I have permission to post from a client who has been breastfeeding her
3-month-old first baby successfully and without problems. Last week
her baby slept 8 hours at night for the first time. Mom noticed the
next day that baby's behavior at breast was markedly different than
usual, feeding every hour, biting and crying at the breast. Mom also
reports that her breasts seemed flaccid for the first time, not full
as they had been. Mom wants to know if the long sleep could have
produced a sudden drop in supply, which is how she interpreted baby's
behavior at the breast. Mom decided she would not let baby sleep for
such a long stretch, and has woken her once at night if she hasn't
awakened on her own. Mom reports that her breasts feel full again now,
and baby's breastfeeding behavior has returned to how it was before
the incident. I explained to mom that it may be coincidental, and that
it is normal for breasts to stop feeling full around this time, but
that baby's behavior at the breast does raise questions which I
couldn't answer. Mom also reports that her mother breastfed her until
her milk "dried up" at three months, which was also when she had
started sleeping through the night; mom realizes that this may have
been due to breastfeeding mismanagement and not cause and effect, but
was curious about it. Mom wants to continue breastfeeding for a long
time.

My questions: is it possible for some moms to have a much stronger
reaction to FIL, that would cause a sudden drop in supply like this?
Has anyone had any similar experiences? What advice would you give to
this mom to protect her milk supply -- does she need to continue
waking her baby at night to feed?

I appreciate your wisdom and experiences!

Lisa Mandell, MBA, IBCLC, RLC, LLLL
Havertown, PA  USA

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