Is this oversupply?

[claireybee]

I am usually loath to self diagnose but something in another post struck a chord.

I do have a very strong letdown and DS always pulls off until it slows down. Sometimes he'll then take a good feed, other times he'll continue to pull off/fuss/headbutt/grizzle when on/scream when off etc. Sometimes is wind, other times seems not.

He has very wet nappies, poos during or after most feeds. Usually orangey yellow poo, green one every few days but with orangey ones either side (never a sucession of green poos). Possets after most feeds, big sick once or twice a day (sometimes doesn't but more often does).

He is very unsettled generally, if he is awake and not being fed he is screaming. Will lie on playmat or sit in chair for all of 30 seconds without screaming. I wear him in sling for most of the day (pacing/dancing to stop him screaming-even just being held isn't enough), can only transfer him to cot once deeply asleep. He will then usually sleep for a decent amount of time though.

He cluster feeds from 3/4am onwards (sometimes until lunchtime or beyond) and from 6pm until 10/11pm most evenings. Doesn't seem any dfferent at these times (ie no more or less sick/fussy) except he wants feeding constantly and won't settle in sling (proper deep sucking not comfort sucking, but coming on and off).

I'm not even sure this is a feeding question-other than the fussing at breast feeding seems to be the one thing that is actually going well (no pain/doubting myself etc). Have looked at Cranial Osteopathy but the only one in my area that does babies will only take block bookings of at least 5 sessions and at £35 each I can't really afford it.

He is now 6 weeks, has been like this pretty much since birth. Tried infacol/gripe water but no change (more sick if anything). To be honest it is starting to wear me down, especially as we pass 6 and approach 8 weeks and most other babies seem to be settling down/cooing/interacting etc (I know, I know, I shouldn't compare...).

I feel as though I should be enjoying at least some of the time with DS and so far I'm not really. My poor DD (20 months) is also suffering because I feel so shattered (physically/mentally/emotionally...)to play with her or even be able to with ds's constant screaming. she does enjoy the times I have him in the sling though as I can chase her round/dance with her etc but I feel guilty that it isn't time properly devoted to her

clairy, call one of the helplines and talk about it. I think it could be oversupply, yes,.

Sling carrying is fine - your dd will not mind she is 'sharing' you with her bro, and won't even notice it.

One other sign of over supply is mega weight gain....say, more than 8-10 oz a week on most weeks.

(Note to other mums of mega gaining babies - in itself this is not a problem! It is only when coupled with the other signs Clairey is describing!)

There are ways to tackle a strong let down, including reducing your supply a bit. This might help with the fussy at the breast.

But. unsettled in between sounds like something else.

Have you tried massage? if its wind that could help, and strong let downs can make babies gulp a bit and give themselves wind.

Or perhaps reflux? Might be worth mentioning it to gp about that one.

There are some possible things to try with reflux including changing you diet.

I recommend

askdrsears.com

HTH

Thanks Tiktok, I'll give them a call. No idea about weight gain cos I don't really get him weighed but have 6 week check on Friday so will do then.

Will also mention it to GP at check Slur in case it is reflux. Don't think is simply wind (thought it was before but the usual wind tricks don't make any difference)

HV came round this morning "to see how I was" (maybe she is a mnetter) and weighed ds. He has put on 25oz in 2 weeks (3lb12 from birth) and jumped up a centile.

Thanks for the link too Slur, haven't managed to read all of it yet but it is interesting so far.

clairey....that is a mega weight gain and I would bet money on your wonderfully bounteous milk supply

First thing to try is easy - keep him on one side only for every period of 4-5 hours ('one-sided feeding') and watch the other side for uncomfortable engorgement, treating with gentle and light hand expressing only if essential.

Give it a couple of days and post back to share how things are.

Clairy, I had a problem with over supply and my DS displayed some of the behaviour you describe. He had very rapid weight gain (1lb a week for first 8 weeks) and fussed A LOT when feeding, coming on and off, head butting etc (this made me very cracked and sore). He was also very sicky! At the time I posted and TikTok advised feeding off one side for blocks of time, this really seemed to help. Also, hand expressing before feeds made it easier for ds to maintain a latch at let-down. I found the first feed of the day the most difficult due to huge ammounts of milk spraying everywhere, for the first few months I had to get up and express before I fed him.
Someone at the time told me that it would be a good thing in the long run as he would become very efficient at feeding- this turned out to be true and now feeds are quick and easy . I found it had improved to a point where it was no longer a problem by around 12 weeks, so not long for you now!

