changing schedules

My almost 12 weeks old is now sleeping 7 hours at night and sometimes napping 3-4 hours at a stretch in the day.  This is a big change from going one 5 hour stretch at night and then eating every hour and a half to 2 hours throughout the day.  I am worried about my supply dropping since he is feeding less frequently - or is he simply drinking the same amount but in fewer feedings and if that is the case, will my supply be fine or should I pump in between some feedings?  

[30something13]

no baabies will eat more and less frequently, if your lucky that is;) as they get older, if he needs more then he will go through a growth spurt and eat more often for 3-4 days till more milk is in then go back to the same schedule. BF babies just eat on demand and your body and them know how to get the right amount! You do not need to pump ever when BF unless you will not be there for a feed and the babyw ill need milk during that time.

I have nursed 3 and now #4 and the only time I have pumped is when my third was in the NICU for her first 14 days of life, aft that not at all! And I nursed well past a year and intend to with this one as well.

[KarenDiane]

Nola - That is great news! You must be so relieved that Finn is sleeping for you. Liam has started sleeping for long stretches at night, but he still won't take a decent nap during the day. I've found that my supply adjusts very quickly to what Liam needs. And, from my experience with formula feeding my other kids, babies will eat the same amount in a 24 hour period even when they are sleeping better.

[Michele, Katy, TX]

Man, I envy you ladies!!!!

I wish I could answer this, but am not for certain because I have never had any sleep that long that early :)  I do know that your body produces based on how much your baby is eating.  If you notice a dwindle in your supply, I would make sure to drink lots of water and then maybe do a pumping session or 2.

[cocacolapanda]

I doubt your supply would change, your little one is most likely eating more during there feedings rather than less through out the day.  I'm pumping all the time and I go 9 hour stretch in the middle of the night and actually started producing more milk thatn when I woke up in the middle of the night to pump.  Just make sure to drink your fluids and rest.  If you become worried you can always sneak a pumping in to make sure your supply won't dip.

[nola0805]

Thanks everyone!!!  

Karen and Michele - It is great that he is sleeping longer but alas, it is still in the swing (the 7 hour stretch) or on his stomach in the co-sleeper.  I cannot get him to sleep more than 5 minutes on his back - even with a swaddle.  I still worry about the stomach sleeping but am taking precautions to make it as safe as I can.  I think his stomach gets pretty upset and he feels much better either moving or on his stomach.  His pediatrician wants to start him on some Zantac.  Karen, it must be hard to not get any time to yourself during the day and Michele, you poor thing, you must be beyond exhausted.  I hope your little angel is giving you at least a little more rest.  

[Ecologic]

When Benoit was younger and sleeping for long naps, I would always pump once while he was napping, as well as right before going to bed. I have never been able to pump a lot, so that really helped me build some reserve for going back to work.

I had stopped pumping at night for a while, but I started again recently because Benoit is sleeping through the night more often. And now if he wakes up at night, all he gets is water, no more boob!

Zantac did not do much for Benoit. Prevacid had much better results - he is still on it at 6.5 months old. Good luck, it's really not easy at times to have a baby with reflux problems.

BTW Benoit also started to sleep on his belly! I kept checking up on him last night because he is not yet able to roll back on his back...

[Brittny27]

Kaelynn has been sleeping 8 hours nurses on one side and then sleeps another 4 hours every night. So one side goes 12 hours without her nursing. Last night she slept 11 hours without waking up. I woke up in a puddle both my pads were soaked through and my bra and shirt.

Your supply will adjust as long as he is still nursing you will produce what he needs.

If you feel that you need to pump then do so. I deffinately had to pump when I got up this morning. I also slept 11 hours.