Oversupply?
Too much breastmilk? Is that really a problem? The answer is YES: oversupply is a big problem for people struggling with it.
Milk everywhere, choking babies- are there answers? For sure! Listen to this podcast to get more information.
Symptoms:
Baby choking
Baby clucking at the beginning of feed (when the milk is flowing fast) or during let downs
Fussy babies
Plugged ducts
Mastitis
Milk everywhere!
What to do about an oversupply?
First, figure out what is really going on. Some families can actually have a strong milk ejection reflex and actually not have too much milk, a true oversupply, but it can be confusing. Sometimes it can look like too much milk is the issue, but it’s really the baby not being able to handle the flow period. Babies are fussy for lots of reasons. Fast flow is just one of them! An IBCLC can help answer these questions and build a strong plan to move forward.
Possible solutions for an oversupply
Many people turn to Google when they think they have an oversupply. It’s what we do! Sadly, a lot of information on Google comes up first and can actually make breastfeeding worse. Many suggestions (such as blocked feedings, pumping after feeds to fully empty, and taking medications or eating certain foods to reduce your supply) can shift an oversupply into an undersupply, and the family may not realize it is happening. Personally, we don’t use these methods very often (but never say never). Instead, we help identify the cause of the trouble and then create a concrete plan to address the issue.
It is common for families to start the first few weeks with what feels like an oversupply, but milk supply naturally calms down as it shifts from being driven by hormones to supply and demand.
Please don’t sit with these issues yourself! Get help. Oversupplies are fairly straightforward to resolve. It takes time and a good plan to make sure everything is going well.
If you work with breast/chestfeeding families and are passionate about lactation support OR you want to turn your passion for nursing into professional practice, check out LactaLearning.com and consider following us on social media!
Instagram @lacta.learning
Facebook LactaLearning
Podcast: Play in new window | Download