That's reassuring! Thanks Twinkle

Just to update:

Day one, was only able to go 3.5 hours before the other breast got too painful (had been keeping to one breast for approx 2hours before). Even so LOTS of leaking from the breast I wasn't feeding from.

Day two, increased to 4 hours. DS slept for a FIVE hour stretch in the night and did have to express a little from the breast he was due to feed from. Afraid I used a pump as breast was too painful to touch but was careful to only use it very gently and to only express until the rock like feeling passed. Stopped pumping when breast still felt full but not engorged-was amazed to see had got FIVE ounces in the two minutes it took to do so. No wonder the poor boy has been uncomfortable if it is spraying out at that rate!

Is now day 4 and ds does seem generally happier. Is easier to settle after feeds and has some awake and alert time without crying. His cries also sound more normal and less "I'm in agony here". With the exception of the first feed from a full breast he is feeding much better with less tugging/clamping etc. He has also fallen asleep on the breast a couple of times. Seems to be a bit less sicky(posseting rather than huge amounts). Poos seem more curdy-is that normal?

Still doesn't like being put down and likes to be worn all day but that's not a problem unless I see it as one, and certainly don't think it is an indication of anything being wrong.

Don't know if anyone has posted this already - I had problems with over-supply and it helped if I started dd off and then took her from the breast and caught the let down in a muslin - she was then much happier to go back on and feed.

clairey - your experience convinces me that his behaviour was indeed linked to your supply...hope things continue to get better.

hi Clairy, it sounds like you are doing really well! I used to use the electric pump in the morning before feeding ds and also got 5oz very quickly- I still have a freezer full of ebm which would be good if only ds would take a bottle!
I used to express first thing and then feed from the same side. He would then feed from the other side a couple of hours later (say 8.30) and I would give him the same side for all feeds in the next 4 hours (so that meant 3 feeds from one side usually) before swapping for the next 4 hours. I do remember clearly having to lean over the wash basin in the middle of the night though just letting milk pour out of me- what a waste! It does get easier quickly, by 12 weeks I didn't need to express a lot in the mornings in order to have a settled feed. I do still do consecutive feeds on the same side though- just habit I suppose! Keep up the good work, and curdy poo sounds delightfuly normal .

A couple of questions Twinkle, if you don't mind...(Tiktok feel free to answer too!)

Did you not find expressing first thing increased your supply a bit? Have been thinking of expressing before I go to bed as ds has his longest sleep in the evening so then struggles a bit with the resulting full boob but was worried it would add to the oversupply problem.

Also you say you still do consecutive feeds on the same side, I was wondering if there would come a time where I need to start switching sides more frequently again and how I would know when I got there? [clueless smiley]

Also please reassure me I am not going to reduce my supply too much!!

Or anyone...?

I'm afraid I know nothing about over supply, but I do know that milkbanks would be delighted to have any spare milk that anyone in a similar situation is willing to donate.

I had a freezer full of milk because ds1 wouldn't take a bottle which went to waste. This time round I am expressing a little each day (to relieve my fullness in the mornings) and donating it. They send a courier to my house, so it is really very easy. See www.ukamb.org/about.htm. Apparently they are desparately short of donors at the moment.

It's lovely for mums to donate to milk banks, wetTshirt, and there should be a milk bank on every street as far as I'm concerned...but mothers with a real over-supply issue really cannot donate, because they need to put a lid on their production and not express to maintain this oversupply .... 'cos it's this that is making their babies unhappy!

Ahem

big up tiktok here

Sorry, yes of course I didn't mean to suggest maintaining a large supply, or an unhappy baby! I was just thinking of twinkle5's freezer full of already expressed milk. I remember being very upset when I later found out that I could have donated the milk I had expressed.

Sorry again

Ah, I see, wetT.....I was thinking the similar situation was the OPs!