Hyper-fast Let Down/oversupply of Milk and Now Not Enough Milk

I always would do one side at a time to empty it. And I would just switch each time. I also fed on demand. I would keep up with which side was next by wearing a ring on my thumb and would put it on the side that was to be the next feeding during the current feeding. I also had some huge let downs where milk would spray out. Sometimes my daughter had a milk face bath. (No worry - I am sure somewhere that is considered a luxurious spa treatment) So try sticking to one side at a time, but don't do just that side for 3 hours. Let him nurse as long as he likes on one side. Then do the other side when he is ready. Just go with the flow and relax. Good luck!

One thing I discovered (and read on later) that really effected my milk supply was oats. Whenever I felt I needed more--I would eat a bowl of cheerios,oatmeal, or a few oatmeal cookies. Maybe in the evening time--when your milk supply is low--eat some oats to even it out? Go easy at first tho. Sometimes it can work a little TOO well! :)
I've read that beer increases milk supply too but I wasn't too keen on trying it LOL!

Good luck! :)
Mia

Without seeing you I would guess that it isn't a supply issue at all but a growth spurt. Babies typically have one at 3 weeks and 6 weeks but they can come earlier or later than that. During a growth spurt they will eat and eat and eat and never seem satisfied. It can last 3 days to a week and then they'll go back to more normal schedule.

When my daughter was going through growth spurts (there are more than the two I mentioned) I pretty much camped out on the couch and did nothing but nurse her. But, IMO, it is important that you nurse through it because it helps to keep your supply established to your baby's demands.

Best of luck, I know it is hard but once you get past the first couple months it gets easier and is so rewarding!

2 thoughts that helped me...
1. put warm washclothes on breast before/during breast feeding, especially when you have the most trouble.
2. give a bottle at bedtime to ensure full tummy before bed.
I would pump and give breast milk in bottle at bed to both boys, now 4 and 1. I also felt that I had less milk at the end of the day. I had alot in the morning so I would pump after the 1st two morning feedings to stock up and then after a while only pump after the 1st morning feeding. Then pump at night while baby gets a bottle before bed. Helped keep me full of milk

Having just gotten home from the hospital yesterday with my third baby, I believe what you should have done initially is to manually express or pump the breasts to relieve the initial pressure so that it's not hard for baby to latch on (when it's hard and full it's harder to suck on for baby). That would just take the extra off the top, then baby would have a chance to get to the hind milk. When I nursed my first two, I'd make a point of remembering which side I had last fed on, then offer the other side at the next feeding, which worked well. I could usually tell just by feeding which side had more (which is the one I'd offer), but if not, some people will wear a ring or something on the side they needed to use... Good luck! I know it can be stressful. The biggest thing that gets in the way sometimes can be stress and worry about it, which won't let you "let down".

Hi N.,
Like you, I also had a very heavy letdown and a really bad oversupply problem- I never drained a breast- ever. I also used the block feeding method and it helped quite a bit with the foremilk/hindmilk balance. Just remember that using the block method is to trick your body into making less milk with the ultimate goal being that you can eventually nurse from both breasts. It sounds like you might be close to being there, especially if he is draining one of your breasts. Just switch to the other breast if he drains one and still isn't satisfied- it will be ok. The other thing that might help is to drink plenty of water right before a nursing session and keep yourself hydrated. And remember- The LAST thing you want to do is pump with an oversupply- EVER! Don't do it, as this just aggravates an oversupply problem and it gets really out of control again and fast. Good luck!

It almost sounds like your son might be going through a growth spurt. Also I didn't use a pacifier for my son until he was 5 weeks old but at that time I realized that he was using me as a pacifier and I needed a break. I started a pacifier and things were so much better, he only used it until he was about 9 months old but it was a lifesaver. If you really think that he is hungry and not just needing to suck you can always offer the other breast sometimes they need both of them. Also you can try to pump for 10-15 minutes after each feed to get your supply going again. Also fenugreek tablets 2-4 tablets 4 times a day can increase supply. Good Luck I know this was rambling but I hope it helps.

Hi N.,

When I was nursing my son, I remember my milk supply was much lower in the evenings. If I wanted to pump, I would have to do it in the mornings when I had a lot more milk.

I recommend using a breast pump in the mornings for a couple of minutes before you nurse your son so that he doesn't choke (just until your letdown slows a bit) and just put the extra milk in the fridge in case you need it later in the day. But always try breastfeeding him in the afternoons/evenings before offering the pumped milk so that your breasts will keep producing milk. It's all about supply and demand!

I call the hours in the evening the "witching hours". I breastfed both my kids and from 6-9pm every night all they wanted to do was nurse. It had nothing to do with wanting to eat they just needed comfort (I didnt learn this till my second child was 2 month old) and to suck on something. I even went as far a supplementing with bottles with my first cause I thought she was starving. Then a friend told me that babies just get fussy in the evenings. No one knows why and breast fed babies seem to be worse. She told me to just swaddle my son and try giving him a binki or let my boob be his binki. Not to fret about how much milk he is getting and if he wont nurse or is just fussing thats just how it is there's most likely nothing wrong with him other then its been a long day and he knows night time it comming. I started giving the binki since we had a good latch and handed him to daddy sometimes and that seemed to work some and he nursed some too but was still fussy. I belong to a "birth board" we all had babies in march 2008 and they were all going through the same thing and it seemed to be the norm. Nothing was wrong with the babies they were just fussy in the evenings and the only way to satisify was to nurse and cuddle. You baby is probably not starving. Your doing a good job nursing and your body will balance out and it will feel like your not producing enough as your breasts get used to the milk and stop getting engoraged but your baby will take what he needs and your body will produce what he needs. When he goes through growth spurts then your body will take a couple days to catch up to him but it will as long as you dont supplement with formula. Good luck and remember your doing the best thing for him by breastfeeding. I wanted to add too that as your body adjust to what your baby eats you will stop drowning him at letdown and will only produce what he eat when he eats it. Like if he eats 3oz every 2 hours thats what you produce so your breasts will feel smaller and kinda back to normal again not hard as rocks and huge. Congrats

I'm first response to this was, "Alright! The block feedings are working!" Firstly, it is very common to have less milk in the evenings. It's partly a hormonal fluctuation thing, and partly just the result of having been up all day, stressing out and not drinking/eating enough. It's perfectly normal. I remember distinctly only having to use one breast per feeding in the morning and both breasts in the evenings. Secondly, it's possible he's getting into his ~6 wks growth spurt. In which case, he's nursing extra to get your supply up to meet his increasing needs. If his instinct is to suckle, well, you might have to trust him. It may take a few evenings of maration nursing sessions to get things balanced with his new needs. (Expect this growth spurt stuff to happen every few months the first year.) (In fact, you might look into how to nurse in a sling, so you can have your hands free on the nights that he wants a nurse-a-thon.) Luckily, your breasts have already proven capable of a big output so that should be reassuring to you. And by all means, keep in touch with your LLL and kellymom. They're always full of excellent advice and encouragement.

btw he may need formula.. not all children do well being breast fed