If I need to pump my breast milk every few hours, do I also need to do this at 3 AM?

Question

I am exclusively pumping breast milk due to baby having certain health issues. I do wake my child up to feed her on a normal schedule. However should I pump, or should I not pump, in the early AM. Or should I focus on getting my rest, during the night, to keep up my supply?

Answer 1

First off - well done for expressed breast feeding - it seems so easy to revert to formula when a baby won't or can't nurse directly. My son is now 3 months old and has been expressed bottle fed since 5 days old. At first I would express every couple of hours during the day but never at night. Your body will adjust to a routine - I now pump 3 x a day and manage 6 x 200ml bottles. Get your rest - you can express better when you're not tired - and keep your fluids and food intake up - I found if I skipped a meal - I'd pump less! Finally, have faith that expressing gets easier over time. At first I would pump for hours to make up enough bottles - now a 200ml bottle takes only 15minutes - and a healthy happy baby makes it all worthwhile. (ps, don't feel bad if you supplement with formula in the early days - it can take a couple of days to increase milk supply and keep up with baby's demands - my HV made me feel terrible for doing this, a change in HV and I've realised that a happy baby AND a happy mummy are the ONLY things that matter)

Answer 2

I think the answer depends on if your baby is old enough to skip this feeding now. If your baby is still feeding every few hours, you'll need to get up and do it, unless you are able to pump an extra bottle during the day and store it for the early morning. I have a baby with health issues, I know how hard it can be. It's physically and emotionally draining. If you find that you're not producing as much milk as you used to or that your baby isn't satisfied by the amount you're supplying, perhaps the extra rest would be a better idea. It just depends on what's going on with you two :) Please feel free to email anytime if you have any other questions. I've been a RN for 13 years in maternity and surgery. If I don't have the answer for you, one of my other nurse friends will!

Answer 3

If you want to skip the 3am pump, skip it and then start again at whatever time you want to. Your body will adjust after the 2nd day or so. It honestly and amazinginly will. You will be engorged the first morning you wake up after skipping it. You might even have some wet areas on your shirt or bed the first morning after you skip the 3am pump. I got down to only nursing in the morning and again at night, and my body just adjusted after a few days or so of not expressing milk during the day. Sure, the first day is hard! They get full and even painful. But don't let the milk go! Because then your body will think you still want it that time of day for tomorrow. After a couple of days of skipping a feeding your body will not produce as much during that time.

Answer 4

If you have enough to get through regular feeding times then pump when you wake up. You will feel better and still have a good supply.

Answer 5

How old is your baby?
How often does your baby eat?
How often/long do you pump?
Are you getting enough milk if you skip that pumping session?
How long a gap between pumpings would that leave you?
Would you still have to get up to feed the baby?

Answer 6

you should be pumping when the baby normally feeds. If she is not eating then then don't pump. Also, do not wake her up to feed, she will let you know when she is hungry. this will give both of you a chance to sleep and her a chance to get on your schedule easier. get your rest if she is! good luck

blessed be.
a mother of two and one on the way.

Answer 7

you should be fine in the night, just let you body rest at night. That should be the best thing for you but I would make sure when I woke up in the morning I started pumping milk

Answer 8

If you're really tired, sleep about 5 hours pump, then sleep another 3 and pump again. I don't know if that fits your schedule or if you're working, but I read that employers have to give working mothers time to pump discreetly.

Answer 9

Thanx good mother.May God increase your tribe. It is not compulsory to wake up at an odd time.Look after your health and well being. Collect your milk at the earliest convenient time.Your child`s schedule can be modified by you.Late night and early morning feeds are better.

Answer 10

that depends on the breast themselves. If they are engorged in the morning you might want to wake in the night. if not then sleep and pump in the morning.

I breastfeed and there are times i have to get up and wake my daughter to relive the pressure a little until the morning so i guess that is how i would tell

Good luck