Does feeding at night particularly boost supply?

[DitaVonCheese]

I thought breastfeeding at night was particularly good for boosting supply as hormone levels are higher and gave someone this advice the other day ... but now can't find any evidence for it at all. Have I passed on an old wives' tale?

[itsaruddygame]

My midwife said there is research to support this - something to do with a hormone called prolactin?

[Emilythornesbff]

Prolactin levels are higher at night. This is the main hormone responsible for milk production.
Missing feeds (which tends to be more likely at night given our need for sleep) causes a response that inhibits milk production.
Too tired to sound eloquent but I think la leche or bf network should have a link.
If not, your local feeding adviser (the "top" one, who should be contactable via your bf support group) should have references for you.

[Nancy54]

Yeah I have wondered about this too. Not a prob for me as am often night feeding (yawn) but what about if you're one of those lucky people whose baby sleeps through v early; do you then have supply issues?

Also, is it

[Nancy54]

Bloody phone.....

Also is it only relevant at the beginning? Say if your baby starts sleeping through at around 6 months is supply then established enough to not be affected?

[poocatcherchampion]

I understand it is about establishing supply. if I had supply concerns I'd wake for a night feed for 3 months, although I guess not that many babies sleep through at that age anyway.

[RightUpMyRue]

At some point during the night you get a prolactin surge so by feeding at night you tap into that surge and it boosts supply.

That's the theory anyway. You weren't talking rubbish, don't worry

[iwillsleepagainsomeday]

i've read about this too. prolactin etc. mine stopt nightfeeds at 18 months or so, so supply was no longer an issue (yawn).
it did encourage me however to keep up with the nightfeeds at 6 mo when I returned to work and could not feed during the day.

[HorryIsUpduffed]

I found this: "Your highest levels of the hormones for milk production (prolactin) are between 1:00 and 5:00am."

[DitaVonCheese]

Thanks all! I'm training to be a BFC - luckily it was only a practice call but I was mortified to think I might have that completely wrong. Very relieved to hear that I wasn't talking nonsense! :)

[ghoulelocks]

Dd has of her own accord slept through nine six since eight weeks, would this be an issue