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Forceful Letdown/Oversupply Issues

amykins1283amykins1283 member
in Babies: 0 - 3 Months
I am pretty sure (after reading up on kellymom.com) that I am having issues with either forceful letdown or oversupply or both.  My DS is showing all the signs of a baby that just can't keep up with the boobs and I swear my boobs get tingly and let down milk about once an hour.  I'm constantly leaking.  For example, I just finished feeding LO less than an hour ago and I just started feeling the tingling sensation of letdown and am starting to leak.  I am soaking through breast pads and bras like crazy!  I am planning to start pumping regularly in order to establish a good supply for when I go back to work but I am concerned that extra pumping will actually increase my already overabundant supply and I don't want to be chained to either baby or pump every hour.  But, I really need some relief because by the time LO is ready to feed my boobs feel like they are going to burst and he isn't able to drain them effectively.  Has anyone on here dealt with this issue?  I could really use some advice on how to deal!  Thanks!

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Re: Forceful Letdown/Oversupply Issues

  • erbearerbear member

    I did.

    Pumping will make it worse...it'll just signal to your body that you need to make MORE milk, which you don't need.

    My doc suggested block nursing (nurse on one side 2-3 times in a row over a 6 hour period, then switch to the other side). Then your body will think that you don't need to produce so much on the other side.  It worked well for me!

    "Hello, babies. Welcome to Earth. It's hot in the summer and cold in the winter. It's round and wet and crowded. At the outside, babies, you've got about a hundred years here. There's only one rule that I know of, babies. God damn it, you've got to be kind." - Kurt Vonnegut
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  • AmandaTooAmandaToo

    I also followed the instructions for block nursing.  It helped.

    It did turn LO into a bit of a snacker and we've been working on that - I feel like I'm still producing quite a bit of milk because she seems satisfied in a short time, but at least she doesn't scream at my breast now!  Good luck.

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  • evaseckaevasecka
    imageerbear:

    I did.

    Pumping will make it worse...it'll just signal to your body that you need to make MORE milk, which you don't need.

    My doc suggested block nursing (nurse on one side 2-3 times in a row over a 6 hour period, then switch to the other side). Then your body will think that you don't need to produce so much on the other side.  It worked well for me!

    This is what I am doing too. LO starts gulping when I let down and he has gotten really gassy and was spitting up everything he would eat until I started doing this. Yes I agree with PP, pumping willonly make it worse  right now. I believe that over supply is your problem but maybe you should talk with a LC as to what to do since you want to be able to store some for when you go to work.

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  • Court_1234Court_1234
    I had/have both issues though largely under control now.   I block fed every three hours, then brought it down to every 2 h after two weeks.  Now, at 8 weeks I still only feed from one side per feeding and block feed (2 hrs).  I pump one time per day; I started at 3 weeks.  I pump the side LO didn't eat off of first thing in the morning.  I have a pretty good stash since I usually get over 5 ounces.  I'd wait to start pumping, then be sure to keep your pumping schedule consistent.
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  • EM166EM166
    I had this same issue because my LO could not BF as he was in the hospital a week after birth. I was pumping 10 minutes EVERY time he fed, and it resulted in oversupply. Then, I would try to BF LO, and he would scream and freak out each time. I saw a LC, and she gave me a nipple shield to try and it worked like a charm (you can get them at Target, babies R us, etc.). I also weaned my pumping to 8 minutes, 5 times a day instead of every feed. Now, LO feeds straight off the boob, and I hardly pump at all! Good luck to you...if things are still hard, I would suggest going to an LC and doing a private session. It was worth it for me!
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  • aocain02@yahoo.comaocain02@yahoo.com member
    I think DS just learned to deal with my forceful letdown.  In the beginning the poor guy would choke every time I'd nurse him.  I had to lean back and feed him, which helped some.  I had major oversupply issues too and was constantly leaking.  I didn't start pumping probably until DS was about 8 weeks old, which the LC recommended to me.  At that time my supply had a chance to regulate itself a little better.  I only pump once a day and I still get 4 - 6 ounces and that is off of one boob.  DS rarely gets a bottle so I have a nice stash going on in my freezer.
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