Ok, this oversupply business needs to stop

ateal2490

I think my body told my boobs that I was having quads, because I have way too much milk. It seriously just pours out..bending over is out of the question....its so much that it can literally soak my shirt in a few seconds flat.

I was dealing with it by using nursing pads and burp clothes to catch it (still goes everywhere...but a little less) but it officially made itself unwelcome when LO choked this morning while eating. She literally had to gasp for air...scariest moment of my entire life...

So...how can I tame this mess? I'd go over to the BF board but its always so damn slow... 

AmandaR204

Maybe you could pump and freeze? GL

angiekay84

I wish I had your problem, but my best friend did.  She was told to try a side lying position when nursing because then gravity isn't working with your let down making it even stronger.  Just something to try!

WildcatPrincess

Do not pump!! All that's going to help is time. With DD I used to unlatch her when she started gulping and spray off into a cloth, but this guy won't let go no matter what. I nurse him reclined on the couch to counteract gravity and only nurse off one side in a 2 hour period, it's already getting a lot better. He chokes at least once a feeding, still won't unlatch. The kid has no self-preservation instinct as long as milk is involved. He's horribly gassy from all the chugging, that's the worst part.

llizzyb

I had some minor oversupply issues in week two. I started only offering one breast at each feeding, and that seems to have helped the problem enough. Also helped with some suspected foremilk/hindmilk imbalance and green poo issues.

Mrs.Teddy

Do not pump!! It will tell your body to make more. It will get better however I have a fast letdown and L always choked at the beginning of feeds Ellie seems to be the same I am prepared, sit her up pat her back etc. Nurse reclined with baby up over the breast if you can. Nurse on only one side per feed if you can. The leaking and over supply will regulate!

kris_kelsey

google LLLI (la leche league internation) and oversupply...there is a great resource.  I had major oversupply and had to do block feeding to wean down my supply.  I also drank peppermint tea a couple times per day.  Anyhow, make sure to only feed baby on one breast at a time, and continue using that breast for all feedings until it is empty (not merely soft). In the mean time, let the other breast overly fill, wear lots of pads, and take ibuprofen for the pain/swelling.  When you leave one breast overly filled it tells your body to slow down, and you need to fully empty each breast before using the other breast so you don't get mastitis and clogged ducts.  For some people they can drain the breast in 1-2 feedings...i couldn't.  mine were so full that it took a full 12 hours of feeds to drain one breast.  So for about 5ish days I fed on one breast during the day and the other breast at night until my supply slowed down.  from there you just make sure one breast is empty before starting to feed on the other.  Oh yeah, and cold compresses to the breasts!  GL!

 

kris_kelsey

and to keep LO from choking, try to feed in a somewhat reclined position so it doesn't drain down her throat, and let her pull off if the flow is overwhelming.  catch the spraying milk with a burp cloth and then put her back on when your let down isn't as forceful (a minute or two).

vtwd40

I don't have a terrible oversupply, but enough that it's making it hard for LO to latch. My LC told me to go to kellymom.com and look up reverse pressure. I've been using a hot washcloth to soften before feeding and then use some reverse pressure on my nipple to soften that up a bit. I drain a little off so she isn't drown by my letdown, and the softening makes it easier to latch. BFing certainly isn't easy!!

Cheerio B

llizzyb:

I had some minor oversupply issues in week two. I started only offering one breast at each feeding, and that seems to have helped the problem enough. 

 This. Also when my boobs were just HUGE I would nearly lay down flat to feed him. It helped slow things down.

snoangel79

Freeze or even donate <: My kids got some donor milk in the NICU because I couldn't make enough. It's really nice to do for the NICU babes <:

ateal2490

Thanks for all the resources, ladies....I have about 7 tabs up right now lookng at all the sites...I'm so happy that there are plenty of ways to try and slow it down...this stuff doesn't even spray, it just pours.

 

But now I really want to pump some for the NICU babies....  

Browneyedhunni85

I wish I had this problem. I was hoping to build a freezer stash but that's not going to happen.

blushingbride_08

llizzyb:

I had some minor oversupply issues in week two. I started only offering one breast at each feeding, and that seems to have helped the problem enough. Also helped with some suspected foremilk/hindmilk imbalance and green poo issues.

