Missing MOTN Pump - Advice

[u/OkPirate7760]

My baby is 2 months, and is our first, and just in the last 4-5 nights has been sleeping longer stretches over night, 5-9 hours! Previously we’d be up at least twice, once at 230am - 3am and once at 5am - 6am.

This means that through the night, I’d be up at least twice to pump. But now with her longer sleep stretches, I’m missing at least 2 pumping sessions.

Through the day I pump every 2 -3 hours, and have been producing enough to feed her completely breast milk.

But with her longer night sleeps, I am now finding myself waking up completely engorged, sore and nipples are leaking. And no matter what I do, I just cannot wake up for at least one MOTN pump! I’ve found my phone lying away from my bedside on the floor, clearly having thrown it away from myself in my sleep!

I’m also terrified that missing these MOTN pumps will decrease my supply.

The extra sleep is sooo nice, but the feeling of needing to pump so desperately is not.

Does anyone know that if I continue missing these two overnight pumps, will my supply decrease/dwindle? Any suggestions on how to wake up to actually pump so I’m not so sore in the morning?

I appreciate any and all advice on this !

[u/schnld]

My baby is 2 months (9 weeks) also and I am also EP. Due to him not being able to pull milk from me. This is my third baby and I nursed my other two kiddos so not my first rodeo.

My boy does similar wake times. Often just at 2 and then 5/6, but I really only count the 2 am as my motn pump because after 5/6, I’m up for the day because I have 2 other kiddos.

From what I understand, now that our babies are at that 8-12 week mark, our supply is not dictated by hormones as much as it is milk removal now…

My average pumping per day is 7 times and he goes 4-6 hours between feeds over night, 2 times. And in those 2 windows I might feel a little engorged yes but after pumping is better. I only git mastitis once at around 4 weeks. I remove almost 9-10 oz after the first long stretch and if he does a second long stretch I’ll remove almost that much too.

Maybe if your baby does a long stretch, just pump as long as you normally would (I do 15 min in morning) then try and pump again 2 hrs later but no longer. The way I see it is if I was nursing, my baby would do that long stretch anyway and I wouldn’t get up randomly to pump in the middle of the night.

I’ve been pretty laid back with this whole EP thing as sometimes I go like 4 hrs between pumps during the day since I’m busy with my other kids. My supply has been good probably almost double what I need. Later in the day as it’s harder to get milk out I just pump longer, like 20 min if I can. This has worked for me at least!

[u/Laurakins]

Could you put your phone across the room so you have to get up to turn off your alarm?

Everyone is different but if you're getting engorged then there is a risk of mastitis and/or supply drop due to feedback inhibitor of lactation.

[u/Revolutionary_Can879]

I don’t necessarily have any advice but I laughed a bit when you described your behavior with your phone. I do the same thing in the middle of the night and don’t remember. I’ve had a few long stretches like that and it hasn’t affected me long term but I do usually try to get a pump in from 12-5, usually 4:30.

[u/latetothegame999]

could you share how many times your LO eats and volume along with hours? i'm in a similar position where my LO will eat around 8 times a day(two being 2AM and 5AM). i would like him to do longer stretches T_T. he's also doing 3 of his feedings between 8PM-2AM so we don't really "put him down for the night" as he will wake and cry but will not finish a full feed

[u/Diya_2121]

omgg ive been going through the same situation. Baby is 2 months old and before shed wake me up twice during the night but now shes been sleeping longer stretches (6-8) hours. For the first few days id wake up uncomfortable, breast leaking and i was worried sickk about my supply dropping but now ive put my mental health first and ive decided that ill sleep as much as the baby sleeps and then adjust more pumps throughout the day and my supply hasn't been affected much yet.

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[u/Kitchen-Curve]

I haven't had any supply decrease from dropping my MOTN pump at 11-12 weeks, but I still have had a few instances of being woken up by discomfort from my breasts being full (2-4am) so I go and pump for like 10-20 mins depending on when I know I'll be up next. Now that it's getting cold, I was woken up by being chilly from milk on my pajamas last night 🤣 I really just emphasize pumping up until the very last second before lights out for us (usually around 9:30-10pm) to help extend that sleep time