Decreased Milk Supply

DO know, after a few months, you WON'T feel full anymore. I felt durn near "empty" at 4 months, but he was still knocking back 20 oz per feeding every 2 hours (breastfeeding study, he was weighed on a nifty super sensitive scale). Say what??? But it's pretty normal when you're well hydrated that after a few months you "deflate" but still produce. This is ALSO when pumping starts to get really hard for a lot of women, and even 2 ounces is TORTURE. But pop the baby on the scale and they're still knocking back the same amount the always have.

DON'T be surprised if your son starts feeding at night. A lot of exclusively BF'd kids will alter THEIR schedule so that they sleep more when you're gone, so that they can eat while you're there. AKA at night. When you're exhausted. And need to sleep. And they are awake-awake-awake-ahhhhhhhh!!!!! What happened to my good sleeper???

CONGRATS on your baby boy!!!

First rule in breast feeding - not to stress over it - the more you stress - the less you produce...

I was one of the fortunate ones with my first son - holy smokes batman - I wet nursed two other kids while having more than abundant supply - we joked I could feed Ethiopia...with my son - I pumped until he was 22 months and I was pregnant with my next one...my first son was weaned (VERY reluctantly 2 months before his brother was born)...you pump and do what's right FOR YOU...it doesn't matter what I did or anyone else did or does - you need to do what is right FOR YOU....

If you are asking my advice - I say keep pumping baby!! :)
I agree with Ped - do NOT wake him up to nurse if he's sleeping - I know there were others that said to - but my babies were chunky babies...and like yours growing well!!

YOU GO MAMA!!!

Any way - keep nursing and keep pumping...don't stress...it will be fine...

You always have more milk than you think unless your baby is severely malnourished, then there's a problem. Keep nursing just as often as normal even while you're pumping. Pumping won't get the milk out as well as baby does so you might have to pump twice as much to get what your baby will get in one sitting. Be sure to drink plenty of fluid, eat lots of fresh fruits and veggies and take prenatal vitamins. Good luck!

Pumping at night will send your body the very appropriate message that milk is NEEDED at night, and you will (hopefully) produce more. Why was your baby sleeping through at three weeks? Even at four months, he still needs to eat at night. I think I'd be more concerned about that.

My son slept through the night at 5 weeks. My Dr. told me as long as he was gaining weight, that was fine. I would not be worried, or start waking your child! Has he gained weight properly until this point? If so, let him sleep. If he seems happy, nourished, and does not fuss, or is listless and inactive...I would think your supply is adequate for his needs. Unless, he is not sleeping well? Perhaps, he just isn't fully waking for the feeding. Is he restless in the night? He could be trying to wake for a feeding.

My pumping yield went down a bit my first week of work. Once j relaxed, it went back up. You need to relax. Are you pumping on one side at the same time baby nurses on the other? That works best. Pumping at work? You should pump once for every 3 hrs away from baby irrespective of how often baby nurses. Eat oatmeal, stay hydrated, and if pump yield doesn't increase, try 3 fenugreek capsules from GNC 3-4 times a day for a fee days until the pumping yield goes up. My third baby is 3 mos today. Sometimes he sleeps 8pm-645am. I get up to pump at 445 am and head to the gym. Has been working for me :) don't listen to people telling you to wake baby!

Pumping is never an indication to how much supply you are producing. As long as you allow him to nurse on demand while you are together, your milk production will continue to be at the level he needs.

Most Moms, myself included - have had a hard time pumping anything worthwhile around the the 4-6 month period... and it continued to be unable to pump. I was still able to breastfeed my daughter until she self weaned at 4.5 y/o.

When your son is hungry, he will eat... but pumping every 4 hours to stimulate your production even more will not hurt, but only benefit. Pumping is frustrating - make sure you have a GOOD pump... most are crappy. Medela and Ameda are the best brands for pumps. I know pumping is a pain, I had to pump for almost 2 weeks after the birth of my baby because he was refusing all stuff by mouth. With my firstborn, I pumped for the 4 months I went to work at a traditional job... barely got anything out!