One-side Feedings combined with sleeping through the night....

[SAHNE]

My son (3 1/2 mon.) recently began sleeping through the night (YAY!!).  I have always done one-sided feedings... most of the time do offer both sides at last feeding (7:15pm).  Now that ds is sleeping thru I wake up full on both sides.. he nurses on one side and then it is another 3 hours before he nurses on the other side... by which time it has been 15 hours or more since his last feeding on that side and I am quite uncomfortable.  I'm not sure what to do, as I worry he won't get enough hindmilk if I offer both at the first feeding.  Does the balance of foremilk/hindmilk decrease in importance as they get older?? Do I just need to get used to this?  Should I pump?  Any advice is very welcomed - thanks!!

Steph

[jhcodrum]

I was in the same situation as you with both my children and for a week or so woke up very very sore and uncomfortable. However my breasts eventually adjusted to the long time between feeds. I didn't pump or anything as this just signals to your breasts to make more at this time something you definitely don't want. So my advice is just to stick it out for a week or so and let your breasts adjust to this change naturally.
Julie

[jbepko]

Your body will adjust...it just takes time. But in the meantime you don't want mastitis and being engorged could lead you down that path. I would recommend pumping/expressing just enough for comfort (don't drain the breasts, just enough to relieve any discomfort). There are many uses for EBM- bottle while you run an errand/take a bath/get a pedicure, milk popsicles while teething, use in cereal in a couple months, use for home made baby food in a couple of months, etc.

[SAHNE]

Thanks for your advice.. I sort of thought this was the case.  However, do I need to worry about milk supply issues when going this long between feedings (12 hours)??  I don't think it's been an issue yet and he's been sleeping through the night for about 2 wks.  Also, if I want to leave the house I'm completely lopsided... is it reasonable to pump them for his 2nd feeding of the day before I leave??

Thanks,
Steph

[RachelC]

Steph,
Your body will adjust to the timing of the feeds.  If you haven't noticed a difference in the 2 weeks, you are most likely ok.  You can pump in the morning for the later feed (I have done that), but I wouldn't recommend doing so everyday (so your body still produces the milk for the second feed if needed).  I had some success feeding one side and pumping the other side at the same time and then using that bottle later that day, but as time wore on, I was no longer able to pump in the morning.
HTH