Home Forums Induced Lactation aka Adoptive Breastfeeding Medical Interventions to Induce Lactation/Increase Milk Supply Get most milk in the morning - is this normal

Hello.

I've been pumping for 3 weeks now. I started with 1 oz every 3 days and am now up to a little more than an oz a day. I get half that amount in my first pumping of the day at around 8:30 am. The other half oz is spread out over the next 6-7 pumps of the day.

I don't get up to pump in the middle of the night and I seem to get more milk in my AM pumping by not getting up.

Is this typical? Is there anything I could be doing to increase the amount of milk I get throughout the day?

I wish I could get as much milk in every pumping...then I'd be doing great!

It is normal to get more milk in the morning. You are probably going to keep increasing if you keep at it. However, it really is advisable to get up in the night to pump in order to take advantage of the increase in prolactin levels at that time. It might take a few days to make a difference in your supply, though, so if I were you, I'd at least try it for 3 or 4 nights. How much domperidone are you taking? Many of us need 120 mg/day. Good luck to you, and keep up the good work!

-Jennifer in Michigan

I agree with Jennifer. You will always have more milk in the morning. It just has to do with your body responds to elevated prolactin levels which normally increase at night. You should keep pumping at night because you are mimicking a baby's feeding schedule as well as taking advantage of this phenomenon.

You are doing great!! That baby will be here before you know it!!

I agree with the previous 2. I pumped in the middle of the night for weeks. It sucked but was worth it. Prolactin levels are naturally highest between 1am-5am. I would pump around 2am and take a dose of dom then, and then around 6am. That seemed to work really well for me.

"it really is advisable to get up in the night to pump in order to take advantage of the increase in prolactin levels at that time."

Thank you for this information, I usually do the pumping at daytime because im tired of getting up at night, but with this information i got now i will also do a pumping at night.

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infant sleep training

emiliebonam - I'm not sure why you posted that link. My bio son slept through the night at 2 months and it didn't hurt my supply, but with my daughter that I adopted, I woke her up to nurse until 4 months because I was still building a supply and needed the night stimulation. I think the same goes for pumping. You will see more milk overall if you wake up between 2-5 am to pump or nurse.
Jennifer

Ditto