Over Supply of breast milk?

[ConnorTraceptive]

I'm finding feeding ds2 isn't going as smoothly as ds1 did and I think I may actually be producing to much milk.

DS often gags in the first minute or two of feeding and often pulls off (cue him getting a face full of milk) When he's on he's very "gulpy"

Feeds are only lasting on average 10 minutes and he more often than not refuses the second side but then wants to feeds again about an hour or so later. So it seems he's just taking lots of foremilk and not enough hind milk.

My breasts always feel very very full and even after a feed seem to fill up again very quickly.

Any suggestions as I feel we just aren't getting feeding right at the minute?

[glimmer]

I am no expert but I believe the advice is to express a little (1-2 ounces??) before feeding DS2. Do you have a pump? I think the balance is to avoid your breast thinking that because you pumped it needs to produce more. Some people donate the excess milk to breastmilk bank. Hope somebody more knowledgeable will be around soon.

[jingleyjen]

I was like this with both the boys, they very rarely had more than 10-15 minutes of feed, they grew well and so I wouldn't worry about the hind milk thing..

I would express a very little amount off to release the pressure (if it is anything like me I only had to gently hold my breast and it started to come out)

Don't express too much as if you already have alot your body will think you want even more!

Is it the 10 minute thing that is making you feel that things aren't going well or is it the feeling in your breasts?

IIRC my boobs started to get to grips with supply and demand within the first few weeks.

How old is your little one?

I am sure there will be others round soon with more professional advice..

In the mean time it sounds like you are doing really well
Congratulations.

[Monkeybird]

Hi connor - it does sound a bit like oversupply, which I have had problems with.

The best advice is usually to try single sided feeding for a while (should only take a few days to balance out). In other words, take a three hour period and only feed from one side during that time. I.e. he feeds from left side at 10, then wants to feed again at 11 and 12, also feed from the left. Then if he wants to feed at 1, feed from the right, up until 4. And so on.

Expressing can make things worse if it increases the supply but I believe if it is really a problem there is a technique you can use where you express both breasts completely just before a feed and then start afresh so to speak. But I haven't ever done this and think you'd probably need to get advice and support from a BF counsellor before trying this.

I think a bit of single sided feeding should sort things out. You don't say how old your baby is but 10 minutes is quite normal if you have a lot of milk...

[tiktok]

Expressing is definitely to be avoided at this stage - far easier simply to do single sided feeding as Monkrybird suggests.

If this really doesn't help, then try expressing if you really have to....but what a faff!!

[ConnorTraceptive]

Thanks for all the replies they are really helpfull.

DS is five weeks and is putting on lots of weight (was 11 pound at birth and 13 and half pound at three weeks, he's being weighed again on fri) so I'm not so worried about him getting enough as such as he is clearly thriving. I would just like to see him a bit more settled on the breast as he gags and comes off quite a few times and can be be really fussy when feeding.

I've also just had mastitis and have heard that over supply can be a problem there too.

I will definately try the single side feeding and will avoid expressing.

Glad to hear that 10 minutes of feeding is normal - it's just so different from ds1 one who used to latch on and camp out at the breast for a good hour!

Thanks again for all the advice.

[phlossie]

Connor - I had exactly the same problem with ds. He used to choke on my speedy letdown, and I slept on a bath towel for what seemed like ages, because I'd wake up in a puddle of milk!
I'd start off the feed, and then hand express a little into a muslin or a cup until it stopped doing the power shower thing and then latch him back on. That helped with wind too.
I'd say ten mins is normal too. Your supply will settle down in no time.

[taliac]

Here too.. DD started to get wise to it, and come off the breast at letdown.. Only problem was, there would then be such a spray that her poor little face would get covered in milk!

Single sided feeding worked for me, and it pretty much all settled down at 12 weeks, to the point where now I sometimes do find I need to offer both breasts in the evenings..

[ConnorTraceptive]

Thanks again for all the advice the single side feeding seems to be doing the trick (ds2 is also going longer between feeds - not sure if this is coincidental)

Thanks again!