What can I do about decreased milk supply at night?

Many moms find that their milk supply is decreased at night and during the evening hours. Perhaps this is due to fatigue or some other reason, but it’s quite common. Some babies like to “cluster feed” before they go to sleep, and this might give mom the impression that she doesn’t have enough milk.

That’s not necessarily the case. If you’re concerned about milk supply, try taking a short nap with baby. Getting a period of sleep seems to boost milk supply. You could also try one of the popular brands of breastfeeding tea for a little boost.

Breastfeeding is based on supply and demand: The less your baby nurses, the less milk you will make. Therefore, you may find yourself with a decreased milk supply at night if your baby sleeps through the night or sleeps in four to five hour stretches. In this case, you will want to wake baby up for a feeding.

Some parents try to night wean their baby in attempt to regain sleep. This may decrease your milk supply because your body is especially sensitive to breastfeeding hormones at night. Night weaning can also bring on the return of fertility, so if you’re relying on breastfeeding to protect you from pregnancy (as many women do during the first 6 months of nursing), you will want to be aware of this.

Many moms find co-sleeping an easy way to feed baby without having to fully wake up, but do whatever works best for your family. Keep in mind too that trying to do too much can also impact milk supply. Give yourself a break, put your feet up and nurse the baby.