Do I Really Have to Pump Overnight?

Being a new mom, or a mom to a new baby, is hard! With newborns comes sleep deprivation, and understandably, if your baby is sleeping then you want to too. So, do you really need to pump overnight? It depends.

During the initial postpartum period, at least the first 12 weeks, I wouldn’t recommend dropping any pumping sessions if you are an exclusive pumper. The reason is that although milk production is hormone-driven initially, overtime your body begins making the amount of milk you have told it that it needs to make through removal. So if you stop requesting that your body produce milk overnight during the initial postpartum period, you are likely to experience a significant decrease in milk supply. Additionally, prolactin (the milk-making hormone) levels peak sometime between 2 AM and 6 AM.

It is hard to know how significantly dropping your overnight pump(s) will impact your milk supply. Every one is going to be different, and it is dependent on a number of variables including storage capacity. The breasts’ storage capacity is the amount of milk able to be stored before the internal compression starts to signal your body to make less milk.

It is a good idea to work with a lactation professional to help you develop a plan and pumping schedule. You can contact me here for virtual help, or so that I can help you find a local resource.