Baby (sorta) sleeping through the night. Now what?

[saffrongirl]

Okay so Nora seems to be sleeping for longer and longer stretches at night. I'm excited about this, but she's only 8 weeks old so I also know enough to know that nothing is permanent at this point.

Anyway, last night she slept from about 11PM until about 5AM. I *think* she ate a bit more ravenously at 5AM (we co-sleep so I sort of throw the nipple at her and fall back to sleep myself) and then she slept again - although not as soundly - until around 8:30AM. When we did finally get out of bed, my breasts were SO engorged that I thought I could burst. She ate at 8:30 but since I only feed one side at a time, I had to pump the other side a bit to alleviate the pressure. After I pumped, everything was fine during the day (no engorgement). I assume this is normal and that everything will sort of level out a bit, but I want to make sure that she is getting what she needs even though she's not eating as much at night. My first dd was never this good of a sleeper so I didn't really have this concern.

Is she getting what she needs? Is she just drinking more at a time or how does this work? Should I still pump off to alleviate the engorgement or is this sending the wrong message to my breasts as far as milk production?

[Masel]

I'm curious about this too. Also How can we go 5 or more hours at night but during the day I'll feel full and she'll seem hungry every two or three hours. My babe is 9 weeks. Can my body really moderate the amounts of milk between day and night?

[GoldmanBaby09]

My son started to sleep about those same hours about that same age. He is 4.5 months now and he usually goes down at 9:30 or ten and will sleep til 5 or so, nurse and sleep until about 7. Every once in a while my right boob gets engorged in the morning as I nurse from my left at night. I just make sure to do more morning feeds in kind of a block on the right to relieve it. I probably wouldn't pump unless you need to store the milk. Breastmilk changes composition not only as the baby ages but from day to night, and scientists have found that the milk you produce at night actually encourages baby to sleep! So, as long as you are feeding on demand when you cosleep (ie when baby happens to wake), I wouldn't worry about it and enjoy the rest while your LO gives it to you!

[Bokonon]

Yes - your body will adjust and make the right amounts of milk at the right time, and baby will make up for what she's missing at night during the day. You can pump off just enough to relieve engorgement, or hand express to make yourself more comfortable.

Enjoy the rest! And don't be surprised if it's short-lived.

[Michigan Mama]

ditto PP. Your body knows what it's doing and will figure it out. I was having to pump a little in the morning to be more comfortable, but that only lasted a week or so, and my body evened out.

Now, at 14 wks, surprise surprise, ds2 is waking up every 2-3 hours again. Ugh. I was digging those 5-6 hour nights!

[Fly Girl]

My DD starting sleeping 7-8 hours a night at 6 weeks. Boy, was I shocked! Your body will adjust. Only pump enough to relieve the pressure and your body should adjust soon.

[hcaruso]

my 10 week old

my 10 week old does this... he sleeps for 5 hrs at night and nurses every 2 hrs during the day. I got up at night and pumped the opposite side, but now my body works with it, and I never get engorged. Its amazing how your body responds.

[Baby_Cakes]

Your body will adjust! Since your LO (I have a Nora too!) is so young, you might have engorgement for awhile, but go ahead and pump to alleviate the discomfort. I wouldn't pump the entire breast "empty", but just enough to soften and make yourself comfortable.

If you need to nurse again shortly after, your breasts will make more milk.

And also, I agree with the PP -- don't be surprised if this sttn is short lived! Enjoy it while it lasts!! Hopefully it does last and you have a great sleeper on your hands!

Oh, and your baby is most likely getting what she needs. As long as you are offering often during the day (and at night when/if she does wake) she should be fine. If you are worried, count diapers and make sure there are plenty of wets/poos.