XP - Help! Oversupply at 7 days PP

charmcitygirl

Here's some back story: my son was born Thursday and in the NICU from Saturday to Tuesday evening.  He was on an every 3 hour schedule in the NICU, so I would either go there to feed him or they would feed him a bottle and I would pump 15 minutes per breast at that same time.

He came home on Tuesday and it feels like all hell has broken loose in my breasts.  I feed him about 15 minutes on each breast and he usually goes 4 hours in between feedings.  Our pediatrician said that we could go 4 hours.

I am SOOOO full at 4 hours.  And he gives me some relief but I still feel kinda full.  This afternoon I had to leave him at the time of a feeding, so DH gave him a bottle of pumped BM and I pumped when I got home and I pumped 4oz from one and 5oz from the other!  I only pumped for like 8 minutes and I stopped when I got to the top of the bottles.  That is a crazy amount of BM, right?  Some women are still getting their milk in now!

What do I do?  Even when I'm semifull after feeding him, I am not pumping because I don't want to teach my body to make too much milk.  How long will it take to subside?  Any help you can give me would be great!

TIA!

JGirl2005

That's great!!  No advice, just jealous.  I've never pumped more than 3 in one breast in the 2 months I've been doing it.

If you have that much, I definitely wouldn't go longer than 4 hrs as I remember I went 5 hrs once and I got a huge lump in my arm and I have a low supply.  So with your supply, just make sure to always empty them when they are full - or ever 4 hrs in yuor case.

pamela-matt

I understand the not wanting to teach your body to make too much, but I think at this point (so early on) I would pump after your feed to relieve yourself. ?In no time your LO will be eating more. ?Pump and freeze for when you need a break. ?Good luck

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alchris

You'll want to keep the milk moving to prevent clogged ducts which are INCREDIBLY painful.  I agree, keep pumping, and you can build a freezer stash!  You don't need to drain them completely, but I'd get most of the milk out of there.  I pumped every 2.5 - 3 hours; I would have been in pain at 4 hours too.  I wasn't getting nearly as much as you are at 7 days though!  It's time consuming, but I think you can use it to your advantage.  Best wishes!!!

LucyPevensie

every 4 hours sounds like a loooooooong time to me for a baby that young.  too long.  i'd feed more often - every 2 - 3 hours.

SeaSoul

I was pumping that much at that point too, but Cal was eating MUCH more often!  I'm surrpised Jacob can go for that long between feedings...I wonder if things will change soon?  Oh, he's got a 3-week growth spurt coming up - watch out!!    I don't really have advice, but I think things will probably even out for you soon.

mnj1125

I was told by the pedi to pump every 2-3 hours for the 1st month to establish a good supply otherwise my supply would eventually diminish.  I was pumping around 14-16 oz every 2-3 hours so I built up a good stash.  I gradually started pumping a little less since I thought I was producing so much and sure enough my supply started dipping.  So if Jacob is feeding every 4 hours, I would maybe pump 2 hours after/before he feeds to maintain your supply.  That way if your supply starts to go down/runs out, you can still give him BM for awhile.  I was able to give my twins a 2 months supply after my BM ran out.