Oversupply or reflux? And is it poss to have oversupply to just one breast? Any advice welcome!

[peggotty]

My ds is 7 weeks old and in the last week or so has become increasingly unsettled during and just after feeds (is bf). He latches on and off constantly during feeds and cries becoming quite frantic. He makes quite strange noises when feeding as well, gulping and what can only be described as sort of whooping noises!! I wind him at least twice during feeds and he nearly always burps. He seems to prefer one boob to the other and I've noticed that the boob he likes least seems to produce more milk or at least leaks more and he seems to leak milk out of his mouth when feeding from this one. He is gaining weight very well, put on 2 pounds in two weeks early on and the last time I weighted him he had gained 22 ounces in 2 weeks (not had him weight in last 2 weeks so don't know if this weight gain has continued). I know that big weight gains can be a symptom of oversupply. I am wondering if it might be silent reflux - my dd had reflux although she was a big vomiter - but he is not sick much and only possets only a bit. He doesn't back arch or seem particularily in pain but can be quite unsettled after feeds, the only time he feeds without the palaver described is at night when he is half asleep. I have started to try and do block-feeding, but how long before I should see any difference? Any experience or advice very welcome!

[tiktok]

Sounds like a clear case of over supply to me (which can cause reflux anyway). You should see a difference within a couple of days - some women need to make the blocks longer than 3-4 hours to make a real difference, though.

Good luck

[peggotty]

Thank you for replying tiktok! Is it poss to have oversupply to one boob though? He doesn't seem as bad when I feed him from my 'good' boob! Have been feeding him from each boob in 4 hour blocks so far today but I'm not sure what to do at night as he sleeps from about 7pm til 2.30am-3ish then again about 6am-ish. The boob that seems to be causing more of a problem is pretty huge by the morning even if I've fed him from it in the night. Trouble is I can't get a drop out of it to relieve the pressure either by hand or using a pump!

I hope I can sort it out, it's stressing me out big time, especially when he's latching on and off when I feed him in public, as I feel self-concious enough without a screaming baby and exposed boobs!!!

[tiktok]

peggoty, yes, it is perfectly possible to have over supply on one side only. Why wouldn't it be? The breasts produce milk independently of each other, after the first few days.

If the difference between breasts is that great, you could try always feeding from the less productive side first, and then offering the more productive one....so not block nursing, so much, as engineering the stimulus and the supply.

[beansprout]

This sounds exactly like 6 week old ds2, except he does throw up entire feeds but only once or twice a day.

What is block feeding as it sounds like it might be useful?

[tiktok]

beansprout, check archives - lots in there about it. Basically, it's using one side only over a period of several hours, which reduces supply.

[beansprout]

Ok, will do, thanks.

[peggotty]

Beansprout, there's also stuff about it on Kellymom. I love that site!!
Tiktok will try feeding from 'good' boob first, then 'bad' boob second for tomorrows feeds and see how it goes . Thanks for your help.

[broguemum]

Peggoty - could you let me know how it went for you? I have a similar problem and am getting fed up of getting drenched all down my right side if I start on the left when I feed DS. No breast pad seems to contain it and whilst in winter it's OK to wear several layers whilst feeding so it doesn't show, when the warmer weather comes it won't be!! DS is 3.5 months now and it is begining to bug me.

Thanks in advance.

[peggotty]

Hi broguemum, have only been doing the block feeding for 2 days but I think I can see a difference already - he seems a bit calmer when feeding, although still latching on and off quite a bit during feeds, he isn't as upset while doing it. The boob which does the leaking seems to have also calmed down a bit, although still leakier than the other, and he still has a bit of an aversion to it at the moment. Didn't realise i'd have to do all this fine-tuning of my boobs when I started bf-ing!!

[broguemum]

Thanks for letting me know - I think I might give it a try as my right boob and I are no longer friends....