3 month old going 8/9 hours without nursing

Pamela - posted on 09/27/2010

Take it as a blessing. Rather express in that time. If you don't know what to do with the milk that you express - since you said you have a lot - you could donate it. There are a lot of prem babies in hospital where the mom has abandoned etc and your milk could save a baby's life.
Good luck

Surita - posted on 09/27/2010

My baby is 2 and a half months and he is also strarting to sleep from 20:00 to 05:00. I dont wake him up and express if my breasts become too full. I also feed on demand and it works very well.

Carri - posted on 09/24/2010

My son and my daughter both did this. They're VERY LONG sleepers. Are you co-sleeping? I co-slept with both of my kids and would wake them just enough to get them to nurse so I didn't become engorged. Had mastitis with both, so I feel your pain and fears! Just get your little one to nurse a little laying down with you. They usually stay asleep enough and don't fully wake, get nourishment for that long sleep, and make your boobies much much much more comfortable. Good luck to you!!

Jeannette - posted on 09/23/2010

That's no problem. He is obviously getting enough to eat during the day. My son slept from 7 to 5:30 every night, from 1 month to 3 1/2 months. 3 times he went straight through from 7 to 7. Those three times, I woke up and my boobs ached, but I fed him, then I pumped. If you are worried about mastitis, then you could get up pump and go back to bed, if that sounds reasonable.

Jessica - posted on 09/23/2010

If you're really worried about this, try dream feeding.
I had the opposite problem to begin with - my daughter would wake up every 3hours. I started feeding her just before I went to bed myself. She slept through the getting pulled out of bed, jiggled around, feeding on both sides, burped and tucked back into bed. So if you are really concerned try setting the alarm at 6am(?) and feed him and see how it goes. Good Luck!

Adrian - posted on 09/22/2010

My first daughter is 7 months old now, and she started doing that same thing when she was about three months old. I never got engorged during the night. Also, from what i know about mastitis, because my mother had it with all four of her kids, it only happens if you are engorged for a day or two and don't release any of it, whether that's pumping or other ways.
I mean, i am an 18 year old mother, so I'm not all that experienced, but if I were you, i would only worry about it if he went more than 12 hours without feeding.

Karen - posted on 09/22/2010

Let your son sleep at night. During the day dont let him go longer than three hours with out eatting. If he is gaining weight then I would not worry.

Talia - posted on 09/22/2010

I can't believe all the sleepers either! My daughter would do *anything* to avoid falling asleep for about her first year.. maybe longer. Then she would keep nursing throughout the night. About every hour (when she was awake she would nurse every HALF hour -- and that includes the time she was actually nursing!)... gah that first year was hard! So glad that's over haha. She's 2.5 now and still wakes up 2-3 times a night to nurse. Luckily she goes back to sleep though!

Kristy - posted on 09/22/2010

My son is the same age, and has been sleepng 9 hours without nursing for a few weeks now. I too woke up with engorged breast, but after that first night, the milk supply seemed to go down during the night. It's as if they just knew he wasn't requiring a feed during the night. His bed time is generally 9 - 9:30pm so it's a great sleep for me!

April - posted on 09/22/2010

wow...i can't believe there are so many sleepers here! my son must be an anomaly. he has nursed all night since birth. he's now 21 months and wakes about 3 times a night to nurse (not including being nursed down initially). i got used to it and i don't mind as long as he goes right back to sleep (once in awhile, he'll take forever to fall back). anyway, the whole point of all this was that you do what works for you and your family! whatever works as long as he is having the wet/dirty diapers like everyone else said. (side note: because my son nurses thru the night, he has one gignormous diaper in the morning. about one pound..no lie. i weigh them when i'm really curious. due to that and his age, the 6 wet/dirty diaper rule doesn't apply here)

Cheryl Stinson - posted on 09/22/2010

My daughter goes a minimum of 7 hours over night without nursing as well. It scared me at first too but she has enough wet diapers so I think she is getting enough milk! I would wake up normally right in the middle of her sleep schedule and pump so I would not feel as engorged. I think they will let you know when they are hungry so I think you are doing great! I also just wanted to say that I LOVE this community! I feel not so out of place because there are so many people with just as many questions as myself! It's a great place to gather information and opinions on what to do! Good luck Sofia!

Melanie - posted on 09/22/2010

If they do get too full, and it is causing pain, do not be afraid to express just enough to relieve the pain. Any more will make your production go up, and it sounds like you don't need the boost quite yet.

Sarah-Jayne - posted on 09/22/2010

My LO has been sleeping 6pm till 11 (feed) then 11.30 till 7am with a feed at 8 since she was about 2-2.5 months old. She's always been fine. If weight it okay, no need to worry.

