Why won't my milk come during the night

[FankEweVeryMuch]

Hi, I'm having a real problem feeding my DS (6 months) at night. I just can't manage to get the milk to let down leaving him crying and angry. It took 15 minutes the night before last and didn't happen at all last night so we had to give him a bottle at 4am having managed to settle him back to sleep earlier in the night without a feed.

During the day I can feel the let down reflex within a minute and his sucking then changes. I'm certain I'm not missing it at night because on the occasions we do get there, he relaxes, feeds and then goes back to sleep.

I don't know what to do, I don't want to stop feeding altogether. He's been having a bottle of formul at 9pm for months but I don't want to increase that. He's my fourth and final and I was hoping to get to 10 months at least.

If it's of any relevance, my period returned last month and I due tomorrow.

What a nuisance.....it's unusual for this to happen, and for it to be intermittent in the way you describe, and for this reason, it's prob to do with your period. Women do sometimes notice a change in their bf when they are coming up to their period, and then things normalise when their period actually comes.

It doesn't sound a reason to stop breastfeeding at all.

When my period is due I sometimes can't feed in the afternoons. It does affect your supply. Top up with formula and once period has finished it should be fine.

Thank you both, your replies have really put my mind at ease. I'll see how we go tonight and be ready to give a bottle of need be.

You know what would solve this problem all together, him sleeping all night! I wish!

Apparently supply dips at ovulation and during menstruation so giving an extra bottle won't affect supply.

And yeah, don't we all wish for that!

Period always reduces my letdown sensation and virtually stops me being able to express at all. Usually I can express 200ml in day in addition to feeds. Can never get a letdown with pump when hormonal. Guess it is normal then

It's horrible and frustrating when baby is sucking away and you feel empty. I hate that my period always starts back 4/6 weeks postpartum

I hate that feeling too. My first period didn't come back until I stopped feeding my first two. It came back at 6 weeks third time and five months this time. I hate the fact I'm now fertile again 👎🏻