Breast Milk Oversupply: Symptoms, causes, and what to do

Milk production is one of the most common issues that parents contact me about.In online breastfeeding support forums, this topic comes up frequently.You may be surprised by how many questions there are about oversupply.Some parents don't feel comfortable asking what is seen as a "good" problem to have.A lot of milk is a bad thing.The symptoms of oversupply are shared by others.They don't know why it is happening, or if the block feeding recommended by their friends is the way to go.I tell the parents that oversupply is a common experience, especially in the first three months after giving birth.They are not alone.We discuss symptoms, causes, and safe and appropriate ways to handle oversupply.

Chances are you knew what was happening when you experienced oversupply.Milk was soaking through nursing pads and clothes.You may have felt a letdown after watching your baby choke and gulp.Maybe it wasn't obvious.For weeks or months, you may have had to figure out why your baby arched stiffly away from the breast, why their breasts were sore, or why they seemed to have constant stomach pain.You may have suspected that your baby was sensitive to something you ate, but you didn't eliminate common allergens from your diet.Some of the symptoms of oversupply are less obvious than others.If you have an oversupply, you may experience some of these symptoms.

If your baby has a tongue tie, you may not have oversupply, even if you experience many of the symptoms listed above.Ties can make it difficult to cope with normal milk flow.Your breasts may feel full or hard if your baby can't drain them effectively.You may have sore nipples.

It's like the chicken and the egg: Is your baby having trouble with transferring milk because of oversupply?Are you experiencing symptoms like those of oversupply because your baby is finding it hard to transfer milk for other reasons, such as a tongue tie?

Local Breastfeeding USA Counselors can help you figure out what's going on and refer you to an appropriate healthcare professional.You can make an appointment to see a Lactation Consultant.

Your body prepares to produce milk when you are pregnant and breastfeeding is the norm.There are cells that produce milk.When you are pregnant, this is what makes your breasts grow.Your body is making a milk product.The hormones in your body change when you have a baby and start producing milk.Milk production is controlled by hormones.It is dependent on removal of milk and autocrine control for some time.Some parents have their bodies running on fumes from the beginning because they react differently to hormones.Their bodies are able to produce and respond to hormones, so they may experience oversupply.Your body can adjust how much milk to produce based on how frequently you and your baby remove milk.The exact timing varies from person to person, and between pregnancies, but usually lasts until the baby is about three months old.The feeling of your breasts being full or hard is gone.Sometimes this change causes the parents to worry that they are losing their supply, when in fact their bodies are better able to adjust milk production.

How we manage breastfeeding can cause oversupply.Formula marketing can make us doubt our body's ability to give and sustain life.Parents who are concerned that their babies aren't getting enough milk when in fact they are, may create oversupply by routinely pumping in addition to nursing or using galactagogues.Other parents get oversupply when they follow advice from family and friends.One example is pumping too much before each feeding to make a full breast softer and easier for the baby to hold onto.Occasionally, oversupply can only affect one breast.A baby can form a preference for one breast if it consistently feeds on that side.

What can you do about oversupply?Depending on what is causing your oversupply and the age of your baby, there are different options to safely and appropriately regulate milk production.Many parents experience oversupply before their body can regulate milk production.The oversupply that has been created by breastfeeding may have different causes.It is helpful to identify the causes of your oversupply.

Think of the first few months after giving birth as a time when it is better to cope with oversupply, rather than trying to decrease production, waiting for your body to regulate milk production more effectively.If you try to reduce milk production early on, you may inadvertently overcorrect it because of the temporary influence of hormones.There are some suggestions for dealing with increased milk supply.

If the options above aren't enough to help you and your baby cope with your oversupply, there are more things you can try.

Since these options work to reduce milk production, we think they should only be used by an IBCLC.

If you want to manage oversupply, you can become a breastmilk donor.In order to express and donate milk, some parents choose to maintain their higher level of milk production.Donated breastmilk reduces the risk of necrotizing enterocolitis and improves the health of newborns who are admitted to theNICU.Human milk can be provided for parents who can't nurse their child.Donate breastmilk to a Human Milk Banking Association of North America member.Community breastmilk sharing can be explored via organizations like Human Milk 4 Human Babies.

It's a good idea to steer clear of suggestions for how to reduce milk production that are not evidence-based.Here are a few strategies that are not helpful.

In the first few months after giving birth, making too much milk is a common experience.It can make feedings seem impossible at times, which can cause parents anxiety and stress.It can affect your baby's weight and behavior.It can be the cause of breast trauma.It's important to identify and manage oversupply.Evidence-based support to cope with or address oversupply in safe and appropriate ways can help parents regain confidence in breastfeeding and focus on enjoying their babies.There are options from nursing uphill and unlatching to block feeding and herbal remedies.The oversupply can be maintained and donated to formal or informal human milk sharing networks.

J. Lauwers.A. Swisher.The year 2011.Counseling the nursing mother.The fifth edition.Jones and Bartlett learning.There is a city in MA.

Livingstone, V.Too much of a good thing.There are Hyperlactation Syndromes.Canadian Family Physician.The article is from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov.

J. Newman.The Ultimate Breastfeeding Book of Answers is the most comprehensive problem-solving guide to breastfeeding from the foremost expert in North America.New York.

L. Smith was born in 1998.There are guidelines for reducing milk supply.From http://www.bflrc.com/ljs/breastfeeding/dryupfst.htm.