Hard boobs - why?

[sallycinnamonhere]

Think Dd went through the 6 week growth spurt at the end of last week as she was feeding a lot and for a much longer time.

This week she is feeding much less and has even stopped the 11pmish feed. Anyway, I am waking up during the night with really sore hard boobs and they are really full and uncomfortable for most of the morning and often into the afternoon. Is this because I was producing more milk last week and my body hasn't readjusted yet? Should I express or will this just trick my body into continuing to produce more milk?

you are engorged as your dd has suddenly reduced her milk intake. i would try and give her the 11pm feed as she is still so young and really does need her night feeds. you could also try expressing on a night. over time your boobs will adjust and stop becomong engorged.

Thanks. It's a bit difficult to force the 11pm feed on her as I am fast asleep and keep waking up at 2 thinking 'I've had more sleep than usual but my boobs hurt'. Guess I will have to make an effort.

TBH, I'd say if she has dropped it of her own accord and has been gaining weight and showing all the other signs of having a good milk intake so far then leave it. In a couple of weeks she'll have changed her feeding patterns again .

The over full feeling will ease as your supply readjusts to what she's taking now.

Oh, meant to add, expressing will make your body think you need to produce that amount so it's best not to.

If you want to have a store of expressed milk so someone can occasionally give a bottle of ebm then you could express before you go to bed. But that's your decision!