Waking up in pools of milk!

[loubielou31]

My DD (4 wks) has slept for a bit longer the last few nights, 11-6. Whilst this is fab, it has meant that I have woken around three thirty for her normal feed with very full, uncomfortable and leaky boobs. I am reluctant to express because I don't want to encourage my body to produce milk my baby doesn't need.

What do other ladies do when their babies start going for longer between feeds and how long does it take for your body to catch up so I don't wake up in the wee small hours unneccesarily?

IME it does not take long for your body to catch up.
You could always express tho and freeze the milk in case you fancy giving your DD some EBM later on so you can go out.
I remember waking up in real pain when DD first dropped a night feed, and I couldn't wait for her to wake up - lol!

I had the same experience last night, only I was so uncomfortable I woke 7 week old DS up to invite him to feed. He did, just enough to ease the pain, then went straight back to sleep. Seems a bit crazy but it is easier than expressing or doing nothing. The midwife at breastfeeding cafe today told me that is the best thing to do and I guess the fact that he took a smaller feed than usual told my body to slow down on the milk production. But it does feel a bit to wake them up when people keep asking you whether they are sleeping through the night yet...

You could always try hand expressing just enough to make you feel comfortable. I have done this in the past and to be honest just expressed a little over the sink - I know bm is precious but at half three in the morning I can't be bothered faffing about with sterilised containers. Also I agree with blametheparents, you should find it settles down in a few days as your body gets used to different demands.

Hmm I still wake up in a wet bed 25 weeks after I started feeding and my DS has been sleeping through the night since 7 weeks.

If you express only do a little bit just to make yourself more comfy. My HV told me to feed and feed from the side which was engorged to 'drain the breast fully' and now 6 months in I am still struggling with engorgement in my right boob and can't seem to reverse it - I have so much milk I could give cravendale a run for their money!

Hmm I still wake up in a wet bed 25 weeks after I started feeding and my DS has been sleeping through the night since 7 weeks.

If you express only do a little bit just to make yourself more comfy. My HV told me to feed and feed from the side which was engorged to 'drain the breast fully' and now 6 months in I am still struggling with engorgement in my right boob and can't seem to reverse it - I have so much milk I could give cravendale a run for their money!

A soft bra and breast pads, your body will catch up soon enough, if in real agony, i found hand expressing in the shower helped a little, or over the sink if in the middle of the night.