Block Feeding question

lisac1017

I'm block feeding in an attempt to reduce my oversupply so that perhaps one day DS can enjoy a meal without choking...I've been alternating breasts each feeding, but I see that some people stay with one side until it is completely empty even if it takes several feedings.  Is one approach more advantageous than the other?  I would think the side that gets "skipped" a few feedings in a row would get quite engorged.  Any idea how long before the supply regulates?  I am rarely ever "empty" when DS is done, except for the last feed before bed and maybe after a nap when he tends to eat a little longer. 

FullHeartMama

Ah... I remember the oversupply and choking days...  Do you nurse on both sides or does your LO only need to nurse on one side per feeding? From your OP it sounds like he just eats on one side at a time.

At first, the breast you skip for feedings may get engorged - just feed on it when it's time. I would start out by block feeding on the same side two feeds in a row, rather than three or more feeds. See how that works after a week or so. You're training your breasts to produce a bit less milk because you go longer between feeds. It will take a few days, but it works. I actually reduced my supply accidentally this way when DS was 2 months old and we were bedsharing. I didn't realize I kept feeding him on the same side when he woke because I was exhausted and not fully awake.

I hope this makes sense! 

lisac1017

FullHeartMama:

Ah... I remember the oversupply and choking days...  Do you nurse on both sides or does your LO only need to nurse on one side per feeding? From your OP it sounds like he just eats on one side at a time.

At first, the breast you skip for feedings may get engorged - just feed on it when it's time. I would start out by block feeding on the same side two feeds in a row, rather than three or more feeds. See how that works after a week or so. You're training your breasts to produce a bit less milk because you go longer between feeds. It will take a few days, but it works. I actually reduced my supply accidentally this way when DS was 2 months old and we were bedsharing. I didn't realize I kept feeding him on the same side when he woke because I was exhausted and not fully awake.

I hope this makes sense! 

I've just been doing block feeding the past few days. Before that I always did both sides during each feeding. DS actually decided to start block feeding a couple weeks ago only at night though. But the let downs gotten so bad on one side, he started boycotting it which produced an over supply on the other side. I hope this evens out someday.

lisac1017

mananana:

If you're block nursing, you want to only offer one side for a certain time period- even if it means you're offering that side more than once.  The theory is having unused milk sit in the other breast for longer periods tells your body to make less.  You of course don't want to go too long and get blocked ducts/mastitis.

Block nursing worked for me.  I started with three hour blocks of time.  That didn't really do the trick and I slowly extended to five hour time blocks.  That helped calm one side.  Per the LC I was talking to, I ended up having to use cabbage leaves for a couple of days to help my other side scale back, block nursing just wasn't cutting it

Helpful info:  https://kellymom.com/bf/got-milk/supply-worries/fast-letdown/

ETA: One side until it's empty doesn't make sense.  Your breast is never truly empty.  The idea isn't to empty one, it's to let milk sit longer in the other to tell your body to slow down.

I'm very nervous about that...it sounds very painful!