oversupply and forceful let down??

[shanniesue2]

I'm kind of thinking out loud here and would like some input.

I think I might have oversupply and/or forceful let down. DS (10 weeks) tends to pull of the breast frequently during feedings, he makes these sucky/clicky sounds while nursing, he spits up a lot (sometimes projectile vomiting), he will do this sort of sputtering/gulping thing and then cough during nursing, sometimes he clamps down on my nipple. And I know that all those are signs of over supply/strong let down. When I pump, i notice that the milk sprays out with each suction (I'm a first time mom, so I don't know if that's normal or not)... I only pump in the mornings after DS nurses the first time, and I can usually get 4-5 ounces out of each breast in about 10 minutes.

The thing is that I'm reluctant to try and decrease my supply because I just went back to work 2 weeks ago, and I'm only able to nurse/pump 3 times between 8:30 AM and 5:30 PM every day, and sometimes it isn't enough time for a full session. I'm usually engorged to the point of leaking through my breast pads and shirt by the end of each day... and I can't wait to get home and nurse. So all of this has me worried that my supply is going to eventually suffer. And anyway, I CAN'T stop pumping in the morning because I need to send the milk to school with him.

In a way, I'm glad that I'm not worrying about too little milk. But on the other hand, if oversupply is causing his vomiting (about once a day now), then solving the oversupply will help his spitty problems.

I don't know??? I'm kind of confused. How would I even confirm that oversupply is the problem in the first place?

I just need some advice from someone more experienced.

[shanti1]

My supply always "suffers" when I go back to work. The first month or so I'm able to freeze extra milk for my freezer stash. Then it's back to just pumping what they eat during the day w/an ounce or 4 to back me up incase the next day isn't so productive. Let it ride out the next few weeks. Things tend to normalize.

[Collinsky]

Yes, it sounds like there is an oversupply/letdown thing going on. I wouldn't try to reduce your supply. It is so difficult to feel like you're drowning your baby, and when they're SO hungry but have to keep pulling away and crying, and they get so panicky. It can certainly lead to the spitting up, because in the gulping they swallow more air that then comes back up, bringing milk with it.

I'm on my fourth baby, and it has always just evened out. At some point, they are able to keep up, and your body adjusts. Probably over the next month or so you will notice a big difference. In the meantime, you can try expressing a little until you get some letdown, and then latch baby on. That didn't work that well for me, but some women have said it made a huge difference. One thing that did help was nursing lying down, with baby on top of me. It helps to inhibit letdown a little, and just makes it much easier for baby. Even just leaning back, so that baby is now higher than the breast, can help. (Other women find that side lying works best.) Also, I feed on one breast per feeding, and any feedings within a three hour period (give or take) are on that same breast. If your other breast gets too full, you can pump a little or have baby nurse just enough to relieve pressure. (Of course you'll have to modify to accommodate your work schedule.) And nurse as frequently as possible - the less full your breasts and the less hungry your baby, the easier it goes.

Mostly though, do what you can to make it comfortable for both of you, and trust that this type of thing does resolve on its own as you and baby adjust!