2 week old - breastfeeding overnight milk supply

[Sunshine202341]

Hello, we have a 2 week old baby boy. We are currently exclusively breastfeeding. Right now he gets his last feed at midnight then he will wake up about 5am for next feed and change then 8am for another feed. I had a health visitor in who said if we don’t feed him between 12am and 5am then my milk supply might dry up. She suggested setting an alarm for 2am to wake him. Is this the case on the milk potentially drying up if we skip this feed?

When he’s in a deep sleep he isn’t actually that easy to wake to feed he just wants to sleep so not sure what to do.

He’s regained his birthweight and is about 9 and a half pounds so weight is ok.

He feeds like mad in the evening between 8pm and midnight.

Any advice?

Let your baby sleep and you get your sleep too. Your supply won’t dry up when you’re feeding regularly during the day. Your baby is waking when he’s hungry and your supply will adjust to meet his needs. If he’s sleeping that soundly his tummy is full.

Prolactin is highest in the early morning hours (on average) so it helps to maintain or build milk supply to feed then.

However, early morning hours is not precise - your body does not have a clock built in - it's based on circadian rhythms etc. You are feeding at midnight so I reckon that counts! It's not as if your baby is sleeping from 7pm to 7am.

So it does seem silly to wake the baby at night if he's gaining weight well and sleeping soundly.

Prolactin, which is the hormone that produces the breast milk does peak between 10pm and 4am and so this generally is an important time to feed the baby and as yours is cluster feeding during this window then it shouldn’t be a problem.

Going 5 hours overnight without milk being removed from the breasts isn’t ideal though for milk production. When the babies are older this isn’t an issue, but whilst the baby is so young and regular feeds/milk removal are what stimulates milk production (in this vital 6 week window of a breast milk supply being established) I can understand why the HV gave you this advice.

If your baby is settled and asleep then it’s safe to assume he’s had a good feed and isn’t hungry, and I wouldn’t want to be waking a content baby either. But it may be worth considering just doing a quick 10 minute double pumping session at about 3am for example just to stimulate the prolactin levels and encourage sufficient milk production.

At the end of the day it’s your choice and your milk supply may not be affected at all by going 5 hours overnight without any milk removal or you may be one of the women ones where sadly it does.

Have a read around and do your own research on the issue and then you can make your own informed decision as opposed to feeling conflicted about what the HV said.

I also think there is an Infant Feeding topic on Mumsnet where you may get some really helpful advice on there too about similar situations and advice that was given.

Many congratulations on your new baby.

This fascinates me. I'm well past the feeding stage as mine are almost grown up.
One I successfully fed until she self weaned, the other was not able to feed past eight weeks.
Does anyone know why stimulating milk supply during the night is more effective?
I know it's a fact through my experience but wondered how our bodies are built this way.
OP you're doing an amazing job 💐

If your supply seems fine and you’re not getting engorged/uncomfortable then I would count your blessings and get some sleep.

Of you have a Google there will be lots of information on prolactin and the importance of over night feeding or removal of milk from the breast.

I think I was told that regular milk removal from the breast during the night (be it pumping or feeding) was especially important during the first 3 months and then it’s okay for things to relax a little. I don’t know how accurate this information is now though as I was told that about 3 years ago.

If baby is having wet nappies, growing, and has periods of being alert and awake during the day then your milk supply is grand. You might find his pattern changes and you end up doing some early morning feeds but with only a five hour gap waking him for a feed just seams unnecessary.

I'm going to go against the grain and say that 5 hours is too long for a 2 week old. Every 3 / approx is what's recommended. I'd set the alarm. If he really won't wake then ok, but 5 hours is a long time at that age.

If he's regained birth weight, then I would just keep feeding on demand as you are. Babies and boobs are amazing. If he needs more, he will feed more and this will stimulate the right supply. If you have a breastfeeding drop in/clinic/cafe near you then you could always go there and ask the experts too.

Thank you these replies are very helpful. We had a health visitor out and she said if his weight is ok and filling dirty nappies then just let him dictate when he wants fed - providing I don’t get engorged overnight. Last night he fed midnight, 3am then then 6am and I slept in between so it does seem to be fluctuating.

If he has regained birth weight and has good wet and dry nappies then it’s absolutely fine

Your rest is really important too. Babies do a lot of good growing when they’re sleeping! He’s fine. Absolutely no need to wake a sleeping baby