Oversupply: When and how to decrease?

[MultipleMama]

So I've been breastfeeding on and off for the past 6 years. I use the "no offer, no refuse" method except for DC7 who is in NICU unable to take breastmilk yet.

My supply for the past 2 year has been crazy always up and down and then finally levelled out. But these past 7 months I've gone from pumping 40oz a day upto 60-90oz a day and I pump around 10 times a day! I constantly feel full and only get that empty feeling for a few minutes after pumping.

Pumping that much has never been a problem, still isn't, I used to donate my milk and I have a deep freezer full at home and spare bottles of pumped at PiLs. So I am completely stocked up.

However, DC7 is our last baby, and I want to cut down and regain some freedom from it. I still want to continue breastfeeding and expressing as long as possible but not with so much supply.

Any tips/advice on how to decrease my supply.

I managed to express only 3 times today. My breasts felt so engorged and full, despite breastfeeding between expressing. And I still managed to pump around 80oz.

I'm slightly losing my mind! Sorry for the rant. Unable to sleep & breastfeeding and thinking too much!

[RandomMess]

I guess it will just take time, just express enough to take the edge off the engorgement discomfort?

[PenguinsIsSleepDeprived]

I think you need to stop pumping so much. it will be much the same advice as when your milk comes in - emptying the breast is probably making it worse. Express when it hurts, but just a little, not to empty.

[stargirl1701]

Sage tea, sudafed or the contraceptive pill will work.

kellymom.com/bf/can-i-breastfeed/herbs/herbs-oversupply/

[milkjetmum]

I always found it took 3 days for my boobs to get the message when I changed demand (increased or decreased). So I would suggest pumping only for fixed time eg pump for 10 mins not until you have 3oz if you see what I mean.

Give yourself 3 days to get used to that, then either reduce pumping time or number of sessions gradually. Hopefully that will be gradual enough to avoid too much discomfort.

I bf my dd2 (8 months) when I'm not working, my hours are variable so I do sometimes still feel full. But generally able to do a quick morning feed, then on demand evening/night.

[MultipleMama]

Thank you for the tips.

I mostly pump for a set amount of time; i.e how much free time I have. But I will admit, I do get in the habit of pumping until I feel empty somedays so I guess I should stop doing that.

3 days sounds like a good general idea. I'll give waiting ago

Thank you for the link, I'll check it out. I'll avoid the sudafed and pill though. But I will look into the sage tea - I don't mind trying out the herbal stuff :)

Shall I limit the time I pump for first or tackle both like cut down how much I express and how long for?

[milkjetmum]

It is the feeling of fullness that will give your boobs the signal to reduce milk production. But you have to balance that with the risk of painful engorgement and blocked ducts/mastitis if you slow down too fast. So personally I would suggest slow and steady reductions in either time or frequency but not both at once. Up to you which fits better with your daily pattern.

Also just remembered I used to put bag if frozen peas on boobs before bed, that will also slow down milk production/ sooth engorgement.