Help, I'm Making Too Much Milk! Any Tips to Regulate Milk Supply?

First, let me just tell you how JEALOUS I am. Second, I'd say pump when you are uncomfortable, just like the LC said. You can freeze it and you'll be so glad that you have a bunch saved when you go back to work, or need to go out! You can also donate it to a milk bank. They ALWAYS need milk. There is one in MA, I can't remember the name of it but you can google it.

I had this issue after the birth of my second child too, and it took me a few weeks to regulate my supply. Try to nurse on one side per feeding. Also, try to alter the baby's positioning to make it harder for milk to come out. Kellymom has an article that has some suggestions (http://www.kellymom.com/bf/supply/fast-letdown.html). Good luck and congratulations on the new baby!

S.,

I had a similar problem in the beginning. The best thing really is not to pump. Your body will regulate your supply much quicker. When you nurse start the baby on the left side for 10 minutes then switch to the right side. Next feeding start on the right side for 10 minutes then switch to the left side. Of course you change the amount of time you are on the first side but this will releave the engorgement if you are only nursing on one side per feeding.

You should also contact La Leche League. www.llli.org Find the women in your area and call to speak to one of them about it to see if they have any other suggestions. You can call from 9am to 9pm 7 days a week. They are very helpful and they know what they are talking about.

Good luck,
L. M

First of all, congratulations!!!! How exciting! Second, your brand new baby will tell your body to regulate your milk supply--its just figuring out how much to make. Let your baby nurse, but don't pump because your lac. cons. is right. Pumping communicates that your body needs to keep producing, not slow down production. You won't get an infection because you are nursing too often (every 2-4 hours) to let it build up to much. If you let the baby determine the amount, your body will get the message within 24-48 hours.

Good luck and congrats!

I was engorged for 5 months for my last child which was an improvement from my previous 2 children! My mother calls me Lactona LOL

When my daughter started having green mucousy BMs due to too much foremilk I started doing some research and what finally worked for me over EVERYTHING was emptying one breast before switching even if it meant leaving one alone for 2 feedings. It was torture, I had to pump JUST A LITTLE to relieve but eventually my body got the point.

Try nursing on one side for 2-3 feedings before switching. Your baby will get more high calorie hind milk that way too.

I know a lot of people think it's a lucky kind of problem, kind of like being too skinny but it's no fun when your boobs are screaming at you and you are soaking through bra after bra not too mention the sheets. Oh and the squirting the little one in the eye!! When my baby would break latch I could shoot across the room! LOL!

With all 3 of my kids I had an over abundant supply and the only thing that worked was the nursing on one side for multiple feedings. GOOD LUCK!!!!!

I had the same problem with both of my sons. It took me a few months before my supply was regulated. I don't know if you are planning on returning to work at some point, but any extra milk you can freeze is great. I used to pump after a feeding to get the excess out and would have enough for 2 extra bottles! It does even out over time, and now I even have trouble pumping enough to replace a bottle, so having the frozen supply is great. I still pump after my first feeding and before bed, otherwise I will be engorged. Good luck!

Pump when you are uncomfortable, but only pump an ounce or so to relieve the engorgement. If you pump all the milk out, you will just increase production further.

You are lucky! So many people have the opposite problem!! Anyways, I would take it as a blessing for now, and freeze what you can. That way you don't have to ever worry about shortages. and like the other lady said, just nurse on one side until he is full, and then next time do the other side. I hope that I have an overabundance because I was so determined to nurse my daughter, and then had to supplement between feedings because she was so hungry and I couldn't produce enough. But now I am pregnant again, and hopefully I don't have to have that problem again. Anyways, I wish you the best of luck!

I feel your pain! I was the same way. Hate to tell you, but I leaked and felt engorged half the time until my DD was nearly 6 months old. I often got up around 4am even if she did not just to pump because I was so uncomfortable. Once she was on solids my milk supply dwindled down.
I agree with another post - I too pumped before feeding (especially first thing in the morning) because she would choke and gag because my milk would come overflowing out. My milk would squirt ALL over the place.
The only thing that took care of it was time.
SAVE the milk. Freeze it. I produced so much I did a lot of pump and dump and I sure wish I had saved more of it!
Good luck!

The only other thing that I have to add is that it is sometimes helpful to pump off the first ounce or two right before the baby eats (that really watery milk always got spit up by my kids anyway) and that way you don't feel like you're drowning the baby : ) Also, I found that my production was incredibly uneven between my breasts, so I would nurse twice as often on one side. Everyone said if I offered the slower breast first things would even out, but they never did and then I was just achy all the time. So if you have a similar problem (it was much worse for me in the beginning and when I was weaning), just listen to your body and nurse on that side. As far as finding a bra that fits such lopsided breasts, that's a different issue...good luck!

Use Healthy Nursing Tea by secrets of tea...I got enough milk supply for my DS through this, during breastfeeding session....!!!

I went through this too...and it is really hard, I actually heard that too much milk can be a lot harder to deal with than not enough. But, from my experience, pumping was the worst thing I could do for this problem as the pump is so intense that it builds your supply up even more. But, you do want to avoid an infection, so I do agree, that I would drop the pumping slowly...what really helped me was to only nurse on one side per feeding -- this is uncomfortable at first, but it does teach your body to make less milk. I also had a very overactive letdown, and it would choke my son, so I would hand express into a cloth until the letdown was over. There is a whole section on oversupply at www.llli.org that is extremely helpful

I had this problem with both my kids, though it was less apparent with my first since I was pumping full-time. I had both oversupply and a hard let-down/fast flow.

What worked for me (with the one who nurses) was to feed on only one breast at a feeding. We've also gotten into more vertical positions, which make it a little more work to get the milk.

Good luck!

Hi S.,
Try feeding your baby on only one breast per feeding. Left for one feeding, right for next feeding whenever that is. If you are uncomfortable then pump only 1 ounce or less, then stop. Once you do this for a period of time, it should help. It will take your body time to adjust....I had this problem with my third son along with a forceful letdown.....enjoy your children and your maternity leave!

I think I made enough milk for 5 kids with both my girls! I would pump a few ounces right before i fed her, that way she wouldnt choke, and shed be able to nurse on both breasts. The first 2 weeks I think were hardest, but it did go down, and Im sure yours will too. If anything, pump it, bag it, freeze it and sell it! lol, Good luck!

S.,
I second making sure you are able to empty one side before moving to the next. You may need to pump the other, but things will improve. With all 3 of my children I have produced anough for twins! I have pumped, stored and donated my milk. Your supply will even out. I found empting one side fully prevented me from blocked ducts. Warm showers, warm packing the breast if you feel engorged.
Good Luck! Enjoy your boys! My first 2 r boys and I miss them that little! :)