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breastmilkCounts.com My oversupply of milk led to constant soreness, but I was able to find long-lasting relief from pumping and donating extra milk to the Milk Bank. I still had enough milk to feed my baby and to create a stockpile for mom’s day out.breastmilkCounts.com

Keely Wahl
 Breastfeeding Mother

Breastmilk Oversupply - Engorgement that can occur in the early days of usually goes away within a few days.Breastmilk Oversupply - Engorgement that can occur in the early days of usually goes away within a few days.

Some moms may notice their breasts seem constantly full past the early days of breastfeeding which may be a sign of oversupply – or foremilk-hindmilk imbalance. Symptoms of oversupply include:
mom:
  • Constant feeling of fullness
  • Leaking between feedings
  • Un-suckled breast leak large amounts during feedings
  • Strong let-down reflex
  • Frequent plugged ducts and/or mastitis (infection of the milk duct)
  • Engorgement
baby:
  • Infant struggles to handle the high flow of milk
  • Spitting up after feeding, reflux-type symptoms
  • Colic
  • Green stools/diarrhea
  • Slow weight gain
  • Refusal to nurse/shortened feedings

If you have oversupply, you baby may become full on the lower fat foremilk before he has had a chance to have any of the higher-fat hind milk. Babies who don’t get enough hindmilk might not get enough calories to gain weight appropriately. The lower-fat milk moves through the baby’s gut too quickly, causing the baby to have green stools and symptoms of colic.

Tips to reduce milk production when oversupply is suspected
  • Nurse only on one breast for a 2-4 hour period of time. If your baby wants to nurse several times in that 2-4 period, that is OK. Just keep him on the same breast. Then nurse on the other side for a 2-4 hour period. If the breast not being nursed begins to feel full, hand express or pump a little milk to be more comfortable. Be careful not to remove too much milk, which might stimulate further milk production.
  • Nurse in a side lying or upright position. These positions make it easier for babies to handle the flow of milk.
  • Burp your baby often. This lets the baby release the air he swallows while gulping milk.
  • During let down, break the suction and allow some milk to flow into a towel. This gives baby a break, so he can continue nursing and receive more hindmilk.
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