How Do I Manage My Oversupply?

We had a request on our facebook page the other day for some help managing oversupply. This is something that I, myself, never had to deal with – so I did some rearch and this is what I came up with. Most of this info was found on Kellymom.com – a great site for all things breastfeeding.

There are a few things that you can do to help manage your oversupply. One, help your supply to regulate and two help your baby to learn to manage your oversupply. Let’s start with the first one:

Help your body to regulate your milk supply:
If you have an oversupply, you probably don’t want to pump unless you have to. Let your baby nurse directly as much as possible and don’t do any extra pumping – only pump if you are away from your baby and you are replacing a feeding that your baby would normally take. Remember, milk production is an on-demand system – so the more you demand of your body – the more your body will make. Pumping is an added demand telling your body to make more milk – so if you don’t need it – then put the pump away.

If you do need to pump – pump only enough to relieve the pressure, but don’t completely empty your breasts. Emptying them completely will send signals to your body to make more milk.

Between feedings, you can also try putting cool compresses on your breasts – this will help reduce the amount of blood flow to your breasts and will also decrease the amount of milk you are producing. Try using 30 minutes of cold compresses followed by at least an hour break before applying them again.

You can also try having your baby feed from only one side per feeding – if they finish up and still want more, put them back on the same side. This will give stimulation to only one breast during the feeding and will help your body to regulate it’s supply. This will also insure that your baby is getting the important hind milk that will help him/her to grow and develop. If your other breast (the one you aren’t feeding from) gets too engorged by doing this – then express just enough milk to relieve the pressure without emptying the breast.

And finally – hang in there – most women with over supply issues will self-regulate their supply by around the 12 week mark. Twelve weeks may seem like an eternity now – but it will pass before you know it.

Help your baby to deal with your over supply:
In addition to regulating your supply – you can also help your baby to learn to deal with your over supply. The best way to do this is nurse lying back. This forces your milk to travel up-hill to reach your baby – which will slow it down a bit, giving your baby a chance to feed without being overwhelmed. There are several positions that you can use to do this – just make sure that your baby’s head and throat are above the level of your nipple.

If you find that your baby is getting a lot of air while nursing (because of pulling off during your let-down), then try burping them more often – this will help to relieve some of the gas that builds up and will make your baby more comfortable.

You can also allow your baby to nurse until your milk starts to let down. Once your letdown happens, take the baby and off and catch the milk in a towel or container. Once your letdown slows a bit, then put your baby back on. This way the most forceful part of your flow will be over and your baby will be able to nurse more comfortably.

You can also try to hand-express milk out prior to putting your baby on – this way the majority of your let down will be over before your baby even latches on – and your baby will be able to nurse more easily.

It’s also a good idea to nurse more frequently – if you don’t have a lot of milk built up in your breasts, then your letdown won’t be as forceful and your baby will be more comfortable nursing.

Did you have an oversupply with your baby? How did you deal with it? Please share your tips and tricks with our readers by leaving a comment on this post

3 comments to How Do I Manage My Oversupply?

  • Except for the second week of nursing, when I didn’t have a pump and ended up with mastitis, I never thought of my extra milk as an oversupply. At first I pumped to have backup in my freezer, and then I pumped for an adoptive mom, and later for a mama who had insufficient supply due to reduction surgery. The advice here is great–especially for helping a younger baby deal with those heavy letdowns–but please also consider thinking of your abundant superpower as a blessing. :)

  • Thanks for your comment @ThoughtfulBirth – you have a very good point – considering your oversupply a blessing and sharing your surplice is also a great idea! Thanks for reminding me. – Judy

  • […] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Judy Masucci, Judy Masucci. Judy Masucci said: How Do I Manage My Oversupply? This #breastfeeding information post was requested by one of our readers – please… http://fb.me/sPq9rfel […]

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