While it is a blessing to have breast milk aplenty, some mothers produce milk more than what their babies need. This is often called oversupply. Although some babies cope very well with the generous supply of breast milk, some, however, struggle and are uncomfortable even if they are gaining weight. Oversupply can cause discomfort during feeding and increase the risk of mastitis.
Symptoms of Oversupply
The primary symptoms of oversupply for a baby include:
- gaining weight rapidly, moving upwards through the centile lines
- green watery or frothy explosive stools
- struggling to control milk flow
- stomach pain or excessive gas
Apart from that, you may also notice these:
- choking, coughing, and pulling on and off the breast
- frequent spitting up
- always appearing hungry and unsatisfied even with huge weight gain
- unwillingness to nurse to sleep
- breast refusal
- lots of wet and soiled nappies
- general 'colicky' behaviour
- clamping down and biting to slow down the milk flow
A mother with oversupply may have these symptoms:
- breasts that are rarely soft or comfortable
- a painful letdown
- a lot of leaking
- painful nipples due to clamping down and biting
- recurring blocked ducts and/or mastitis
- a forceful or 'over-active' letdown (milk ejection reflex)
Do you really have too much breast milk?
Some symptoms of oversupply may have a number of other possible causes. It is not wise to try to decrease your breast milk supply until you are 100% sure that oversupply is the underlying problem. Otherwise, you could end up with less breast milk than your baby needs, especially in the first month when it is most important to establish your supply.
Is oversupply a problem for you and your baby?
If you are sure that you do have an oversupply of breast milk, but you and your baby are happy, then there is no need for you to do anything. Most cases settle down after the first few months. And as your baby grows, she/he will get better at coping with a fast flow and may even enjoy it.
How to overcome an oversupply
If you are confident that you are having too much breast milk and it causes you and your baby a problem, here are a few things that you can consider to help lessen your breast milk supply.
- laid-back breastfeeding: Feeding in a reclined position or lying down can be helpful because it gives your baby more control. Your baby can set the pace and lift their head for a break if the flow is too fast for them.
- relieve pressure: If your breasts are experiencing discomfort, you may hand express or pump milk a little to relieve them, but try to express the smallest amount possible as each time you express milk, you're sending your breasts a signal to produce more.
- use nursing pads: If you are leaking milk, placing disposable nursing pads or milk collection shells inside your bra could help you stay dry.
- avoid lactation tea or supplements: If you have been drinking nursing mother's milk teas, eating lactation cookies, or taking herbal supplements to boost your breast milk supply in the early days, make sure you quit as they could be part of the problem.
Here are two approaches you can try:
- one side per feed: Limit your baby to one breast per feed. If your baby wants to have a short rest during a feed, then offer the same breast again. When you have a generous supply of breast milk, your baby may only need to feed on one side. This approach can help milk production to reduce in line with your baby's demand.
- block feeding: Involves feeding on the same side for a set period of time (block). For example, two or three hours. If your baby wants to feed again within that time block, offer the same side. For starters, you might want to
- limit your baby to one breast for two hours, allowing them to nurse as often and for as long as they like, but only on one side.
- continue in this way, switching breasts every two hours. If your baby is asleep, switch breasts when they wake.
