Signs of Oversupply - Mom Leaking a lot of milk. Breast pain from feeling overly full. Nipple pain usually from infant biting, chewing or clenching down to slow a very fast let down. Recurring plugged ducts or mastitis.
An oversupply of breast milk generally refers to a mother who is able to nurse her infant, or multiples, and is still able to produce a significant amount of breast milk (more than 4-5 oz) in a pump session after a feeding.
An oversupply normally settles down in time as your supply regulates. But if it persists beyond six to eight weeks, the following might be helpful: Check your baby is latching well at the breast. Leaning back when feeding can help to slow the flow down if your baby finds it hard to latch (Trimeloni and Spencer, 2016).
Hand expression or pumping for just a couple of minutes to relieve extreme fullness can be a helpful, especially when block feeding (more information on block feeding below). Make sure you are only expressing a small amount – 1 ounce or so – to prevent making an oversupply problem worse.
Typically, milk supply takes 6-8 weeks, and sometimes up to 12 weeks, to regulate. Nature can be overly generous at first and it can take time for your supply to settle down to what your baby actually needs.
Signs of Oversupply - Infant
Gulping, coughing, choking or sputtering during feedings. Frequently detaching from the breast during feedings. Fussiness between feedings and/or cuing to feed all the time (even after drinking plenty of milk) Frequently spitting up.
Haakaa Pumps can help parents with an oversupply to manage the oversupply while nursing at the breast by allowing a controlled release of pressure on the breast with less removal of milk than a traditional pump. This can help in the case of modified block feeding.
Overactive letdown is a common issue the first 4 to 6 weeks after birth when your body is still learning how much milk to make. If your body produces too much (you have an oversupply), that can lead to a rush of milk to your breasts that wants to come out quickly.
Second, you cannot overfeed a breastfed baby at the breast. Milk is made on demand. If the baby doesn't take all of the milk in the breast, it signals to the breast not to make as much.
It's not uncommon for moms to be told that they shouldn't pump for 20 minutes. Why is this? The concern behind this advice is that pumping too much might cause oversupply in a nursing mother. For women who are nursing, having a large oversupply can cause problems with overactive letdown and foremilk/hindmilk imbalance.
Milk production – You'll burn more calories with an overabundant breastmilk supply than if you have a low milk supply. Your baby's age – You'll be breastfeeding less frequently when you start weaning as your baby begins eating solid foods.
Breast engorgement is swelling, tightness, and an increase in size of the breasts. It usually occurs in the early days of breastfeeding, between day 3 and 5, but may occur as late as day 9-10. Moderately severe breast engorgement results in hard, full, tense, warm and tender breasts with throbbing and aching pain.
Leaking doesn't always mean too much breast milk
As a result, excessive leaking and breasts that fill quickly – and even spray milk during let down – are common and normal.
Feeding patterns may cause the oversupply, such as: feeding the baby on a set schedule rather than according to need. pumping too much before a feed to make the breast soft and easier for the baby to latch onto. the baby preferring to feed mainly from 1 breast.
Your body is constantly producing milk, even while breastfeeding. Also, I have noticed that using the Haakaa actually increased my breastmilk supply because of supply and demand; it signaled my body to produce more breastmilk since more was being removed at each feeding.
As long as there is milk in your breasts, the continuous suction of your Haakaa pump will draw it out - not JUST during your letdown.
Babies often do better with semi upright or upright positions such as the 'laid back' or 'koala hold' positions. You may need to try different breastfeeding positions to see what works for you. When positioning your baby, be sure to get a deep attachment.
Babies whose parents have oversupply may either gain weight too slowly or too quickly. They may be uncomfortable during feedings, squirm and gulp harshly, and unlatch frequently to cry (and sometimes get sprayed in the face by milk when they do.
Ultimately, if your baby has reached its birth weight and you're pumping enough milk during the day, it's okay to sleep eight hours without pumping at night. Keep in mind there is an adjustment period for your body as it begins to acclimate to the decrease in overnight milk removal.
Increase pumping frequency
Pumping more often can help stimulate breasts to produce more milk. Moms can try pumping both breasts for 15 minutes every two hours for 48-72 hours. Then moms can return to their normal pumping routine. Pumping for longer than 30 minutes may not be beneficial.
If you're pumping for a freezer stash or to store milk for a future separation from your baby, try pumping shortly after you finish nursing – maybe 15 to 30 minutes. That way, your body will have an hour and a half or so to replenish breast milk for your next nursing session.