Too Much Milk! Help!

Probably NOT what you want to hear, but if you end up pumping that extra milk you might consider donation. I always pumped b/c I produced so much and was able to donate to another mamma who couldn't produce enough for her little one, and the poor thing couldn't tolerate formula. A little strange until you get used to the idea but very rewarding - check out milkshare dot org. Whatever you do or decide, good luck!

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How long do you let your baby nurse on one side to clear it out? i had to alternate - let baby nurse on one side for 4 minutes (so half cleared) then other side (so half cleared) then back to first side (so as much cleared as possible) and then the last (so as much cleared as possible). i can't imagine leaving one breast uncleared - so uncomfortable - the other might be filling up just to create equal balance.
good luck to you...in time you will figure this out.

4 months...it was around 4 months with all of mine for my mill to regulate. I pumped and froze it. I pumped once everyday and every night before I went to bed. Good luck but fyi at a month my milk was everywhere too...I could have nursed triplets!

Isn't it strange how we are all so different. I dried up with
my first two children. My third is eating only about 3oz every 3 hrs. So hopeful that things go better with this baby. What's your secret on producing;)?

My first thought was to pump a bit, anytime you feel full, just to take the edge off, but not to pump until you are empty. My second thought is to find out what people do that aren't going to breastfeed to stop or slow their milk. I've heard of chilled cabage leaves on the boobs but don't know if that works?

Sorry you have an over abundance, but it can also be a blessing to have so much milk stored up!

This also was my case with both of my children. My ob/gyn, Dr. Farmer had invented a cream (made out of cabbage? I think) that helps with this issue. You can call her office at ###-###-#### and see if they are still selling it.

I saw someone mentioned the Mother's Milk Bank. I donated a lot of milk and it was very easy to do, and you are helping babies who need the milk but can't get it from their mothers. They give you containers that you can put in your freezer, collect it and drop it off once a week or whenever you want. After months of too much milk, my supply dropped off abruptly when my daughter was 10 months old. I went back to work when she was 3 months old and pumped several times a day, and still had too much until that sudden drop at the 10 month mark.

http://www.mmbnt.org/

Only if you don't want to breastfeed anymore do you get the icepacks and let your milk dry up. It'll take about 2-3 days and problem solved. You can still have that close bonding time with the bottle and holding the baby close. I used the bottle for all 5 of mine. AND I NEVER EVER PUT THEM TO BED WITH A BOTTLE. That would have totally defeated the purpose of the closeness.Later...

I do not have too much to add to the other suggestions, other than to say . . . I was the same way with my daughter (she is 16 months now and still nursing). It took about four to five months to get where I did not have to pump at all. I guess some bodies just take longer to regulate.

Hello A.,

that seems so long ago for me... I'm wondering if you're reducing your liquid intake by 10 to 20% would help. Also, are drinking any teas that enhance milk production? are you eating sweet potatoes? Caffeine stimulates milk production.
I found this on a board from a couple of years ago (I don't know if if works:
"Foods" that can reduce your supply:

*More than moderate consumption of alcohol
*Large doses of sage
*Large doses of mint/menthol

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=2008050220033...

perhaps peppermint tea would help you...?
Good luck! ~C.~

I do not have any tips but i feel your pain. I had that with my first and I finally stopped nursing at 8 months because I could not go out of the house because of how fast and how hard my milk would let down. Sitting in a hot bath and getting down under the water helped it be less painful. Of course the water was a milk bath in several minutes ut it did help empty them. Where and when you fit that long hot bath into your day is another problem. Good luck.

This probably isn't what you want to hear, but enjoy what you have. I had the same blessing. I pumped after every feeding and froze the extra milk. It was time consuming but well worth it when I was able to give my son breast milk for 2 months after I stopped breast feeding. I worked full time and pumped every 3-4 hours. Woke up to feed and pumped after he was done. I know it seems like a lot, but it is much better than the alternative (not enough milk). I would be concerned with trying to slow it down... Good luck and congrats on the new baby...

