Should I be pumping ?

Question

My LO has slept for 6-8hr stretches the last two nights. He is 8 weeks and this is the first time I've gotten more then 2 hrs of sleep. I'm so tired that I've just been sleeping while he's sleeping but should I be waking up to pump so my supply doesn't go down? He still feeds every 2 hrs during the day.

Answer

I agree that you don't have to unless you get uncomfortable. When I was on maternity leave during the day I breastfed my LO and pumped for 10-15 minutes after to store breastmilk for daycare. At night she sleeps 10-12 hours. She wakes up at 4 am to eat. I do a dream feeding before I go to bed, around 11 pm or midnight. This means I don't wake her up, put her to each breast for 10 minutes, and then put her back in her crib. This way she gets to eat and I'm more comfortable.

Answer

As far as what I've read if baby drops the middle of the night feeding you don't need to pump either unless of course you are trying to freeze and store milk then that would be a great opportunity to get a whole extra feedings worth. I exclusively pump I have a 5 week old and he does about 4 hours apart at night but when I wake up in the middle of the night for that feeding I don't pump I skip it and haven't had problems with my supply.

Answer

I would say no - as long as you're comfortable. Baby will keep the supply up during the day when he needs it. But I exclusively pumped my older son, so aomeone else might say different...but I do know plenty of mom's that never pumped and only fed when baby wanted it...

Should I be pumping ?

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