Nourish offers in home lactation support and education for all breastfeeding challenges. Last week, I posted a blog about helpful ways to increase your milk supply if you are struggling with production. This week’s blog hits on another common breastfeeding issue-oversupply. Mothers that experience oversupply or OAMER (overactive milk ejection reflex) can be just as stressed and worried about this issue as a mama with low milk supply. It is not uncommon for milk to let down quickly sometimes spraying everywhere! Babies can get fussy while breastfeeding, may be gassy, and sometimes become snackers.

If you are struggling with overproduction or find that your baby is drinking very quickly when breastfeeding, these tips may be helpful

• If your breasts are really heavy and full before your baby breastfeeds, hand express or pump for 1-2 minutes and discard your foremilk. Foremilk flows at the beginning of the feed and if your breasts are really full….this milk can flow fast and furiously!

• Foremilk is thirst quenching and higher in lactose which can often stimulate your baby’s gut causing (excess) gas or a forceful poop.

• Ensure your baby’s head and shoulders are higher than his hips when latching-so he’s more upright and almost sitting when he’s breastfeeding

• Try to lean back or lay down

• When your baby latches and you sense that your milk is about to let-down, you may want to de-latch your baby and let your milk drip or spray for a minute or so before re-latching

• If your baby is gulping when drinking or not pausing to catch his breath, de-latch your baby (we call this externally pacing) and give him a few seconds to catch his breath and then re-latch

• You may have to do this after 5-6 sucks and swallows if you are hearing a lot of gulping

• You may need to externally pace regularly for the first few minutes of the feed until milk flow slows

• If you notice your baby leaking milk or milk pooling in the corners of his mouth, de-latch and give him a few more seconds to catch his breath

• Once your milk flow begins to ‘slow’ your baby should begin to self-pace (pausing on his own to catch his breath)

• You want your baby’s breastfeeding session to be ‘slow and steady’ and not a sprint. 

• If your baby is ‘sprinting’ or drinking very quickly, he will tire out faster and may not have a very effective feed

• If he didn’t have a very effective feed, he may have just gotten a snack and will want to eat again shortly thereafter

• Burp your baby frequently throughout the feed to reduce gas from building up

• When babies drink quickly, they often take in more air so more frequent burping throughout the feed can help

• Consider block feeding. This means offering 1 breast for a 2-3 hour window.

• If your baby wants to eat again within that window, offer the same breast. This is an effective way to help slow down milk production

• Leave your other breast alone (the one not fed from). It may get quite full and firm and uncomfortable but a fuller breast makes milk more slowly

• Give your milk supply a few days to adjust to this new way of feeding.

• Once your breasts aren’t overproducing as much and baby can handle your milk flow more easily, return to offering both breasts at each feed

• Consider icing your breasts in between breastfeeding sessions to help slow down milk production

• There are some herbal supplements or over the counter medications that can be taken to help decrease milk supply if conservative measures do not seem to be helping

• Peppermint tea, sage leaves, and Sudafed tablets can sometimes help decrease an abundant milk supply but these should never be consumed or taken without the consultation of a Doctor or healthcare professional

I hope you found these tips helpful. Nourish has supported breastfeeding families for over 20 years and has literally seen it all! We know that your struggles are areal and that’s why we are committed to providing the highest quality lactation support and education so your breastfeeding journey can be a success.

If you think you could benefit form the support of a Lactation Consultant, book your consultation today with Leanne Rzepa RN BN IBCLC

Happy Moms and Babies Guaranteed! xx