Milk supply question for breastfeeding mothers?

Question

My 7 week old daughter has started sleeping 5-6 hours during the night. I'm not complaining cause I love that she's sleeping through the night at her age and I'm getting some decent rest, but lately it seems like I dont get that engorged hard feeling in my breast at night in between feedings. Does that mean my milk supply is going down? Is this normal for that hard engorged feeling to somewhat go away. They are swollen in between feedings and sag and go down after she's finished nursing but before they would get really hard, and engorged and even leak a little between feedings. I just want to know if this is normal and should I be letting her sleep that long at night? I'm scared my milk supply may go down cause she's sleeping longer at night. During the day she nurses every 2-3 hours, and at night it's been between 4-6 hours. I've been breastfeeding her since day one and plan to do so until she's about 6-9 months old. Someone please help?

Answer 1

It's completely normal - your body has realised that it doesn't need to make so much milk at night. It doesn't mean that your supply is going down at all.

When you first start feeding, your body really doesn't know what it's doing. It makes milk pretty much all the time which sits there until its needed. With experience, it realises it only needs to make it on demand - most of the milk your baby gets isn't premade and stored at all, it's made as she sucks and drunk straight away.

You're doing great - just don't EVER try to judge how much milk you think baby is getting by how much appears to be in your b*****s.

Answer 2

I'm telling you this from experience :-)

When my girl was 7 weeks old, I was so tired that I let her sleep! I just pumped in the morning while she ate from my other breast. This helped me keep a good milk supply. Also drink plenty of water in the morning in eat a good breakfast.

Answer 3

The others are right, it's perfectly normal.  I wondered the same exact thing at around the same time.  It's a good thing, your body has finally adjusted, no worries.  : )

Answer 4

This is a really normal thing that happens has your b*****s adjusts to the amount of milk that your daughter needs.  Sounds like she's feeding enough during the day for her to have that long at night without feeding, so i wouldn't worry about it at all.  Sounds like you're doing a great job!  

Answer 5

Its normal once breastfeeding is establised that you don't get that engorged or hard feeling.  It just means your b***s have settled down and the milk just comes in when you feed.

I know what you mean about worrying if the milk has gone.  At least when they're full you know its there!  Don't worry you'll have plenty when your babe needs it.

Answer 6

Actually your b*****s don't have to be engorged to have milk.  Most new mothers end up making a ton extra the first few weeks and it tapers off.  Your body makes milk constantly.  You can be back in your normal bra size and still be able to fully feed your child.  Your body makes just what he needs, cued in by her demands. And the milk changes as she grows.  A newborn is not drinking essentially the same thing as a 9 month old.  Its just another part of the magic of nursing.  Your body  constantly creates exactly what is needed each and every time.

Answer 7

My daughter is 3 months and 3 weeks old she sleeps about 6-10 hours at night, our schedule is all messed up so we are up til like 4am. She mostly munchies throughout the day so i don't count how many times and how many hours between she eats. My b***s sometimes get engorged at night but sometimes i wake up fine just depends on what boob i last nursed her with and how much she ate. Your probably fine, don't worry about it as long as she is gaining weight and happy!

Answer 8

It is perfectly normal, just be happy that you don't have to deal with that discomfort anymore.  

Also, resuming your normal activities and working out is not going to diminish your supply.  Just make sure you stay hydrated!  I work full time and pump while there and I run 3 miles 3-4 times a week, and I have no supply problems.

On another note, every so often your daughter is going to go through growth spurts and you will probably be nursing every 2-3 hours at night too for about a week until your supply increases and matches what she needs then. It is going to be hard, but once the week is over everything will return to normal.

Nursing for 9.5 months and counting

Answer 9

Hey, this is normal, the feeling was because there was residual milk which your daughter did not drink. Now she is growing up and drinks more milk, so your b*****s do not have any residual milk. Your milk supply will continue till the time your baby feeds. Exercising or resuming normal daily activities will reduce milk supply.

Try and eat eggs, almonds and other very nourishing food. Try and eat lot of well cooked greens. Avoid red meat.

Check here for baby stuff

http://www.internationalshoppee.com/Babi...

Answer 10

certainly normal - your body is adjusting to the amount she needs. Enjoy the fact you are now getting some good sleep and don't wake up ready to burst :-)

My son slept through the night (7ish hours) from about 8 weeks, was exclusively breastfed until 6 months when I introduced solids, and continued to breastfeed until 14 months.

Once he did sleep through, it took about a week before I could wake up without feeling engorged.

You'll probably continue to feel more "full" during the day when she feeds more often, but that helps balance the longer gap at night.