How long 'til block feeding works?

NoeliaV

How long would you try block feeding before trying something else to fix engorgement/oversupply? A few days? A week? More? I've also given up oatmeal (my usual breakfast even pre-pregnancy/baby) and pumping anything (was doing this for "practice" and to have milk for DH to try and bottle feed)... 

Also, what do you do about post-STTN feedings with block feeding? For example, if I'm block feeding every 2 to 3 hours, and she sleeps for five, then I've "skipped" a breast while she sleeps. Or, do I feed on one before she goes to sleep and then the other when she wakes and start the block feeding from there?

Apologies if this sounds dumb, but I would love to have my supply regulate itself already. Many thanks!

legalbeagle1

I can't see your ticker but would also love to know the answer. L is 15 weeks old and I still have oversupply and block feed. I feed off one breast for the last feeding and then feed off the other as he wakes throughout the night because those feedings aren't quite as long. My other breast is usually leaking and so when L and I get up for the day I pump it out. I'll usually get 7 oz from my left and 5 on my right. I'm also wondering what I do when I go back to work and pump. Should I pump just one breast? And do I pump for a set amount of time or just until milk stops squirting? Don't mean to hijack thread but I have been thinking about this as well!

NoeliaV

legalbeagle1:

I'm also wondering what I do when I go back to work and pump. Should I pump just one breast? And do I pump for a set amount of time or just until milk stops squirting? Don't mean to hijack thread but I have been thinking about this as well!

No worries, b/c I'm actually wondering the same about returning to work, too!

Who knew that making too much milk could be such a bother...

ETA: she'll be 11 weeks tomorrow. That you're at 15 weeks w/ similar trouble is not exactly encouraging, ha!

jennyelf

Block feeding took a weekend of 6 hour blocks plus a week of purposely only pumping the amount I needed rather than to empty. LO was STTN at that point so I would feed one side at the 6pm and 8pm feedings, then the other side at the 6am and 8am feedings, then switch off as appropriate. During the workweek, I nursed at 6pm and 8pm on the same side, 6am on the opposite side. Pumped both sides at 10am and 2pm, then nursed at 6pm and 8pm.

I had pretty bad oversupply though (pumping close to 32oz a day). I now pump 20oz during the work day in 2 sessions and that's perfect as LO eats that much as well at DC. 

Meanwhile, there was a fair bit of leaking for the week while I was doing this. 

NoeliaV

AmyG:

Let's see....
when I give advice to a mom with oversupply, the first step is to feed on one side per feeding, and ignore the other side asnbsp;much as possiblenbsp; reevaluate after about a week and see if there is some improvement or not.nbsp;
If things are really bad then block feed for 2 feedings in a row on one side then 2 feedings in a row on the other side.nbsp; again do this for at least a week, probably 2 and reevaluate.nbsp; keep upping the count until you hit the right point for you and baby, so it may be 3 feedings in a row on one side or maybe 4, but usually not much longer than that.nbsp;
At that point usually it begins to correct, and you may find that occassionally you change to switch sides more often than that again to maintain at the level that keeps baby happy.nbsp; I find usually one side per feeding you eventually get back to that level except during growth spurts or if baby is sick and wanting to stay at the breast all day you may need to switch off a bit more often.nbsp;
nbsp;
some people prefer times, feed on side 1 for 2346 hour blocks,nbsp; then the next side for the same amount of hours, but my math would always get off trying to figure out what to do if baby sleeps longer than normal or cluster feeds or whatever.nbsp; you will have to use your own judgement.nbsp;
you probably can get where you can feel which side needs to start the next feeding based on which boob is heaviest.nbsp; I basically used that for indicator of side to feed on with mine for 23 and 29 months.nbsp; if one side sometimes got extra attention, it must have needed it. ;
nbsp;If you have oversupply, while you are primarily nursing don't pump both sidesnbsp;til empty regularly or you signal your body to keep the oversupply empty breast = higher supply, full breast = hormone builds up to signal body to lower the supply
As you get close to returning work, or starting now, pick a time of day and pump, but ideally just pump one side.nbsp; so like first thing in the am pump one side, nurse on the other.nbsp; freeze the milk to have on hand when you need it.
once you return to work all bets are off.nbsp; most women's supply drops a lot when they are pumping because a pump doesn't empty the breast as well as a baby and you are going say 8 hours without baby nursing.nbsp; most pump both sides, but if they are getting huge amounts of milk more than baby needs they are either freezing a lot or may limit pumpingstop at a certain number of oz or amount of time.nbsp; you can try to block pump, one side at a time, but most find they begin to need both sides pumped to get enough milk.nbsp; your mileage may vary.
nbsp;
nbsp;

Thank you so much for this! Seriously. Thank you so much.

legalbeagle1

Agreed thank you both for responding!