Oversupply help...

[Disneygrl]

My lo is 11 days old. When I first came home, she wasn't getting enough milk as her latch wasn't established (we still struggle sometimes but I think this time is bc if oversupply) and I didn't think I was making enough. I spoke to a LC who said to pump a few times a day to get things going. Anyway, the past week, I have too much milk. Lo struggles because it goes everywhere, I leak all the time and soak pads/blankets. My lo now spits up and hiccups all the time because she rushes to catch the milk. I feel horrible. Her poops are okay when she has them, but very explosive. I can tell it causes her pain.

I looked into block feeding and have started it today. Are there any other suggestions?

I emailed my LC but it takes her forever to get back. Thanks!

 

[Missy08]

My DD is 5 weeks old and I was having the same problems. She would choke and cough trying to swallow all the milk fast enough and it would squirt all over the place. Gradually, though, it's decreased some, I think since she can't keep up with it. I still have more than enough milk but it doesn't seem to be a crazy amount now.

Don't really have any suggestions for you but maybe the same will happen for you? Good luck!

 

[misspriss]

Well, as long as her poops are good its not too bad I don't think. Mine's poops were green and got somewhat foamy.

Acting as if she is in pain when she poops is normal. It is an unusual feeling for a newborn. Mine would grunt and cry and get upset when he pooped, even normal poops. Explosive poops are normal for breastfed newborns.

Leaking is normal at 11 days, your milk just came in good and hasn't regulated. Small amounts of spitup and hiccups are normal for young babies, even breastfed ones.

I would suggest to quit pumping entirely, feed on demand. Don't try and reduce your supply too much because it is so new and you might quickly end up with low supply.

If your letdown is too forceful (like a firehose into baby's mouth) you can unlatch her and catch it in a burp cloth until it slows.

Your body should adapt to your LO's needs very quickly. I believe it can be quite normal for your milk to fully come in around day 10 and come in very heavily, your body is still trying to sort out what it needs.

 

[holdontohope]

Yes gradually stop pumping and feed on demand

I had the same issue. My baby was preemie and too weak/small to bf so they were having me pump 8x a day. I became a huge over supplier and was pumping a ridiculous 8-12oz every 3 hours. I worked with a lactation specialist and gradually decrease my supply and now I hardly pump at all life is so much easier feeding on demand and not pumping.

 

[misspriss]

Yes gradually stop pumping and feed on demand

I had the same issue. My baby was preemie and too weak/small to bf so they were having me pump 8x a day. I became a huge over supplier and was pumping a ridiculous 8-12oz every 3 hours. I worked with a lactation specialist and gradually decrease my supply and now I hardly pump at all life is so much easier feeding on demand and not pumping.

Oh yes, my oversupply came the same way. Preemie in the NICU, brought in my supply by pumping...a lot.

 

[seaweed eater]

Don't worry, your LO is young and your supply will adjust downward over the coming weeks

Block feeding should help. You could also hand express a bit through the initial letdown, just to take the edge off, but of course be careful not to remove too much milk.