Breastfeeing 2 Part Question

All lactation consultants say that you have the most supply early in the morning, and the least at night, so it is totally normal. Because she is gaining weight, I wouldn't worry at all. Especially around that age. It does level out after a bit (my daughter is 14 weeks). Also, if you do have a lot in the morning, you can always pump some and save it for later.

1. Totally normal to have less milk in the afternoon/evening. I learned this after being worried myself and reading about it on kellymom.com . Also, evening fussiness and wanting to cluster feed is very common. I destressed a lot when I started putting baby down for a nap when he got fussy in the afternoons. This is also mentioned on kellymom.com. A lot of women (myself included) will be tempted to feed a bottle here, but she recommends not to, because its not good for your supply and because it is totally normal. I discovered that he didn't even actually want a bottle after offering him one a couple of times, he was just fussy.

Part 2. Frequent feedings is very important the first month of nursing, but I found out later on that I could go as long as 6 hours without noticing a drop in my supply; however, letting baby sleep/not pumping for over 6 hours resulted in a drop in my supply (which takes me about a week to get back up, ugh!).

Ahhhhh, the cluster feeding grouchy baby! Perfectly normal mom!!! DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT worry!! This is perfectly normal behavior. I called it the witching hours. My daughter's was about 5-9 then she too would pass clean out for 4-6 hours.

By doing this she is getting lots of the fatty hindmilk and that is what is helping her sleep that 4-5 hour stretch. She is tanking up before getting some good rest! If she was a normal weight at birth, has plenty of wet diapers like you said don't wake her! Mine started sleeping 4-6 hours at a stretch around that time and the doc said it was perfectly fine. Your body/milk will adjust. But just when you get adjusted they go thru a growth spurt and start nursing non-stop for a few days to increase production lol!

As long as you are feeding on demand you will be fine. The absolute best advice I can give you is to be confident in your ability to nourish your baby! Follow her cues and feed on demand and you will be fine!

First, congratulations on being able to nurse your baby this time!!! ISn't it amazing?! Everything you are doing is right. The cluster feeding in the evening is absolutely normal. I would venture to say that most babies do this. It does make you very tired, I know. I remember, I would just sit on the couch, watch tv, and nurse, nurse, nurse. That's all my kids wanted to do for several hours. You feel like there's nothing there, but trust me, there is. You don't need to do anything to change your supply, as you said she's gaining weight, having several wets and actually getting a good chunk of sleep afterwards. Just keep feeding her as much as she wants. She will get what she needs from you. Remember, supply and demand. IF she demands it, you'll make it! Hang in there hon, you're doing great!

This is so normal. I remember just laying around letting them nurse in those cluster feedings. It isn't that you are losing supply, it is them growing and building your supply. Let her sleep. Your concerns are so normal, but part of the reason she sleeps longer is her little belly is full and she can rest. Your body will adjust- it is just so hard right now! Keep up the great work! This should pass soon!

Guess what? It sounds to me like everything is working just as nature intended! It isn't abnormal to be REALLY full in the morning--you'll find a bunch of moms who are experience the same thing. At the peak of my supply, granted I had a very good supply, I could pump 9-12 ounces out of each breast and STILL nurse my daughter.

Cluster feeding is quite normal (and some of us use it as a tool to get babies to sleep longer). Maybe if you initiate the cluster feeding yourself, it will keep her from being too frustrated and get a jump start on it.

Your supply will start to equalize and follow your baby's needs more closely. Keep nursing on demand, make sure your aren't getting dehydrated in the afternoon. Don't wake her up at night, but you might consider a "dream feed" session right before you go to bed and you may get another hour.

Congratulations and good luck! You'll get lots of good advice.

The same thing happened to me, totally normal! I did pump in the mornings the supply that he didn't use and use it in case of emergencies in the evening hours. I let him feed first of course. But there were some nights I just couldn't take it! Just a thought! You're doing great!

My son did the exact same thing. He nursed a ton in the evening. I don't think it has a thing to do with your milk supply. Babies just do these things. Do not forget that it is supply and demand. If she does this every night then your body is producing plenty of milk. Especially if you are getting engorged later. Women always obsess over having enough milk and the likelyhood of you not having enough is so slim. Just keep doing what you're doing. If you are concerned, just keep drinking a ton of water. Do you have a breast feeding support group in your area? They are so helpful. Keep up the good work. My son is almost 11 months and he's still nursing. It gets so much easier before you know it.

I haven't read other answers, and perhaps I should, but I would say that sounds like the start of a GREAT habit. My boys both cluster fed at night, and while it didn't do any good at all toward getting them to sleep, I do think that's completely normal. I would not worry about her sleeping--I always lost milk when I was sleep deprived or sick more than any other time. Ultimately, I truly believe the number one reason so many women quit breastfeeding is because they don't believe their body can "do" it. Unless Baby is giving you concrete evidence (not crying, which can simply be a growth spurt, which happens almost constantly, it seems, with a newborn) like weight loss or failure to thrive, be confident your body is doing everything it should be to nurture your baby. If most women couldn't do this, the species would have died out. :) Yes, there are exceptions...but you are still seeing your baby's doc frequently and will know if things start to go downhill with your daughter. Have confidence, and enjoy your nursing relationship.

sounds like a complicated situation! :) im hoping you have some positive supportive advice.

what i would recommend is to go to www.llli.org and search for a la leche league group in your area. make sure to check all nearby towns as well. if nothing else just simply contact a leader for imformation.

is she waking you up at night to nurse? if not you should probably wake her to avoid the engorgement and overfull breasts in the morning. breasts that dont get emptied will start thinking "produce less milk" - but obviously at night she is nursing a lot so then your breasts are thinking "produce more milk". so that sounds like you just have a bit of confusion for your breasts there. just nurse on demand all the time night or day, and wake her sometime in the night to nurse that supply back down. if she is waking at night, wake her sometime after that (2 hrs or so).

milk is determined by demand. the more your baby nurses, the more milk is produced. growth spurts might make it seem as if your baby wants to nurse all day long, but this is good to keep up your supply! :)

anyway, contact a la leche league leader, or also try www.askdrsears.com! :) :)
good luck and dont give up! :)

As everyone else has said that is so normal! Supply is always less around that time in the evening. I only pumped once a day (right away in the morning) and was able to have lots of frozen breastmilk. I fed baby on one side and nursed on the other side. I would recommend finding a La Leche League meeting in your area. They are wonderful! They taught me so many things abour nursing I didn't know. Kuddos to you and working so hard with this baby.

Even if you are empty, let her keep going. The more she sucks the more your supply comes in. I never had the energy to desire to wake a sleeping baby so my best advice is to pump after 2 or three hours to keep your supply up.

In short, just keep going, the more the better. Remember too that drinking a lot, although very important is not in direct relationship to your supply. Eating really good as well as drinking a lot.

Good luck!

When I breast fed my daughter I felt the same way, I am not sure if its just her eating schedule that did it or my production. I would reccomend getting a hold of someone at LLL (Laleche league) They can answer all of your questions and a re a great resource for BF mothers. Here is the link
http://www.lalecheleague.com/ They can even get you set up with groups in your area. Hope this helps ((HUGS))