Breastfeeding: What to Do About an Oversupply of Milk

While some mothers worry about not having enough milk, there are those of us who know for sure that we could feed at least two fifteen pound twins if not more. Our breast size tends to go up at least three sizes. Milk leaks at random hours of the day and night. Breasts become stiff and uncomfortable. In some cases, too much milk lets down at first, far too much for a small infant to drink. They gag and scream in frustration. Some babies slide off the breast or let the excess milk dribble out of their mouths. Others symptoms for the baby may include gassiness and hiccups. Does this sound like you? The good news is the problem can be managed, and it will eventually diminish.

When you have this problem, it’s important to use only one breast per feeding. This will allow your baby to get a better balance of foremilk (the thin, sweet milk produced at the beginning of the feeding that is high in lactose but lower in fat) and hind-milk (the higher calorie, thicker milk that is produced as the milk lets down and moves through the ducts, collecting fatty particles). If the mother with oversupply uses both breasts per feeding, the baby will be getting too much foremilk and not enough hind-milk. Since foremilk is high in lactose, he may become gassy and spit up because of too much lactose emptied into his bowel. Because he doesn’t get enough of the fatty hind-milk, his stomach empties quickly and he wants to eat again soon.

The first problem you want to resolve is the baby choking on a flood of milk. The baby may also let milk dribble out of their mouth or pull off the breast. The first option is to lie down while breastfeeding. This takes the gravity out of the situation and slows down the release of milk. It’s not always convenient to find a spot to lay down, so you can go with the second option. As you nurse, you will feel your milk start to let down. It feels like a pressure release. When it starts to let down, take the baby off your breast and spray that initial burst of milk into a rag. Your baby won’t have to wait that long for the milk to slow down. Then let the baby nurse again.

With the problem of oversupply, you’re going to need a breast pump. Be sure to research the different types first. You will find that you’re most full in the morning, so ideally this is the best time to pump out the breast that you didn’t use for the morning feeding. When you have an oversupply, it’s not recommended to pump your milk more than once a day (unless you’re away from the baby hours at a time). This is because your body will continue to step up the milk production. You can store milk the following ways: In a refrigerator for eight days, in the freezer of your refrigerator for three to four months or in separate freezer for six months.

Eventually, you will find you no longer will have to pump out that extra four of five ounces in the morning because your baby will be drinking it as they grow. Until then you may find you have a lot of excess milk stored in your freezer. You might want to consider donating to a milk bank or a hospital in your area. In the meantime, try to keep in mind that more is always better than not enough.