Night time breastfeeding...why is it important?

29/9/2019

Kellie Eason RN, RM, IBCLC

Kellie is a Nurse, Midwife, International Board Certified Lactation Consultant & Infant Feeding Therapist in Private Practice in Melbourne, Australia

Babies are designed to receive only breastmilk until 6 months of age.

Breastmilk, nutrition and sleep hormones

Breastmilk is the superfood for infants that provides all of the customised fluids, fats. proteins, carbohydrates, macronutrients, minerals and immune factors needed for healthy, strong and growing bodies
Infants double their birthweight during their first 6 months and triple it by their first birthday
Prolactin, our most powerful breastmilk making hormone, secretes in higher levels overnight and turbocharges our milk supply for the next 24 hours
Most healthy breastfed infants can demand 8-13 breastfeeds per 24 hours regardless of age, feeding as often as 2-4 hourly. Factors such as illness, teething, growth spurts will increase the number of feeds infants need
Overnight breastfeeding ensures 20% of infant's daily intake
Breastmilk tryptophan levels rise and fall in accordance with maternal circadian rhythm tryotophan is the precursor to melatonin and serotonin, which are important to facilitate emotional regulation, induce and regulate sleep in infants
Night time sleep arousals in infants plays a vital role in survival and protection against SIDS for infants

Circadian rhythms, sleep and sleep consolidation

The sleep center in the brain is mature in adults, so we are able to better consolidate or have bigger blocks of sleep than infants.
Adult deep sleep lasts for approximately 90-120 minutes before we get up to go to the loo, turn over and toss the covers. Whereas infant deep sleep lasts for approximately 40 - 60 minutes before they stir.
Baby circadian aren't yet mature and will rely on us to help them regulate to better sleepers - the infant circadian development rate differs from baby to baby, although some maturation can be seen from 3 months of age
Most infants are able to consolidate their sleep better from 6- 9 months of age

Overnight breastfeeding and milk supply what do I need to do?

Mother Nature doesn't understand our expectations of sleeping through the night, so we need to understand and accept this for starters
Feed to need - breastfeed your hungry baby overnight...If your breasts are uncomfortable and baby doesn't want to breastfeed, express some breastmilk for comfort only. You need to signal your body that your baby still needs you to make milk, by removing a small amount of breastmilk (for example 20-30ml each side).
Leaving your breasts alone whilst uncomfortable, is akin to not waking to go to the toilet to urinate. Not only is it uncomfortable, but you can also wake up with a nasty case of blocked ducts or mastitis.

Watch out for next weeks post, about what you can do to help better regulate your baby's sleep and get a better night's sleep for yourselves