How to manage milk supply and longer sleep stretches

[IssyFleur]

Hi all, FTM here. My two month old has just started sleeping for a longer stretch of 4-6 hours in the first half of the night. We've been taking full advantage of this and sleeping too but upon waking my breasts are always engorged and leaking. When baby wakes she breastfeeds on one side and I pump on the other which empties them. I've struggled with milk supply and I'm really keen to ensure that the longer sleep doesn't impact my supply for her, especially as I imagine (and naively hope) this sleep might extend further as she gets older. Any tips for managing the night? She feeds more frequently in the day but I often feel lighter on milk by the evening. Will going longer chunks at night affect my supply in the day?

Why do you think you have supply problems?

Your supply will naturally adjust to baby's needs.

As long as baby is having wet and dirty nappies and putting on weight then your supply is fine.

I've had to combi feed from birth as baby lost quite a lot of weight. Less bottles now and expressed milk where possible but in the evenings especially she can get quite frustrated and pulls on and off. I often also feel fairly empty by bedtime. Really keen to maintain or increase my supply which is why I think I'm now worrying about overnights!

Pulling off an reattaching can be a baby's way of getting the milk out faster. As it can help with another let down.

How your breasts feel isn't an indicator of how much milk there is as you make milk fastest while baby is at the breast. While we store some milk inbetween feeds we make most of it as the milk is being removed.

Enjoy the longer sleeps and feed frequently while baby is awake.

This is a good article about increasing supply. https://www.breastfeeding.asn.au/resources/increasing-supply#:~:text=Just%20follow%20baby's%20lead%20and,production%2C%20increasing%20your%20milk%20supply.

My baby does long stretches at night (8weeks) I pump on both breasts before going to sleep which prevents leakage. Like you I feel a bit empty at that point but usually get about 6oz in 15mins between both boobs. Very full wages wake up and pump the side not feeding from And get another 6 then. J

Your breast are never really empty: as soon as your baby starts to feed, you produce more milk. Your boobs don’t need to be ‘full’, they aren’t bottles. they’ll probably feel a little fuller if it’s been a while since last feeding but honestly they can be flat as pancakes and still be producing plenty of milk.

Nursing more often is the best way to increase supply. But I can understand you also want to benefit from longer sleeps. So offer plenty during the day and the evening. And honestly, don’t worry about feeling ‘empty’ you aren’t.