sleeping baby, full boobs

[nowandthenotyet]

10 week old DS has slept through the night for the last two nights (I know, I know - I'm not being smug, I can't take any credit)

He goes down about 8pm and doesn't wake up till about 6am. In the meantime, my boobs slowly become more engorged and by morning wake-up my milk has leaked everywhere and my boobs are rock hard.

What should I be doing now? I thought maybe I should I be pumping before I go to bed about 10pm, or at some point during the night, but won't that increase my milk production? I'm prone to mastitis and milk oversupply, although that has settled down in the last few weeks.

Anyone got any advice to help my sore boobs?!

This happened to me with my first. I woke in the night feeling engorged. I hand expressed just a little milk - enough to feel comfortable. Don’t pump as you’ll be sending the message to your breasts to make more milk.

Don't pump. Hand express to be comfortable but no more than that. Within about a week they should adjust. They'll also catch up quickly should he need milk again in the night.

Enjoy the rest whilst you can!

Thanks both. I feel a little unsure about leaving him to sleep through, but he's gained weight really well since birth and seems to be fine the rest of the time. I spoke to the HV today and I think she thought that I was just re-settling him without feeding him, but he doesn't wake at all otherwise I would be feeding him!

I had this, I think I woke up, looked at the crib next to me and checked if DD actually still breathed.

For me it settled down. When she started sleeping through (that meant 9pm-6am) she was very hungry and would empty the boobs thoroughly.

Yes, I soaked some tops but it ill adjust soon. I wouldn't do anything. A week later there was still enough milk to feed her but no more leaking and wet tops.

Thanks all. So none of you woke him for a feed? DS is still consistently going 10-11 hours or so without a feed at night and I feel a bit nervous, although I'm not concerned about his development overall. He's putting on weight, plenty of wet and dirty nappies, not crying during the night and is very happy and alert when he is awake (though usually still naps 4-5 hours in the day overall). The HV said to offer a dream feed when I go to bed in case his blood sugar dips, but infant feeding say he'd let me know if he was hungry. I feel nervous about leaving him but also reluctant to interrupt his natural sleep patterns!

Try the Breastfeeding Support and Information UK Facebook group, it’s run by lactation consultants, they should give you some sound advice

Great, thanks. Needed to find a good breastfeeding FB group!

No, I didn’t wake my daughter for all the reasons you said. She was gaining weight well, alert and happy in the day etc. Her sleep from about 8-12 weeks old was quite good and then at around 3/4 months she started waking more in the night sometimes for a feed. These then gradually reduced till she started sleeping through at about 6 months.

I was very lucky. My second has yet to sleep through and is now 18 months old!!!