Milk supply question!

Kat26 · Apr 22nd, 2009, 13:45 PM

Wondered if anyone has any advice...

My little boy has been sleeping from 11 til 7-8am since about weeks old. We didnt encourage this, I am feeding on demand and this is the pattern he has settled into. He has about 8 feeds in a day, total breast feeding.

Obviously me and hubby thought this is great as we get to sleep! However today the health visitor told me I should be waking him in the night to make sure my milk doesnt dry up due to not being stimulated for this length of time. My GP and other health visitor have never mentioned this, and just wondered what you guys think!!

He seems to be getting enough now, loads of wet and soiled nappys, and good weight gain. I dont want to spoil his pattern as he seems really happy to sleep that long, but this health visitor has really worried me!!

Thank you! xx

Mervs Mum · Apr 22nd, 2009, 13:48 PM

UTTER RUBBISH!!!

Let him sleep....Hebe slept exactly the same from just under 3 weeks. I NEVER woke her.....she weighed 19lb 10z yesterday!! She's thriving and your baby is too!!

Mervs Mum · Apr 22nd, 2009, 13:51 PM

Oh and your supply will be fine - if he starts to wake in the night, feed him and it will adjust! I think Hebe has woken in the night about 3 time since 3 weeks and I fed her just fine....stupid bloody HVs - they drive EVERYONE MAD!!

Kat26 · Apr 22nd, 2009, 13:52 PM

Thank you thank you thank you!!! xx

Mervs Mum · Apr 22nd, 2009, 13:54 PM

You post didnt say how many weeks she was BTW???

Kat26 · Apr 22nd, 2009, 15:46 PM

He's 8 and a half weeks now and I would definitely say he's thriving! x

Mervs Mum · Apr 22nd, 2009, 15:52 PM

Good for you both!!!! If the HV wants you to wake your sleeping baby, tell her she'd better have her sleeping bag ready to kip on your floor coz she'll be getting up in the night with him!!!!

There's plenty of time for broken nights sleep when he starts teething/nursery/school/having girlfriends/going to uni/abroad.......yarda yarda!!!!!

Seriously though, HV's have little or no BFing training and they come out with some right bollocks sometimes! x

Jelly Bean · Apr 22nd, 2009, 23:36 PM

I think it's a counterintuitive idea to wake sleeping babies to eat, unless they're severely underweight. They need their sleep as much as they need to eat.

It sounds as though you're doing really well, if you're breastfeeding continually throughout the day there is no way your BM is going to dry up just because you miss one feed at night. Shame on the HV for giving you misleading information.

Apr 22nd, 2009, 13:45 PM	#1
Kat26 Pregnant (Expecting) Active BnB Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: North West England Posts: 83	Milk supply question! Wondered if anyone has any advice... My little boy has been sleeping from 11 til 7-8am since about weeks old. We didnt encourage this, I am feeding on demand and this is the pattern he has settled into. He has about 8 feeds in a day, total breast feeding. Obviously me and hubby thought this is great as we get to sleep! However today the health visitor told me I should be waking him in the night to make sure my milk doesnt dry up due to not being stimulated for this length of time. My GP and other health visitor have never mentioned this, and just wondered what you guys think!! He seems to be getting enough now, loads of wet and soiled nappys, and good weight gain. I dont want to spoil his pattern as he seems really happy to sleep that long, but this health visitor has really worried me!! Thank you! xx

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Apr 22nd, 2009, 13:48 PM	#2
Mervs Mum Pregnant (Expecting) BnB Spammer Elite Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: somewhere over the rainbow..... Posts: 21,347	UTTER RUBBISH!!! Let him sleep....Hebe slept exactly the same from just under 3 weeks. I NEVER woke her.....she weighed 19lb 10z yesterday!! She's thriving and your baby is too!!
	Supporting birthing women in Yorkshire, Humberside, Manchester, Merseyside & the surrounding areas.
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Apr 22nd, 2009, 13:51 PM	#3
Mervs Mum Pregnant (Expecting) BnB Spammer Elite Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: somewhere over the rainbow..... Posts: 21,347	Oh and your supply will be fine - if he starts to wake in the night, feed him and it will adjust! I think Hebe has woken in the night about 3 time since 3 weeks and I fed her just fine....stupid bloody HVs - they drive EVERYONE MAD!!
	Supporting birthing women in Yorkshire, Humberside, Manchester, Merseyside & the surrounding areas.
Status: Offline

Apr 22nd, 2009, 13:52 PM	#4
Kat26 Pregnant (Expecting) Active BnB Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: North West England Posts: 83	Thank you thank you thank you!!! xx

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Apr 22nd, 2009, 13:54 PM	#5
Mervs Mum Pregnant (Expecting) BnB Spammer Elite Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: somewhere over the rainbow..... Posts: 21,347	You post didnt say how many weeks she was BTW???
	Supporting birthing women in Yorkshire, Humberside, Manchester, Merseyside & the surrounding areas.
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Apr 22nd, 2009, 15:46 PM	#6
Kat26 Pregnant (Expecting) Active BnB Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: North West England Posts: 83	He's 8 and a half weeks now and I would definitely say he's thriving! x

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Apr 22nd, 2009, 15:52 PM	#7
Mervs Mum Pregnant (Expecting) BnB Spammer Elite Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: somewhere over the rainbow..... Posts: 21,347	Good for you both!!!! If the HV wants you to wake your sleeping baby, tell her she'd better have her sleeping bag ready to kip on your floor coz she'll be getting up in the night with him!!!! There's plenty of time for broken nights sleep when he starts teething/nursery/school/having girlfriends/going to uni/abroad.......yarda yarda!!!!! Seriously though, HV's have little or no BFing training and they come out with some right bollocks sometimes! x
	Supporting birthing women in Yorkshire, Humberside, Manchester, Merseyside & the surrounding areas.
Status: Offline

Apr 22nd, 2009, 23:36 PM	#8
Jelly Bean Mum (Mom) Active BnB Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Costa Rica (Welsh girl raised abroad) Posts: 527	I think it's a counterintuitive idea to wake sleeping babies to eat, unless they're severely underweight. They need their sleep as much as they need to eat. It sounds as though you're doing really well, if you're breastfeeding continually throughout the day there is no way your BM is going to dry up just because you miss one feed at night. Shame on the HV for giving you misleading information.

Status: Offline

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