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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

Please help! Recurring mastitis/Over supply/lop-sidedness

4 replies

LeeMiller · 20/02/2019 20:24

DS is nearly 10 weeks old and ebf. It all started so well, then we developed some issues which people kept saying would work themselves out and now I feel like we're in a bit of a mess. Sad

I seem to have over supply in my right breast. It's frequently engorged and I've had mastitis from different blocked ducts twice in the past 3 weeks (I think specifically caused by DS sleeping for longer stretches at night and babywearing while engorged). The only time it ever feels like DS empties the rb is when the mastitis reduces my supply, before the antibiotics kick in. Normally within an hour or two it's stupidly full again.

Trying to relieve the pain from engorgement and unblock the ducts means I was hand expressing and nursing more from my right breast. They've been uneven since my milk came in but it's now worse and the left breast is about half the size of the right which makes me feel awful and self-conscious. I've been trying to feed more on the left to remedy this but I have to feed or hand express frequently from the right or it starts getting hard. I also have to feed DS every couple of hours at night for the same reasons, even though he'd sleep longer.

I have fast let-down in both boobs but DS generally seems to be coping better with this and is spluttering less. Reclining while feeding helps. I've always felt the letdown strongly but since having the mastitis I feel it quite painfully in both breasts sometimes. Other than this feeding is painless, and he is gaining plenty of weight.

How can I reduce my supply in one breast and even myself up a bit?!
I've read about block feeding but I'm not sure how to apply it when I'm so wonky. DS has always had short, frequent feeds, usually taking only milk from one breast before falling asleep or losing interest anyway. Is there anything I can take to reduce supply? I'm dreading getting mastitis again. Please help!

OP posts:
JiltedJohnsJulie · 21/02/2019 10:07

I think you might need some RL support with all of this OP. Is there a BFing Support Group that you could go to today?

Orangepear · 21/02/2019 10:45

Yes, try to get some support today. Are you always switching which side you start with? I had a similar issue because I co slept so always started with the side DC was on. Also check your clothing isn't inhibiting flow, I had a problem when I pulled a vest top down as it stopped flow where it was tight underneath. Does your DS prefer one side? If so you could try a different hold to make him think it's the preferred side.

LeeMiller · 21/02/2019 13:22

Thanks for replying. I saw the midwife/lactation consultant this morning but she didn't have much advice beyond what I'm already doing: trying to feed from the left as much as possible to stimulate milk, and hand express the minimum necessary from the right to prevent discomfort. She wasn't sure about block feeding to even me up. She did suggest taking lecithin to try and prevent blocked ducts,

Clothing is a good point @Orangepear, I've been using hidden support vests at home and was thinking today that they were a bit bunched up when feeding. I've stopped using the baby carrier for now too. Since I've had mastitis every little twinge makes me anxious.

DS prefers the slower left side, but ends up drinking more from the right side to stop engorgement. I'm just not sure how to break the cycle.

OP posts:
Orangepear · 21/02/2019 20:34

If you're on Facebook you could join the group Breastfeeding younger babies and beyond, they might have some ideas. If it's any help, I had oversupply, painful let down, recurring mastitis etc with DC1, but it is completely different with DC2! Who knows why. Are you taking anything for milk supply, e.g. fennel tea increased my supply, could it be something like a change in your diet that your rb is responding to? I do remember random engorgement but I don't know how normal it is. I used to have a hot shower and it leaks out, rather than feeding or pumping which stimulates it.

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