Decreasing supply? Forceful let-down and returning to work...

[sssheri]

I think I need to decrease my suppl, but the techniques for doing that don't seem to apply to me. Can anyone help or provide insight? Here's my situation.

This is my first child, she is 9 weeks old. She is growing like a champ and is high needs but doesn't seem to have GERD or any severe gasto problem. She has at least 5 poopy diapers a day, sometimes a lot more. About 2 weeks ago at about 9 out of 10 feedings, she chokes and cries and swallows air and dribbles out milk at let-down. It seems classic forceful let-down. Luckily she doesn't seem to put off by it, but is obviously very uncomfortable during it. I am also going to be returning to work in 2 weeks and will only be able to pump 2 times in 7 1/2 hours (I'm a teacher). Right now she eats at one breast per feeding every 2 hours from 8 am to 8 pm. overnight we don't seem to have problems since we co-sleep and she snacks all night long.

I want to try to decrease my supply a little, but the advice seems to be to feed from only one breast for a 2 hour period of time, which I do already. Would doing 1 breast for 2 feedings have the desired affect? 

Anyone been down this road before?

[carrierwright]

The general method is to start w/that 2 hour rule and then extend to 3 then 4 hours at only one breast until you find your magic hour rule! You may have to express a tiny amount on the other side as you extend your time to make sure that you're not too uncomfortable or set yourself up for mastitis, etc. Alternatively, perhaps simply stimulating your letdown just before offering the breast may help? Some mothers hand express/hand massage for a minute or two to get their milk down and then put baby on..it can sometimes help avoid the drowning phase :)  Also, if you're anticipating a lag in your pumping schedule when you return to school perhaps it's a good time to stock up?...Although you may already have a freezer full! Good luck!

[miche28]

I agree on increasing the time on a breast until you find the right balance - just go gradually and pay attention to her cues. There are a few herbal things you can try - astringent herbs (peppermint, parsley, sage). Nursing Mother's Herbal suggests a cup of peppermint tea with a few drops of oil or a bit of dried sage - for weaning, I've heard that 2 tbsp twice a day in peanut butter or honey sandwich is effective. Obviously, you'll want to proceed slowly - maybe a tsp or so at a time and see how it effects you. (NB: Never take sage OIL internally - it's toxic).

[sssheri]

Thanks for your replies, but 'm still a little confused. If she is nursing only every 2 hours (which seems like a common amount of time) how do increase the time on one breast without extending her time between feedings to 3 hours?

I have a good back-up supply now, but really want to decrease a little so I am not dripping milk all over my classroom when I return to work!

[tibeca]

With her nursing schedule, you could switch to nursing on 1 side to every 4 hours, or 2 nursings before switching. At first your other side will probably get very full. Pump only enough for comfort until your body balances out. If that doesn't work, switch to 6 hours.

[sssheri]

Thanks! Today and yesterday I am trying to have her go 3 hours between nursing as that will help a lot when I go back to work. So far she seems fine with that and I have been pretty comfortable, if not leaky ;)

[carrierwright]

That's great. I hope that this works for you. Do keep in mind that to maintain a full supply nursing at least 8-10 times per day is important, so if she falls under that your oversupply risks quickly becoming 'not enough'. If the every 3 hrs works for her then hopefully you'll see an appropriate decrease! If not and she still is nursing every 2 I agree that you might consider just doing 2 feedings on one side before switching. Good luck~