Breastfeeding Support on Your Terms: A Conversation with Abigail Miles, Founder of Latchline

For parents who choose to breastfeed, getting into a rhythm can be a challenge. Once you think you’ve figured it out, baby hits a new milestone and your process needs to adapt accordingly.

Abigail Miles, a board-certified lactation consultant with more than 14 years of experience, is the founder of Latchline, a prenatal education and virtual lactation care platform offering personalized consultations, breastfeeding classes, phone support, and secure messaging. Abigail founded Latchline to deliver expert, accessible support to new parents at all stages of feeding, from latch issues to navigating the return to work, weaning, and more.

Harbor’s Director of Nursing, Kelly Brown, spoke with Abigail to discuss overnight pumping strategies, navigating changes to feeding schedules, and more. Read on for Latchline’s expert insights.

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Keeping up supply while sleeping longer

“If your baby is starting to sleep 6–8 hours overnight and you’re still looking to maintain a full milk supply, especially if you’re pumping for daytime bottles, you may want to keep one overnight pump session,” Abigail said, suggesting that pumping between 2–4am can mimic a night feed and prevent a dip in supply.

If you’re not prone to clogs or overproduction, and if your little one is growing well, Abigail recommends experimenting with longer stretches between pumping at night. “The key is to drop sessions gradually. If you’re going to skip the pump at night, make sure your daytime supply is stable by adding a pump first thing in the morning when your supply is naturally highest,” she said.

In the same way that each baby’s needs differ, each breastfeeding experience is unique. Tune into your body to find the overnight pumping cadence that works for you. If you’re waking up uncomfortably full, your body is telling you to keep that night session in for now!

Maintaining supply while eliminating night feeds

At a certain point, parents will want to eliminate night feeds while also protecting their sleep, baby’s sleep, and their milk supply.

“If your baby is growing well and your pediatrician gives you the okay, begin spacing out night feeds,” Abigail suggested. “I recommend starting with a dream feed around 10–11pm, then letting baby sleep for as long as possible. If they wake, soothe them in other ways before offering a feed.”

As with all things baby and sleep, a gradual approach will be the key to success. Abigail suggests shortening night feeds or bottle sessions either by a few minutes or by decreasing ounces every couple of nights. 

“If you notice a dip in supply, a short pump session during the day or power pumping can help you rebuild,” Abigail suggests.

Ensuring that baby is getting adequate nutrition during the day will help them drop night feeds with a bit more ease. You’re aiming for eight or more feedings in 24 hours.

Storing and preparing milk for daycare and time away

Around three months, most babies take in 1–1.5 ounces of milk per hour. If you’re at work for 8 hours, baby will likely need 8–12 ounces of milk divided across 3–4 bottles.

If you’ll be outsourcing feeds to daycare or a nanny, aim to keep 12–15 ounces in your fridge as a baseline, Abigail says, adding that a freezer stash can be helpful here. “Make sure that whoever is feeding baby practices paced bottle feedings, which prevent overfeeding and support a smoother transition back to the breast when you’re back home.”

What about a freezer stash?

“It’s okay if you don’t have a huge freezer stash! Your body makes milk in real time,” Abigail explained. “Small, consistent pumping sessions will help you stay ahead of feedings without needing hundreds of ounces stored away.”

Balancing solids with pumping

“Around six months, when solids are introduced, breast milk will remain baby’s primary source of nutrition for several more months,” Abigail explained. “At this point, solids are more about exploring texture, flavor, and developing new skills.”

This means you won’t need to make big changes to your pumping schedule the day baby tries solids. If you’re pumping to replace feeds, you’ll want to continue with your usual 4–5 sessions per day until 9–12 months, when baby starts taking in a significant amount of solids.

With time, you can space out or shorten pump sessions, or drop one session every few weeks to see how your supply responds.

Let’s review

Maintaining supply while baby’s needs change (and they change often!) can be a delicate balance. With professional lactation support, however, parents and babies can thrive. Visit mylatchline.com to book a free, 15-minute consultation and access classes and custom support packages. Latchline is FSA-eligible and may be covered by insurance.