Two Breastfeeding related topics

I have been exclusively BF my son who will be 6 months the 24th (he has had the occasional formula bottle when my bf feeds him some nights or just at random times). I stayed at home the whole time until he was almost five months and when he would stay the night at his Meme's he would have expressed breast milk. When he was about 5 weeks old I would pump a 5oz bottle at about 3am after his feeding on the opposite side he nursed. And then I would pump one other time maybe two throughout the day getting a good amount. Then we went on vacation to my mom's and I pumped occasionally the first two weeks then we were so busy the 2nd two weeks I didnt pump at all. When we got back home I could tell me supply was a lot less and I could barely pump anything. ABout a month ago I went back to school (all day tues & thurs) and he is at his meme's then. I only get to pump about once a day if that some days bc I have class straight through the whole time. I always pump right when I get home and get about 7oz out of my right breast and 3 out of my left. Now my son has to nurse both sides when he use to nurse just one side and still sometimes is still hungry and I have to give him 2oz of formula some days afterwards. He nursed about every4 hrs. My supply is almost diminished. I bought Fenugreek today, have started pumping more (even if I get nothing) and have stopped my bf from giving him a bottle at night & nurse that feeding to try to boost my supply. I want to make it to a year. Do any of you have any experience with supplies diminishing? How did you get them back? Did you get them back? I am going to call my midwife this week to ask her opinion..have any of you tried any other herbs or medicines that have worked?!

Second question...My son still doesnt sleep through the night. He will go to bed at 8:30 then sleep till 2:24am almost every single night hahah then wake up every 3 hrs to nurse till about 7am. Any tips to help him sleep? I've read somethings saying not to feed him at night & he'll grow out of it? Some say by 6 months he shouldnt need to sleep through the night? Im am so sleep deprived!!! Any advice is welcome!!
Sorry this is so long!!!

[bluegenie2003]

Would you be able to talk to your professors and see if you could maybe leave about 10 min. early from one class and come 10 min. late to the next?  You might be surprised on how understanding they are.  I've had trouble with with my supply going down a little bit, but I"m able to pump 2x a day usually. I also have been pumping after he goes to bed at night (after nursing) and after he leaves for grandma's house in the morning.   In addition, I've rented a hospital grade pump. I just got that a few days ago though, so I dont' know how much difference that is going to make yet.  

As to sleeping through the night, as far as I know it is normal for breastfed babies to wake up in the middle of the night. Braeden still wakes up around 3 AM almost every night.

My lactation consultant said that I should try to feed him at least every 6 hours, even in the middle of the night.  Braeden usually wakes up after about 7 hours so I haven't started waking up to pump yet, but if he starts sleeping throught the night I probably will.  She also said oatmeal, in addition to the fenugreek can help boost supply.

Good luck!

Good luck!

[ricky2010]

Well if you are only pumping once during the day your supply will go no matter what. You will have to pump at least every 3-4 hours during the day to get a good supply. You shoudl always pump when they would eat and more often when they go through a growth spurt. Bottle feeding for some does tend to do that. Take Fenugreek 800-1600mg a day and that will help get your supply up, eating oatmeal and drinking mothers milk tea. ANd you can also use Blessed Thistle not milk thistle! Take 600-800mg a day of that. WHen needing to get your supply up you will have to pump or nurse more often to get it back to where it needs to be.

As far as sleeping through the night DO NOT not feed him. THat is not true nor good for him. Ltos of BF babies eat during the night. He will out grow it when he is ready. My little guy has the same schedule as yours and he is 4 months. My second nursed every hour at night till age 11 months! SO it could be worse. I always go to bed when he does, ummumm try to;) then the last feed put him in bed with me and nurse side laying.

Good luck