Breastfeeding: only one breast at night

[Thejoyfulstar]

I had supply issues for the first 4 weeks of my baby's life. At 4 weeks I hired a lactation consultant who helped me get a full supply of breastmilk. It was very intense and involved lots of feeding and pumping, but it worked! My baby is now 7 weeks and eats every 2 hours, drinking from both breasts during a feeding and is gaining weight really well. However she is sleeping longer stretches at night but only drinks from one breast during the night. I've tried waking her to take more but she is out cold once she has her fill on one side. This means that one of my breasts is normally full for around 4 hours (until the next feeding). I was pumping in the night when this happened but last night I couldn't face it. I'm worried about this affecting my supply. I didn't have supply issues with my other kids so just went with the flow but am cautious about doing so now.

I would ask the lactation consultant again but (embarrassingly!) I think she has ghosted me for being so intense at the time (I asked a lot of questions!).

Thanks!

I don’t think it would affect supply but I’d be cautious of getting mastitis. If your breast isn’t uncomfortable you are probably ok though as long as you feed from that side first thing.

Your breast should adjust to the change in pattern and I don’t think it should affect your supply. But be careful of mastitis. If uncomfortable, perhaps hand express a little bit to relieve the fullness. (My baby rarely feeds from both breasts during a feed at night and no issues)

@DownWhichOfLate I never even thought of mastitis! It's been so far off my radar with low supply but definitely worth considering!

@workflowers no not really uncomfortable. My breasts never really get super full and leaky like they did with my other kids. I think I'll get up and pump!

It is a nuisance but, yes, probably worth pumping for a few more weeks if you can. Good luck!

One thing to keep in mind is that pumping will keep your body thinking it needs to make this milk at this time, even though perhaps your baby no longer needs so much milk at night (the baby might be getting enough during the day so requires less at night. That’s what I was told when I mentioned the baby sleeping longer at night/not feeding as much at night). With pumping, you could end up with over supply and risk mastitis too. I pumped much more with my first and struggled to regulate my supply and had several bouts of mastitis. With my second, I’ve let the baby regulate the supply and it’s been much better. Appreciate you’ve needed to pump this time, so what I’m suggesting might not apply. But if your baby is gaining weight etc, I’d probably look to treat it as you would a baby dropping a feed - so hand express a bit of milk if uncomfortable but don’t pump a full feed etc.

@workflowers that's a really good point!

💯 agree with @workflowers. Pumping will most definitely lead to no slow down of the milk being produced. You need to leave it and your body will adjust. Especially if they don't feel over full.

My DC2 only ever fed from one side at each feed. I had pumped from both at the start as DC was in hospital and tube fed, but once DC was exclusively breast feeding everything settled into the new pattern quite easily. Don't mess about with pumping and make sure to offer the full breast first at the next feed. Good luck!

I’d make sure you feed from the other breast at the next opportunity or upon waking whichever comes first. But as babies get older and want less they often will take one breast only anyway. Just keep alternating and pump off a bit of you can even if it’s just to keep your pipes clear (so to speak).

Everyone worries that their milk will dry up but I found it doesn't stop that easily. Just use the 'unused' side first on the next feed.