How many hours can I go without BFing without hurting my supply?

[Taryn237]

Question: How many hours can I go without BFing without hurting my (already low) supply? Joshua slept almost all night last night with only a few nibbles on the breast. I mean like 10 hours without a 'real' feeding.

[Benji'sMom]

If he's sleeping all night it probably means he's eating all he needs during the day so it wouldn't hurt your supply... unless you mean that he's already drinking formula during the day so you need to keep up demand at night? Sorry, don't know your story... I think if you get up once at night to pump that might be all you need.

[afishwithabike]

You shouldn't go repeatedly more than six hours. It takes six hours consistantly and your body will begin to reganerate and start cycling again. NEVER go more than four if you can help. Even if that means waking up and pumping at night. My children began sleeping through the night (6+ hours) by two weeks of age. It KILLED my supply BOTH times. Had somebody told me to get up at night and pump I'd likely be a successful breastfeeder still.

[kriskriskris]

I would also recommend pumping if you can. My now 6 month old has been sleeping thru the night (6 hours) since she was 2 weeks so I would wake up and pump in the morning before she woke up, now that she sleeps about 10 hours, I pump before I go to bed and and then again when I wake up in the morning.