This, and gradually minimize pumping just makes more milk. 

starbound6

The PPs all gave great ideas.  I just wanted to add that I sympathise, and have major oversupply too, with this one and also DS#1.  My boobs were like basketballs with lumps starting up near my collarbone and in my armpits.  It majorly sucks, but if you can get through it, it should only last a couple weeks.  Keep it up and stick with it, it's so worth it in the long run:))  

ateal2490

runningmommy519:

Browneyedhunni85:

I wish I had this problem. I was hoping to build a freezer stash but that's not going to happen.

 No you don't. if you had this problem your child would be choking on milk, and gasping for air. Milk would get all over them and you. More than likely they and you would be frustrated and dislike the nursing experience.  Your breasts would constantly be engorged and hurt. No. Its not a problem you want. Trust me. 

 

I was sort of waiting for that comment....but runningmommy has it right...it can get really, really scary. The sound of her gasping for air today shook me to the core. Less bothersome (but still annoying) repercussions are not small in number...So far I haven't been able to go anywhere outside the house unless I'm draped in a heavy hoodie (and its spring...yay!) NIP would be absolutely impossible and leaking breasts are far from attractive to the public. I'm doing tons of laundry because of all the spills and LO is always covered in milk which pisses her off enough to fight being fed sometimes.

I don't believe that one nursing complication can be desired over another.

I don't know about undersupply, but I'm sure that its frustrating, stressful, and painful-just like oversupply.

I certainly would never wish I could swap between under and over-both result in tons of frustration. 

 

  

shouldbworkin

WildcatPrincess:

Do not pump!! All that's going to help is time. With DD I used to unlatch her when she started gulping and spray off into a cloth, but this guy won't let go no matter what. I nurse him reclined on the couch to counteract gravity and only nurse off one side in a 2 hour period, it's already getting a lot better. He chokes at least once a feeding, still won't unlatch. The kid has no self-preservation instinct as long as milk is involved. He's horribly gassy from all the chugging, that's the worst part.

 ditto this.  Block feed one side every 2 hours, your supply should regulate in a few days.  And, side lying helps a lot.  DS is choking too and now spitting up through his nose b/c he has so much milk at times.  It's sad, but it evens out eventually. 

PinkSapphires

I have a major oversupply as well. It has started to recede the past couple of days. I stupidly thought once I couldn't easily hand express milk out of my boobs after a feeding that I was out, so I started switching sides during the same feeding (I was on a block schedule before). I just started noticing green poop, and I had no idea about the imbalance. This board has saved the day for me - yet again!

I totally understand the leaking boobs everywhere! I can't get out of the shower without immediately getting covered in milk, and poor DD gets covered every single feeding. I can hear her chugging when she's nursing, and half the time ends up choking a little bit as well. It's horrifying! I totally feel your pain.

ateal2490

PinkSapphires:

I have a major oversupply as well. It has started to recede the past couple of days. I stupidly thought once I couldn't easily hand express milk out of my boobs after a feeding that I was out, so I started switching sides during the same feeding (I was on a block schedule before). I just started noticing green poop, and I had no idea about the imbalance. This board has saved the day for me - yet again!

I totally understand the leaking boobs everywhere! I can't get out of the shower without immediately getting covered in milk, and poor DD gets covered every single feeding. I can hear her chugging when she's nursing, and half the time ends up choking a little bit as well. It's horrifying! I totally feel your pain.

 

What's with the green poop?

I'm so out of the loop with that. 

FusionLMT

ateal2490:

PinkSapphires:

I have a major oversupply as well. It has started to recede the past couple of days. I stupidly thought once I couldn't easily hand express milk out of my boobs after a feeding that I was out, so I started switching sides during the same feeding (I was on a block schedule before). I just started noticing green poop, and I had no idea about the imbalance. This board has saved the day for me - yet again!

I totally understand the leaking boobs everywhere! I can't get out of the shower without immediately getting covered in milk, and poor DD gets covered every single feeding. I can hear her chugging when she's nursing, and half the time ends up choking a little bit as well. It's horrifying! I totally feel your pain.

 

What's with the green poop?

I'm so out of the loop with that. 

That usually denotes that the baby is only getting the foremilk, which is a thin and watery part of the milk, and not getting any hindmilk, which is much more full of fat. This can lead to the baby having different colored stools than what is wanted since they aren't digesting much. Feeding completely from one breast until empty (if possible) makes sure the baby gets a balanced meal. Breastfed poo should be yellow and look like it has seeds in it.