Cluster feeding and oversupply issues (again) - advice?

[zazenist]

Hi all... My LO is 2 1/2 weeks old and I had some serious engorgement issues when my milk came in (about 4 days post-partum). Things got settled down nicely with a little management, but the past three days, DD has been cluster feeding - 3 and 4 hour daily nurse-a-thons where she is at the breast constantly, and now I am feeling engorged again. Breasts are tight, sore, and hard... Not as bad as before, but still uncomfortable. As before, I'm hand-expressing and/or doing some very minimal pumping to get the pressure off a bit when I need to. DD has been a champ BFer so far - textbook latch, etc, and all that still seems to be fine.

TIA for any comments!

[Llyra]

My best advice is to hang in there and it should get better soon. Follow her cues, nurse when she wants to, keep the pumping and expressing to the minimum necessary to prevent plugged ducts, and just give it a bit more time. If you do get a plugged duct, work on clearing it right away, to prevent mastitis. But what I've found with my own kids, and heard from others, is that it takes about a month to six week for your supply to regulate itself to baby's needs. Things should settle down soon.

Heat before a feed can help get the milk flowing. Make sure baby is staying on one breast long enough that she comes off on her own, before you offer the other side.

I would say that if you are still feeling continually full after a few more weeks, you should consider block feeding. I wouldn't do that so early, though, when your milk supply is still being established. At this point, I think I'd always at least offer the other side, once baby has come off the first side on her own.

How are baby's poops? Are they nice and yellow or yellow-orange? That lets you know baby is getting enough of the fatty hindmilk to grow well.