Managing over supply

[Iggly]

DD is 11 days old and I'm EBF. with DS I realised (too late) that I have an over active letdown and over supply which contributed to a very long and miserable nursing strike (he also had silent reflux to confuse matters which continued into toddlerhood).

I'm keen to avoid the same problems again - already DD is choking during feeds, gulping loads of air then gets incredible upset with wind (her stomach is gurgle and she writhes and arches). She wants more feeding but that makes her take even more air down!

I know I need to adopt feeding positions so she's more upright and feeding uphill but this is hard as she's small.

I also need to reduce milk production a bit but getting into a muddle as I'm tired. Plus don't want to risk mastitis etc.

Has anyone successfully dealt wit over supply? Part of the problem is I was still feeding DS not long before DD was born so milk is going great guns a lot earlier this time.

I hate seeing DD screaming in discomfort and at 3am it's enough to make me want to stop BF :(

Iggly, usually 11 days would be a bit soon to start block nursing, but in your case it's worth trying.

I thought it might be tiktok - I tried it and one boob got incredibly painful quickly especially as I got confused and forgot what my blocks were. Will try again!

Hi I have had over supply issues on all three DC like you I hadnt long stopped feeding DC2 when DC3 came along all 3 had colic and would choke on feeds and I was engorged and had mild to moderate mastitus on all 3. I dont know what blocking is but I dealt with it by not expressing (or draining off milk)as while it offered temporary relief it meant I got more milk. I always sit baby up for feeds and after latching I unlatched and squeezed some milk out till the flow decreased slightly before relatching. I use infacol from birth and do alot of winding and just struggled through till my DC could handle it and my supply regulated. At 2months DD is much better and only chokes about twice a day, sorry I guess you knew all that but thought I would post so you know you are not alone

This might be interesting reading for you but I would suggest you discuss it first with a bfing professional before to see if it would be appropriate in your circumstances.

It is a very different technique to the usual 'don't express except for comfort' advice but you can use it in conjunction with block nursing too if needs be.

Thank you both. It's not something I can find much practical advice on as my case feels extreme (my boobs are very sensitive wrt to milk production - doesn't take much!). Truth I'll give that a read thank you.

I had the same problem with my ds who is now 10 weeks, however I hadn't even heard of oversupply until he was 7 weeks, so didn't do anything to address it until then so not really the same as with an 11 day old.

From birth he only had 1 side per feed as I could see he had had enough and there was plenty of milk left so I started trying with 4 to 5 hour blocks, although this didn't seem to help so I started feeding 3 times on the same side before swapping to the other side. Once I did this I saw a very fast improvement (tmi alert!) with the problems with pooing and colour of the poos, although he was still taking in quite a lot of air and choking, getting hiccups, etc., which has been getting better more gradually (disclaimer: I am not a professional either and realise that I may have been very lucky not to get mastitits, etc. with this approach. Also, I was possibly still engorged at 11 days, so it is a completely different scenario with you...).

I always stopped feeding once he started "fighting the boob" as keepin him on only ever led to him getting a very very small amount of extra milk, and louder crying and more discomfort so I would wait until he was calmer again. When he unlatched mid feed due to fast let down, I always kept him off and caught the excess with a towel until it wasn't spraying anymore, sometimes I would give him my knuckle to suck in the meantime so he wouldn't get too upset (he is impatient).

Also tried to feed when he was more sleepy rather than fully awake or agitated as he sucks more calmly then, though I know sometimes this is easier said than done.

Re. positions, I tend to feed in the usual belly to belly position but raising the arm where his head is so that it is higher than the feet. I tried feeding lying down a few nights since they say it helps but ime he swallowed more air like that as we both found it more difficult.

I hope you can get a consultant or someone more experienced to lend you a hand. I know it is horrible, but I also know it will get better.