single side feed and engorgement

[Mum-of-Two]

Hi there.

Ok, so today's question...

DS has taken to single side feedings at night.  I can't say I mind it, actually am secretly hoping this is him starting to take less food at night and more during the day.

At any rate, the side he does not feed on gets pretty engorged by the time he is ready to eat again.  Since this is night time I really am not enjoying the trip to the pump to relieve the pressure even if it is just for 5 minutes.  Plus, doesn't that make my body think he's eating it when he's not?

Is there something else I can do?  I hate offering him the engorged side at that next feeding because he eats fast and tends to choke and never actually drain it all before falling back asleep leaving me in a cycle that I tend to wake up engorged all over again.

I should note I tend to pump and feed during the day for many reasons you may have seen me post about already.  I usually pump a few ounces more than he eats in a feed, making a lot of extra milk it seems.  Great for stocking up but I need to start weaning soon so I'll be back with more concerns of engorgement later.  For now, this night time ritual is my primary question.

Thanks in advance!

(oh, side question, when I pump for engorgement I tend to not save that milk.  such a waste but I can see how light it is and don't feel like it has enough hind milk because I'm not emptying, I'm just relieving pressure.  am I right not to save it?)

[Erin (redstarfalling)]

For the engorgement, you could even try to just hand express a little bit into a towel or even a cup that you leave out - might be more convenient than getting up for the pump.  Hand expressing just enough to feel comfortable won't stimulate your production as much as if you were pumping to really empty your breast.  Here's a link with instructions: http://babywhispererforums.com/index.php?topic=70304.0  You can also do a bit of this right before you latch him on to the engorged side next time - it'll let off the initial letdown and make it more comfortable for him.  It'll still leave plenty of hind milk, etc.  At some point, after doing this a while, your supply should even out to whatever routine you get into.

Breastmilk is always good!  If you wanted to save it, you could always freeze it and use it to mix with cereal or give in a sippy when he's older.  It'll stay good in a deep freeze for about 6 months.

[Mum-of-Two]

Thank you!  Will give that a try.  Looking forward to things evening out 

[Jocasta]

Another thought, if you can't see yourself using all your stored milk, have you looked into if you have a local milk bank? Often mums of preemies can't produce enough milk and donated milk can be used if this is the case - it even increases survival rates!!!  Just food for thought.

Erin, as always has given fantastic advice so nothing to add on that front. Love to you honey

[Mum-of-Two]

I actually have thought about the milk bank but wondered if there were specifics about milk which I don't have -- like a record of diet or certain freezer containers or something like that?

I'm sick with a bad cold now and my supply seems to have caught up to demand for the time being.  I'm assuming we'll use it all but that really is good food for thought Jo, thank you!

[Jocasta]

No worries.  Just bear it in mind if you're ever in a situation where you're running out of freezer space.  My milk bank don't have any special dietary requirements - and will take as much or as little as you can donate - their motto is "every drop counts!