how do you avoid getting engorged when baby goes longer between feeds?

[foxcub]

My baby is nearly 12 weeks old and has been feeding 3 hourly until now. He has started to go up to 6 hours at night and this morning I woke with very engorged boobs, which have been tender all day. I have used hot gel pads on them today and kept putting him to the breast, which has helped. But I am worried about getting mastitis due to the longer gaops between feeds - I have a real tendency towards mastitis (and breast thrush) so am a bit paranoid.

Any advice on how to avoid engorgement as the gap between feeds gets longer?

Thanks

Foxy, from memory, I think that your boobs very soon adjust, so the discomfort should be short lived. I know what you mean about the engorgment though. I'm desperate to get him to feed!! I've only had mastitis once I think.
I do remember having a hot lump one one boob after one baby and it got alot better after letting the shower whoosh one it for a while, perhaps it helped move the blockage?

My solution was to not wear a bra or breast-pads at night because I found the engorgement too painful if I did. When they weren't compressed by the bra I found my breasts just leaked the excess milk (downside, it was very messy). I did have to get up occasionally to express out some of the excess.

It took a few weeks before my breasts realised they weren't required for that part of the night and calmed down.

Oh and when I did have lumpy boobs, I foudn that vigorously massaging the lump before a feed seemed to help it disperse quicker. I have no idea if this actually works or was just placebo but it made me feel better!

I used to get up and express a bit when the uncomfortableness woke me in the night. Each night I could go longer and longer until my supply had dropped in line with what ds was taking and I got a bit of a stash for in the freezer too.

I was at my farmers wife friends house the other evening and you should have heard the cows by milking time! They were desperate to be milked! I know how they felt

Shrinky !!

your body will soon respond my making less milk if your breasts are being stimulated less frequently. Your supply will drop within days. The likelihood then is that the baby will change his sleeping pattern when he next has a growth spurt and you'll need to breastfeed much more in the night. I know it doesn't work for all mums, but keeping your baby by your side at night can make the whole feeding process a lot less disruptive.

You body will adjust to making less milk but you could take advantage and express milk off and put it in the freezer or donate it to a SCBU.

Thanks for your advice. yes he is co-sleeping with me

I think I was being optimistic hoping he was about to start sleeping through, as he is now back up to two night feeds again (every 3-4 hours)

pump??

Try to rest whenever possible during the day and don't try to be supermum.

Most babies whether breast fed or not go through stages of more or less wakefulness at night.

Meet his needs now and they'll go away and you'll all sleep the sounder for it.

Spoil yourself with little treats when you are tired and congratulate yourself on doing such a good job!