My DD is 11 weeks tomorrow and has recently starting sleeping 8-10 hours at night (YAY) while this is great I am waking up sore and uncomfortable. Up until 3 nights ago she was going around 6-8 hours and I wasn't having this issue as much.
She only feeds from one side at a time as I have a really big suppy. LAst night she went to bed around 10.15 after feeding from left side she didn't wake until just before 8am this morning and my right side was about to explode she had a really good feed from the right side and was at breast for a good 45 minutes. My left side was quite full and uncomfortable and sore and a bit lumpy, she was not interested in feeding from it all, so I just expressed about 50ml off it to make myself more comfortable. She will have this side when she wakes up.
I'm quite happy with her only having one side at a time her weight gain is good, she has plenty of wet nappies and is sleeping brilliantly, DS only fed from one side at a time as well and when I tried to give him both (as instructed by my MCH nurse) he started to bring up lots of milk and my LC told me to gp back to one side at a time as he was getting too much of the sugary milk.
So I guess my question is, is it okay to express like this for my comfort if I feel I need to? Will it affect my supply? Usually she is awake by 7am and I'm full and a bit uncomfy but not to the extent I was today.
Hun, if you express enough for comfort (that is, don't empty the breast, just ease the pressure) then it won't affect your supply and will reduce the risk of mastitis. It is great for you that he is sleeping for so long already but sometimes babies start waking in the night again when they hit wonder weeks (just letting you know so you don't worry if it happens!).
My dd is 11 weeks old too and sleeps a 7-8 hr block at night. Every morning I am so full and sore. So I always express after her morning feed. She still struggles a bit with my flow when I'm engorged so expressing helps relieve me and also sets us up for a much peaceful day with no choking. Hasn't made a difference to my supply at all.
with my daughter i used to express once she had gone to bed
it was only for my comfort and i rarely woke up overfull
in the begining i used to express a little first thing as if i was too full she couldnt attached well and i was in alot of pain
it should only affect your supply if you take TOO much and fingers crossed in a few days your boobs will settle into her new routine xoxo
Expressing for comfort is good and you can freeze it for later use. I had a wicked supply but at one stage, all of a sudden DS was wanting even more and I didn't have enough. Having the expressed milk came very in handy until my body got used to DS needing more (I would try to express after every feed to increase my milk supply).
sleeping through and expressing???
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(I would try to express after every feed to increase my milk supply).
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