What do you do when baby sleeps through the night?

[sundaygirl]

(other than enjoy it - ha!)

My son is five months and has slept through the night the past three nights. Prior to that he was getting up once to nurse. I'd nurse on one side then and the other in the morning just before we left for work/daycare. I'd have my first pumping session once I got to work.

With STTN I'm having to pump the side he doesn't take when I wake up. I'm too full to wait until I get to work. I know that continuing to STTN is not a given but when he does, will I have to keep doing that first pumping for my own comfort and to keep my supply? Or will my body self-regulate at some point? I'm pumping 6 ozs out of the side I pump (and it seems much more watery than any of my 3 regular pumping sessions during the workday). He's never nursed from both sides in the morning.

All those months I wished for a long stretch of sleep at night and now I don't know what to do with it!

[woodensandals]

My daughter started to sleep through the night at around 8 weeks and as much as I was grateful to be able to sleep again, I noticed a drop in my milk supply. Now I try to get up and feed her or pump once a night. It can be hard to haul yourself out of bed, but I try to remember that it's either this or more formula for her and I hate when she has formula. Stinky!

[Baby_Cakes]

When DD (11 mo) STTN (rare, but it happens), I nurse her in the am like you do, and she usually only takes one side as well. I pump both sides before I leave for work in the am, regardless, so it usually end up w/3-4oz from the side she didn't nurse on, and maybe half an oz from the side she did nurse on.

Just wanted to let you know I do the same thing. I can't imagine not doing it b/c of how full I would be (uncomfortably so) and also, I need as much pumped milk as I can get my hands on so DD has enough while I'm at work.

[Mrsboyko]

If he keeps it up, your body will regulate eventuially. My body is slow to pick up on things, so it took me about 2 months to figure it out, but it happened. I too pump at work so I understand. Make sure you have big bottles to pump into, that's really my only adivce. Nothing worse than pumping and overfilling the bottle. It is normal for it to be wattery. i usually mix both sides pumpings together so it evens out.

[Quate]

My body seems to regulate within a few days whenever DD starts sleeping longer stretches. I don't think there's a drop in supply, or else she'd be starving to death by now, considering she now only eats about 5 times a day, but it seems like a drop in supply because I don't feel extra full any more.

Btw, do you offer the other side in the morning? DD has just started sleeping through the night ... don't know if she'll keep it up, but in the meantime, she is super hungry when she wakes up. So even though he hasn't wanted it before, maybe now he would? You've probably thought of that though

[sundaygirl]

I did think of that. It could happen, I suppose. I just thought he wouldn't because I was so full on both sides when it's happened so far. That would be a huge feeding for him! But if it regulates a little and I'm not so engorged maybe he will.

I've started pumping into the 8 oz. Dr. Brown's bottles when I'm really full or half asleep. DS never took to those so I have a 3 pack that I'm happy to have found a use for!