Boobs going thro the night

[cheethaz]

Hi,
I'd appreciate some advice on how best to go through the night when I have been single side feeding so far. My baby is 16 weeks old and I want to give her a bottle of formula at the 10.30pm feed but this means that the previous two feeds will be one boob at 4pm and the other at 7pm. Is the 15 hour stretch to 7am for the first boob and then 10am for boob no. 2 going to be risky for me? Or should I just start feeding on both sides to even things up! Do they get hungry enough to need both sides soon? Is a bit of a silly question but really can't decide! Thanks for help!

hi cheethaz, it really depends on your boobs i'm afraid as to how long you can go without a feed. you might find it does get a bit uncomfortable at first going through the night, but i'm sure your milk supply will adjust. you might need to get up to express to make yourself a bit more comfortable and avoid risks of blocked ducts and mastitis etc. just a thought, have you considered expressing some milk before you go to bed for the 10.30 feed? that way, you could empty out your breasts and might be more comfortable for the night.

some babies only ever need one boob at a time, if you've got loads of milk and a fast flow. others will take both at every feed. and a lot in between, so its just up to what works for your LO.

hope it goes well.

Why do you want to give her formula at 10:30?

As to having both boobs, you can always just offer the other one - mine always had both boobs from the start.

You might well get uncomfortable, going without feeding, all night.

Hi,
Thanks for replies - want to give formula for one feed so I can go out for evening without worrying about getting back in time and so Dad can get in on feeding action!
I don't seem to express very well and have had so much trouble with oversupply at the beginning that I don't want to have to express a lot to get enough milk for one feed as I think this will overstimulate the boobs - they already go a bit mad when I give my lo even one extra feed in a day....