BF experts: Oversupply and forceful letdown

[JollySleepyGiant]

DD is 4 weeks old. BF is going wonderfully (she's my second). As with last time, I started off with far too much milk but that seems better now (I'm still soaking through breast pads and having to change my clothes at least once a day). I've also got an extreme letdown, so if DD pulls off mid feed we both get soaked and she gets milk up her nose!

I only offer one side per feed. In fact, if she feeds then wants to comfort suck half an hour later then I put her back on the same side. She's very efficient. Active feeding lasts 10 minutes. Feeding to sleep can last 15. She's feeding every 1.5-3 hours in the day and 2-4.5 hours at night.

DD is gaining well. She was 8lb2.5 at birth and 10lb1 at 3 weeks, tracking neatly along the 75th centile. She's a happy baby. Slightly sleepy and brings up a mouthful after most feeds but generally very settled. She has plenty of wet and dirty nappies.

Will I damage my supply continuing like this? Do I need to start offering the other breast at each feed? At what point does block feeding become an issue?

[JollySleepyGiant]

I did a bit of biological nurturing with DS. The problem is that I have huuge boobs so baby can find themselves a bit smothered. Especially if the breast is not very full.

Feeding lying down can help too. At the moment I just let her pull off and it sprays into a muslin then I latch her back on.

[lolalotta]

I posted about forceful letdown last week. A kind mumsnetter suggested I google. "Biological nurturing", I YouTubed it, it's where you feed baby tummy to tummy in a reclined position. Has helped baby feed more comfortably and means she has very little wind after a feed now, whereas before she was writhing around in pain after feeds.

[r3d3]

I'm still doing one side in the mornings at nearby 8mo don't worry!

[JollySleepyGiant]

Thank you :) I'm always finding something to stress about!

[laughingeyes2013]

I did the same as you (one sided feed for about 10 min due to oversupply) and around the time the milk regulates better (12 week mark) I found my supply didn't seem enough in the evenings.

So I began to increase feeds (every 1-2 hours instead of 2-3) and began always using both sides each feed. Within 24 hours the supply was built up again and I could go back to 2-3 hourly feeds.

The body has an amazing ability to adjust rapidly!

[NotQuiteCockney]

You're doing absolutely the right thing. It will reduce your supply a bit, but that's a good thing.

[SmallTorch]

No it sounds perfect! I had oversupply and only started offering the second side when my babies were much older. Maybe five months old?