How to Manage an Oversupply of Breast Milk
In the world of breastfeeding, it’s not uncommon to hear about moms who have a low milk supply or who want to increase their milk supply. But, what if you have the opposite problem? What if you have an oversupply? As someone who has struggled with an oversupply with both of my babies, I find that the topic isn’t talked about as much. When Elliott was born, I was making more milk than either one of us knew what to do with. My oversupply caused an overactive (and painful letdown) that poor Elliott just couldn’t handle. He was always gasping for air, coughing, chocking, and getting fussy with every feeding. It was hard. So hard. And I didn’t feel like there was that much information out there about how to deal with it. I struggled with an oversupply for about eight weeks, and in those eight weeks, I found a few different strategies that made it possible for me to manage my milk supply and continue to breastfeed my baby. Here are six ways to deal with an oversupply of breastmilk.
Pump for Comfort
I’m not a lactation consultant, and many of them will tell you not to start pumping until your milk supply has regulated, especially if you have an oversupply. However, I am a mom who has suffered from an oversupply and I know that there were times when I just didn’t have a choice. If you’re feeling extremely engorged and uncomfortable and your baby is having a hard time latching or staying latched, try pumping for just a few minutes. I used to call it “taking the edge off”. Elliott had a really hard time handling my overactive letdowns, so pumping through the first letdown always made it easier for him to latch on and stay on for a comfortable feed. I typically used my manual pump so that I could do it quickly and it made me feel like I had more control over how much milk I was removing.
The main thing you want to remember about pumping is that you are actually telling your body to make more milk, so you have to be careful. Our milk supply works on a supply and demand system, so if you’re demanding milk by pumping, it could increase your supply. If you already have an oversupply, this can be a recipe for disaster. However, I found that pumping just a little bit in those first few weeks after my supply came in made it easier for me to manage engorgement and feed Elliott. As my supply started to regulate, I cut back on pumping little by little until I didn’t need to use it as an oversupply remedy anymore.
RELATED: 6 REASONS WHY YOU NEED A MANUAL PUMP
Try Block Feeding
Block feeding is when you nurse your baby from one breast for multiple feedings in a row. While some mothers will offer both breasts during a feeding, or switch sides each feeding, over supply moms might need to offer the same breast for two or more feedings in a row. An oversupply can often result in a foremilk/hindmilk imbalance, meaning your baby could be getting lots of foremilk, and not enough of the fatty hindmilk at each feeding. Block feeding ensures that your baby is getting to the more caloric hindmilk and helps slow down your milk supply by leaving the other breast full.
Use a Haakaa
Block feeding is great and I used it for moths after Elliott was born. However, I couldn’t just leave the other breast full and engorged. I would have been miserable. I often used a Haakaa on the other breast just to catch the letdown or until I didn’t feel engorged anymore. The Haakaa was a game changer the second time around and I honestly don’t know what I would have done without it. The fact that I could remove milk without being hooked up to a machine and plugged into the wall was so convenient and helpful. It helped me manage my oversupply and get a great freezer stash started.
RELATED: HAAKAA HACKS – TIPS AND TRICKS FOR USING THE SILICONE PUMP
Laid Back Nursing Position
Sometimes, all you need is a little gravity to help you and baby cope with an overactive letdown. Try reclining back or lying completely down and letting your baby lay on top of you to latch. It’s not going to help you with your oversupply, but it will help your baby nurse easily, despite your oversupply. This was one of my favorite nursing positions with both of my boys, especially in the evenings when I was ready to lay on the couch and relax. I’d lay down, tuck them up against the backside of the couch, and let them nurse until their little hearts desired.
Catch the Letdown
Another way to combat the issues that come along with an overactive letdown is to unlatch your baby and catch the letdown. When you feel the letdown coming, unlatch your baby at catch the letdown in a haakaa or a milk saver. You can latch baby right back on after you feel the initial surge of milk start to taper off. This is probably my least favorite strategy because, as you can imagine, it makes for a pretty angry baby. However, I did have to do this quite a few times. If we were out and I couldn’t lie back or pump a little milk before nursing, I almost always had to use this strategy to make sure that he didn’t end up sucking in bunch of air during the letdown (which always resulted in a gassy, fussy baby).
Time
I almost feel bad for typing this, because I know this isn’t the solution that any mom is looking for. We want to fix the problem now. We don’t want to wait. But, sometimes, time is the only true cure. I remember talking to my lactation consultant and she promised me that my milk supply would slow down and things would start to even out in just a few weeks. That sounded like an eternity to me, but by the time Elliott was eight weeks old, it seemed like we had started to meet each other in the middle. He had gotten stronger and more efficient at nursing, and my milk supply had regulated. I still have an oversupply and have had the opportunity to donate milk to five different babies, but it’s no longer difficult to feed my own.
If you’re struggling with an oversupply, I feel your pain. I hope that some of these tips help you bring your supply down and deal with the issues an oversupply can cause like overactive letdowns and foremilk/hindmilk imbalances. Breastfeeding is hard enough as it is. When you have supply issues (whether it’s too much or not enough), it just gets harder. I hope some of these tips help you stick with it and reach your breastfeeding goals, whatever they may be.
Follow me on Instagram for more breastfeeding tips and tricks.
DISCLOSURE: Coffee and Coos is not intended to replace the advice of a medical professional. Always consult your doctor for medical advice.
Some posts on this site may or may not contain affiliate links. Coffee and Coos is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you. To learn more, visit our Privacy and Disclosure page.