This happened to me for about 3-4mos. I would let down while talking to people it was so embarrasing. I would pump 14 oz at a time. But things straightened out and now he is almost 1yo, and I am hardly making any! Ha, funny how those things change. I would just try to wait it out. I used to complain about it too, but didn't get too much sympathy from others who didn't make so much. Just try to ignore the letdown OR and this worked for me....put pressure on your nipples with your index fingers when you feel it start. For some reason the counter pressure on your nipples stops the letdown. good luck

I had the same problem with both kids! (well, if you can call it a problem, really. It's sort of a blessing in many ways)

There are a few things you can do. You know how she is emptying one side per feeding? Try doing that, but one side per few feedings, then change. It does help.

I took advantage of the situation and pumped, though. Then I saved the milk in a deep freezer. I was keeping it for emergencies. If I would have known about donating milk, I would have done that in a heartbeat! I have a friend who had reduction surgery years and years ago, and she had serious supply issues as a result. I would have loved to donate to her - but I had no idea that sort of thing even existed.

Anyway, when my daughter was ready to start solids (at a year old, thanks to an amazing supply that kept her healthy and growing without anything else) I started making yogurt in my yogurt maker - out of the frozen breastmilk. She loved it, and I could mix it with fruit or veggies that I pureed.

When I wanted to transition my baby to bottle after breast feeding, I would put ice packs in my sports bra. It seemed to slow the process of milk. I would place one on each side of the breast and one on top. Hope this helps.

Hang in there, but in the mean time, pump, freeze and consider donating the over-abundance. Mother's Milk Bank of North Texas is in Ft. Worth, but you can drop frozen milk at almost any hospital around the metroplex. There are forms to fill out, then a blood test to make sure your milk is "clean." I donated 100 ounces just of the extra when my 3rd started solids at about 7 months. All donated milk has to have been pumped before your baby's first birthday.

I assume you've experimented with different types of nursing pads to see which absorb more with less friction to minimize the between-feeding let downs.
It's frustrating and embarassing, but try to feel blessed by your abundance. Your body will regulate eventually.

S.
SAHM of 3

I feel your pain! I nursed #1 for 18 months and #2 for 15 months and this was a major issue.

You HAVE to empty both breasts right now. As time goes on and your body starts to regulate better, you can go back to just nursing, but now you really, really need to pump. And when I say pump, I mean with a good double electric pump (like Medela Pump in Style).

In order to get this under control, regardless of her age, you need to nurse, then pump about every 3 hours so that you can get your body into a routine that alleviates the pain. This will help with the let downs and get your body on a schedule.

I went back to work full time when my oldest was born (he's 7yrs now) and this was my schedule:
Nurse 4 am
Nurse 7 am
Pump 10 am
Pump 1 pm
Pump 4 pm
Nurse 7 pm
Nurse 10 pm
and so on...

Even if you stay at home (I did with #2), still pump on a similar schedule. It's likely that baby will dose off and you can put her down after nursing - pump then!!!

I know that the Pump in Style pumps are expensive but you can buy them on ebay for much less and go to LLL or a hospital nursing office and ask to purchase all of your own parts (tubing, shields, etc.) and it's substantially less. Having the right pump can make all the difference in the world!!

Best of luck! You're doing a wonderful thing for your child!

C.

I've always wondered if there is a way to donate mother's milk to hospitals or orphanages.
Now that they have found mother's milk is a source of stem cells, wonder if you could donate to a research hospital. I don't know what you could do but pump and freeze for use when you have a babysitter and need to bottle feed.
Good luck, I know you must be miserable!

I had an over-supply problem with my 3rd child - it was worse in the morning - I got into the habit of feeding her in the morning, then pumping right after that first feed. I would get 4-8 ounces - and I froze it thinking I was going back to work - I never did b/c she couldn't take a bottle!! I wish I had donated to a milk bank!!

The oversupply corrected itself after a couple of months - so I didn't even have to pump anymore... it gets better!!
I too had a very "sensitive" let down - even a year after I quit nursing I would get that "tingle" and leak milk sometimes...
Definitely see a lactation consultant. But it will correct over time. The key really is getting both breasts empty.

good luck!