Anyone with oversupply issues??

[redskynight]

Hi there, I'm Alice and new to these forums. Just wondering if there's anyone out there with oversupply issues? I am lactating for the second time with my 10wk old boy, and like with the first, I have so much milk that comes out so quickly for him. I think I have just found a good system that seems to work well for us, but is different to what the lactation consultant suggests. I struggle with wanting to feed intutively and as much as he needs for comfort, and also needing to stick to some boundries so that my supply doesn't grow anymore. It seems like a good problem to have, but I know from the experience of my first that it can be very difficult to manage and result in a terribly unsettled and sick baby.

Anyway, anyone out there with these problems too??

[PatioGardener]

I had massive over supply. I nursed on demand (and continue to now at 14 months) but block nursed - using one breast for 10 hours at a time. I also nursed reclined with baby upright, and ended up using sage to reduce my supply.

What system are you using?

[redskynight]

I guess the system, or 'rules' that I am using is to just continue to be intutitve and pay very close attention to my baby. Its quite a different way of managing it than the health professionals tell me to do, which is to watch the clock and wake him from his peaceful sleep. I use a combination of feeding lying down with his head on top of the breast, using the sling, feeding for extended periods off one breast (although I have learnt not to make this a rule because sometimes he needs to feed off both sides), feeling my breasts to learn when they are full and when they are empty. I feel like I've come to a realisation about my breastfeeding that was always clouded with preconceptions before. I never understood these things with my first baby and I am wondering if whether the way we breastfeed our babies is having an impact on their health.

[mrskingred]

I had massive oversupply and basically block nursed on demand as mentioned by the pp and also stopped eating my usual breakfast of porridge as I had been told that oats may increase milk production. I also nursed lying down a lot with my DS on top - initially this was the only way I could get him to latch. He's still nursing at almost 5.

[crunchy_mommy]

I block-nursed on demand... the blocks would be anywhere from 4-12 hours, depending on multiple factors. Like you, I kind of just tuned into DS and what he needed. I still had MASSIVE oversupply though, and whenever he was sick or something, I had a major struggle because his increased nursing would increase my supply too much so it was a tough balancing act. When he was about a year old, I stopped eating gluten for some health issues I was having, and I found that really took the edge off the oversupply. I was able to gradually reduce the length of the blocks and now, at 28mos, he usually nurses on both sides during a single feed so the oversupply is virtually gone!!! I don't know whether you'd even want to attempt a gluten-free diet -- I'm just anecdotal evidence! -- but it worked so well for me (and I tested the theory, ate a good amount of gluten on several occasions, and the oversupply returned within 24 hours each time...)

[beth144]

i've been dealing with oversupply with my now 10mo dd3 since birth. very interesting about the gluten-free. maybe that's why it wasn't as much of a problem with dd1. i was gluten-free with her due to intolerance of it in my milk. anyone have a huge baby also? my babe is 27lbs!

[mad4mady]

Subbing for ideas

I have a 1 week old so  this is all new and I am hoping my breast will settle down but I have a lot of milk and I am a little concerned that she is not getting to the fatty milk and getting too much of the other. My breast never empty and she has had the bright green poop today. She does choke a bit sometimes but, it doesn't seem to bother her too much yet. I am not worried because like I said everything can change at this point...just looking for ideas to be prepared

I started doing 1 breast per feeding. I have only been doing this for 2 days so I am not sure how it is working but, it seems to be better.

[mamadiamond]

i block nursed on demand, which helped. but eventually i just gave into the oversupply and started pumping and donating milk. i figured if i had so much milk to spare, surely there was a baby and momma out there who needed it. i would feed dd from one breast, and then on that same breast still have about 4oz to pump out at each feed. i know lots of people hate pumping or don't have time for it, but if you don't mind pumping then there is always a need for breastmilk donation. lots of hungry babes out there.