Melanie - posted on 09/22/2010

Trust me, as I also have a 3 month old. This is very normal. Babies sleep habits do change, so it is likely that he will be up at night again sometime in the future. My daughter slept through the night until we had her 2 month shots. Now, she sleeps most of the day, and is up at night. I assume that he cluster feeds right before he goes down... My daughter eats like every 40-50 minutes, if that right before she sleeps when she sleeps for a long time.She has like 3-4 feedings in a row like that.

Melissa - posted on 09/22/2010

your body will learn how much and when ilk is needed so just brea with your body until it does so, dont express.

Erica - posted on 09/21/2010

Amanda -- my son was all over the clock his first 6 months. We even went two weeks of being completely on 3rd shift (waking up around 7pm and going to bed around 8 in the morning). Now, at 2, he is on a very regular routine with a very regular naptime.
Just because her little one is sleeping in/sleeping late now, doesn't mean that it will last forever. Ryan bounced around for about a year until he settled into the routine he has now at around 14 months old. And he's been on the same sleeping routine ever since.
:)

Brenda - posted on 09/21/2010

Usually in 1-2 weeks your body will get the message that you don't need that much milk at night (don't worry it only takes 1-2 days normally for your body to get the hint baby needs more at night when they decide they want to wake more).

If its been more than two weeks and you're still engorged you could might want to consider some herbs before bed to lower your supply (mint, sage, etc), Cabbage leave at night. Or pumping (but that's not going to reduce your supply).

Coco - posted on 09/21/2010

Yes! Count your blessings and sleep. Probably getting everything he needs during the day. All the best to you!

Krista - posted on 09/21/2010

Personally, I don't think that is a good idea to let him go for so long. Not only can it cause a drop in your supply but you don't want him to get dehydrated either. I would talk to your pediatrician or a la leche league leader about it.

Mandi - posted on 09/21/2010

Yes, let him go without it! You are lucky. You're milk supply will adjust to his schedule as needed.

Donna - posted on 09/20/2010

probably but if yur really worried pump yur breasts. you never know when that extra milk will come in handy

Sofia - posted on 09/20/2010

to amanda: he has started being awake almost all day and is beginning to head off to sleep around 10 or 11pm, its not so much the sleep schedule, its the nursing schedule. when he wakes up for the day its usually around 7 or 8am(but doesn't want to nurse) , and i am lucky enough to have my mother in law here to watch him so i can sleep a little more until he is hungry again. I don't mind using schedules, i did that with my other two, only i started at 6 months. it seems like he is starting his own now! :) thanks for the advice tho, i guess he beat me to it!

Amanda - posted on 09/19/2010

I would try to get him to start his sleep all night at a much earlier time more like 9 or 10pm and them and them nurse him at 5 or 6am even if you have to wake him just enough to eat he might go back to sleep but thats ok. Sleeping till 11 every day isnt somthing you want him to get stuck on because then when he is older you never going to get him to take a after lunch nap. he should sleep a good portion of the night anywhere from 8pm9pm 10pm till early morring and then take a short morrning nap no longer then a hour and then an afternoon nap arounf 12 to 1 pm for as long as he wants and maybe an evening nap no later then 6pm for no longer then a hour, at his age he should still be nusing alot and you should start putting him on a schedual and keep him awake when you can to keep it!

Sofia - posted on 09/19/2010

thanks guys! I feel much better about this now, and i have been pumping if i wake up engorged and he is not hungry yet. i keep reminding myself that my breasts are never empty, and he knows what he needs. so far he has been gaining more weight than expected so i think he is ok. actually last night he woke up every 4 hours on the dot, so i am so happy, hoping he can put himself on somewhat of a feeding schedule but its all up to him!

Jennifer - posted on 09/17/2010

i agree with the other ladies.

and if anything, use it as an opportunity to pump in the morning a while before she'll eat and build up and emergency freezer stash!

Andi - posted on 09/17/2010

At this point, he pretty much knows what he needs and when he needs it. I agree with Sara, as long as diapers are good, just go with it. It can change in a heartbeat! :)

*Fluffy Bunnies - posted on 09/17/2010

His sleep habits will probably change several times in the first year so he may not sleep like this forever. You could get up a little while before him and pump if you are uncomfortable or need to build a stash. Or you could try waking him up earlier and putting him to bed earlier so that he is on more of a "normal" schedule if you want. That's totally up to you. Does he have 6+ wet/dirty diapers a day? If so then he's getting enough. If not, I would wake him earlier in the morning to nurse.