Oversupply - caused by poor latch?

[stargirl1701]

I have just read this.

m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=408365275981191&id=138141916336863

I have oversupply and forceful letdown. Is it caused by a poor latch? DD2 is 13 weeks. There is no pain with the latch. Her weight gain was 8/9 oz a week for the first 6 weeks but has now settled to 4/5 oz a week.

[NotQuiteCockney]

That story is about a mum ending up with under supply because of poor latch.

If there is no pain, then odds are, the latch is great. (Which is lucky - some babies will latch poorly on purpose in response to forceful letdown, to reduce it a bit.)

If you have oversupply and forceful letdown, there are a few things that might help:

1. block feeding. This can make a huge difference, and is really the only solution to over supply.
   
2. laid-back nursing. This can help with the forceful let down
   
3. some mums intentionally block some the first part of the letdown, with the side of their hand. This is tricky.
   

Really, though, block feeding is the only technique likely to help. Oversupply is a giant hassle for you.

[stargirl1701]

Yes, I've been block feeding since 4 weeks. I just wonder about the cause of the oversupply. This didn't occur with DD1 who had a truly dreadful latch. I'm searching for a why. My plan was 17 weeks ebf and we are nearly there. It has been the most difficult thing I have ever done in my entire life. I did so much prep (reading, observation, RL groups) this time and it hasn't really made a difference. I'm pretty gutted that I can't seem to make it work.

[GoogleyEyes]

Other things that can help with over supply are avoiding any nipple stimulation (so just wash with flannel, no soaking in hot baths or showers) and not letting the baby flutter-suck (offer your finger instead). I found mine was awful up to about three months, bad if I missed a feed up to about seven months, and then settled down.

Have you tried cabbage in the bra? That helps, too.