| NAME: |
Tina |
| BABY'S NAME: |
Adam |
| BABY'S AGE: |
9 weeks |
| BABY'S PRESENT WEIGHT: |
11 lbs, 3 oz (at 7 weeks) |
| BABY'S BIRTH WEIGHT:
|
6 lbs, 9 oz |
Hi. I am currently nursing Adam one breast
at each feeding. Last night, he went 9 hours from his last
feeding. This was the longest he's gone. He's been averaging 5 to
7 hour stints at night. I was so engorged it was killing me, but
he finally woke up and relieved me. The advance for your help.
Although your body can get used to having the baby
nurse one breast each feeding, it seems that the long periods are erratic and so it is not
a "schedule" that works for you both right now. I would recommend pumping or
waking the baby up and feeding if you find your breast very uncomfortable. It is very
surprising that your baby sleeps so much - has there been a period of slow weight gain
now? I can see the baby has gained enough, but it usually is not a straight line, and
there is a slowing down at 3 months which may be what is happening right now.
I always tell moms they have as much right to wake the baby as the baby
has to wake you up! Especially if you are feeling engorged, which can cause damage to the
alveolis which make milk. If you don't need to increase production, you just pump until
you are comfortable or let the baby nurse as long as he wants. If you need to increase
production, you pump until you no longer flow milk. I usually recommend baby instead of
pump, because that can cause you to make more milk than the baby needs (your body thinks
you have twins) and make you more uncomfortable in the long run.
If you were using breastfeeding as a child spacing method, be sure to use something
else, as you do not have its protection with these long spaces between feeds.
Hope this is helpful.
Jeanette Panchula, BA, RN, IBCLC
Vacaville, CA
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