two nights in a row now and even has to be woken up when it's time to get ready for daycare at around 6AM. My question is... should I be pumping at night if my LO's STTN? I don't want my supply to tank again... long story short - I had issues with the mini-pill.... but I sure do like my sleep! lol I'm determined to BF for at least a year but would like to know if you gals pump at night.
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Re: Should I pump if my LO's STTN?
I wouldn't, sleep is the best lol.
However I will warn you it may not last. My LO did that for about a week or so and then started waking up every few hours again. Definitely get the sleep while you can, because you never know with those babies!
I'd sleep.
My little man was sleeping similarly, but one day woke up and decided eating all night was better than sleeping. Your supply will adjust accordingly.
Yes. At least one time. My LO(who is now almost 13 months and still nursing) started sleeping through the night at 8 weeks. I'm talking 10-12 hours a night. It was glorious. But, my body got confused and my period actually started when she was 4 months old. Which caused my supply to pretty much disappear.
It took an entire month of basically staying in bed and constantly nursing, then pumping for 45 min afterwords to get my supply back. It was awful and very isolating. Nontheless, we had to supplement with formula(complete NIGHTMARE...found out LO had a dairy and soy sensitivity during the process.) I also was taking up to 19 supplements(which made me very sick) a day and eating mostly homemade lactation cookies.
I went to a lactation specialist and she told me to not stop cold turkey in the middle of the night, or my supply could tank again. Look at it this way...it's a way to get a wonderful stash. You never know if you will have a family emergency or get sick and need that milk for your LO. It will only take a few short minutes and then you will be done. Yes, it is a pain, and sleep is fantastic, but I would prefer to get up and pump to keep my milk vs sleeping an extra 20-30 min. My LO stopped STTN at 4 months when my supply tanked...I have just now have gotten her sleeping through the night, so I feel your pain on wanting sleep.
This is my fear! I'm back to work now so I wouldn't have the ability to nurse/pump to re-establish my supply if it does drop again. That's it... lol Pumping! Like you said, it's 20 minutes well worth it.
Babies sttn and women bf long before there were pumps. It's okay to sleep, and most likely nothing will happen. My first sttn at 8 weeks and if I woke up engorged, I would pump. I eventually moved that to 1 early morning session so I started every day with a bottle (I had to pump for work).
It was my fear too, which is why I pumped through the night(also per the request of my lactation consultant). I think it may be different for women who have had supply issues to keep things as consistent as possible. For those woman who haven't had issues, and are able to sleep through the night! You are one of the lucky ones! :-) But, if your milk has more of a supply/demand temperament, it's best to keep it up to just be on the safe side! :-) Best of luck to you!!
This! DD STTN starting at 3 weeks. I never once woke up to pump.