6 week old sleeping through the night- will it affect my supply?

[Anonymous]

My 6 week old is sleeping through the night (or almost). I wake her up after about 7/8 hours because I’m engorged. I think she would go longer (possibly through the night) - should I wake her or should I pump or should I just try to go longer and longer? If I don’t nurse or pump will it affect my day supply this early? This is my 2nd but my first did not do this so early on.

[Anonymous]

My 2nd was the same. My first was up every 2 hours until she was 6mo and I ended up with an oversupply then, so it was a huge change for me. In my experience, the long stretches of sleep so early on negatively impacted my supply. I ended up getting up to pump once in that stretch of time, but I eventually ended up supplementing with a bottle of formula once per day, which was fine with me.

[Anonymous]

Definitely pump.

[Anonymous]

I am so jealous. My 6 month old doesn’t sttn. I would pump OP

[Anonymous]

Mine slept through the night at 6 weeks too Enjoy the sleep-it's amazing! Your supply will adjust (increase for growth spurts for example) as needed.

[Anonymous]

As long as you pump your supply will stay at that level. Stop pumping, enjoy the sleep, and your supply will adjust in a couple of days.

[Anonymous]

Get the Medela Harmony manual pump. Super fast to squeeze out a few ounces and you don’t have to mess with the pumping bra and all that. Then back to sleep!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Mine slept through the night at 6 weeks too Enjoy the sleep-it's amazing! Your supply will adjust (increase for growth spurts for example) as needed.

+1
Mine slept 7-8h at 6w as well. He was also huge, 13#+ by then. Exclusively breastfed for at least 5 months, with no supply issues.

[Anonymous]

And this is how I know its partly developmental. My kid didnt sleep 8 hours until 2 years old.

Sleep mama. Nurse when you can. Growth spurts will change needs for most babies. If you are feeling lots of pressure because at 6 weeks your supply is not 100% established then use a haaka or hand express for relief.

Wishing you many more sleep-filled nights <3

[Anonymous]

I let baby lead at night and used formula when my supply dipped, which wasn’t noticeable until my kids were 4 months and just bigger. Sleep was more important to me than breastfeeding. But you could pump to help avoid that drop if it happens.

[Anonymous]

I would do a dreamfeed rather than waking him up early in the morning. Better for your schedule, too. So if bedtime is 8pm, wake baby at 11pm to eat, then you're probably good until 8am. That's much more sustainable than waking up at 4 or 5am. And I'd way rather feed than pump, but that's just me.

[Anonymous]

Pump for comfort. He will ask for more milk at other times and you will respond to make up for it. Just pump for comfort/freezer stash and let the baby sleep!

[Anonymous]

In my case, yes but who cares. I always chose sleep over breastfeeding/pumping. I went to formula at night quite quickly.

[Anonymous]

May I ask, how or where is the baby sleeping? I'm a bit envious of other moms whose babies slept like this. My first two seemed to wake up for breastfeeding or because of pooping multiple times a night for the first 5-6 months. 3rd baby is due soon and I'm hoping to night wean earlier, maybe by 3 months if all is well (I had more than enough milk, not so worried about supply this time).
I'm curious if your baby is sleeping in a bassinet or crib by himself?
Thanks.

[Anonymous]

Relief pump. Mine did this week six to 9, then was up in night again. I hope yours continues to sleep. If you need milk for daycare the dropped feed is an awesome time to stock up now and again, but personally I’d try to sleep unless I was too full.