Need help with overenthusiastic breasts

[cakeandcava]

Hi,
My DS is 7 weeks, and is starting to sleep slightly longer at night now -we've gone from feeding every 2-3 hours, to every 4-5. Unfortunately my breasts are not getting with the programme. I've been woken up the past few nights not by DS but by my breasts being painfully full. I express for 10 minutes to take the pressure off while leaving enough for him to have when he wakes an hour later, but I don't want to keep doing that as surely that means they'll just keep filling up...

I also don't particularly want to give him the expressed milk (I'm freezing it at the moment) as I had to give him a bottle very early on due to latch problems and it caused all kinds of nipple confusion problems -he's ok now, so I'm reluctant to introduce a bottle again until we're a bit more established. I realise this is sending my breasts the signal that they need to produce more milk than necessary. Is there anything I can do, or will it just even itself out eventually?

Not really very experienced with this sorry, have you thought of ringing one of the helplines?

Glad that bfing is working for you though especially after a rocky start

Don't express when you wake up.

Usually when the baby goes through a growth spurt or starts sleeping longer it takes a day or two for your body to adjust. By expressing you are keeping up the demand. Take a couple of paracetamol if it's really painful but rest assured that it won't last.

I just finished feeding my little boy on Saturday after reducing gradually and no discomfort so far.

It seems a long time ago now (my DD is 3) but I think expressing for 10 mins is too long and will be giving your milk supply the wrong message! I do remember how painful it is, can you express for as little time as possible to ease the pain..,I'm sure my boobs only took a few nights to adjust! Good luck!!!!!

I think your breasts will adjust given a little time (i.e. a few days). I think expressing a small bit should relieve the pressure without sending huge signals that they should increase supply. But I'm no great expert!