Dealing with oversupply

Little one is 12 days old now and I have been exclusively breastfeeding her but had to express and bottle feed due to weight loss. The midwife told me to express/pump every 2-3 hours but now I’ve ended up with a ridiculous oversupply, plus I’d like to get back to nursing baby more instead of using the bottle (will still give her one or two bottles a day). I can’t go a couple of hours now without my boobs getting rock hard and leaking so I have to pump even just for 10 mins to get some relief. I’m ended up with 150ml+ every session so my supply has increased massively.

How can I start lowering this and being more lead by baby rather than pump without getting completely engorged and blocked up?

I thought I’d take my bra off just for 5 mins to relax this morning and just ending up leaking all over my t-shirt 😞

Read more on Peanut

The views expressed in community are solely the opinions of participants, and do not reflect those of Peanut.

Learn more about our guidelines.
Add a comment
Avatar

An oversupply at the beginning is very normal. The best thing you can do is just latch baby constantly because they will regulate your supply whether it’s actively feeding or just comforting suckling. This will let your body know what amount baby needs milk wise.
Also the charts that midwives go off are actually formula fed babies and breastfed babies are a lot slower to gain the weight back because breastmilk is a lot quicker to digest so breastfed babies get hungry a lot quicker, so feed more. I can recommend putting a Hakka on your other side just to catch your letdown from the boob that baby is not feeding off.

Avatar

This was me last week, my freezer was full in about a week instead I had someone out to help with breastfeeding and because I was so full baby wouldn't latch so she said hand express for comfort then stop don't use a pump my supply is fine I'm feeding all the time now and if I do express for a bottle I still get 6oz combined x

Avatar

I'm 18days pp x

Avatar

Feed baby responsively and if you are engorged between feeds you can hand express some off for comfort. If you continue to pump for engorgement you are telling your body to keep making even more milk. Same with a haaka. They are effectively pumps if you are using them with the suction. Collection cups that just rest in your bra are good for catching any leaks

Avatar

I’m 5 month pp but had this in the early days too! It settled down around 8-12 weeks and the leaking/rock hard boobs became more manageable.
Silicone collection cups helped me so much. I just wore them in my bra and collected all the leaks then froze it (still making my way through the supply now!). Also investing in decent reusable breast pads helped!!
Latch your baby whenever you feel engorged but try not to pump too much if you can as this will encourage your supply further.
Over supply issues aren’t always talked about but can be such a pain and really take a toll mentally so look after yourself 💕 you got this!!

Read more on Peanut

Trending

in our community

Vanilla extract

Has anyone used alcohol free vanilla in their babies formal to help them drink?
I’m 100% sure my baby refuses her bottles as she doesn’t like the taste of it!

Just anxious to try it, don’t want her to get used to it and then refuse bottles again after two weeks of using (correct me if I’m wrong but I’ve read you use it for 2 weeks max)

TIA 🙂

Avatar

34

Car seat crying

My 6 month old PANICS the second I put him in a car seat and screams, cries, chokes and recently even projectile vomited on a 14 minute drive. It’s gotten to the point I don’t even bring him out unless it’s to a doctors appointment. I’m a stay at home mom with no family in my state and it has been very isolating. We’ve tried 3 different car seats with no improvement. Has anyone had a baby who hated the car seat? Any advice? This started at 3 months. I will add it does seem worse when he’s tired. He does cry on every trip though. He only contact naps and co sleeps so he reaches for me and will not sleep in the car seat.

Avatar

1

14

Can someone pls help i keep making this post and nobody is responding

My boyfriend booked a trip for us to go to mexico for a week as my push present. I have severe anxiety leaving my 7 month old with my mom. I know she will be in good hands but she’s exclusively breast fed for the most part but accepts bottles just fine. i have all my pumping parts packed and will pump when baby normally eats but i don’t want baby to forget me or have latch issues when i return!! any mommas ever experience this?

Avatar

8

Sex post C section

Hi ladies I’m 4 weeks 5 days postpartum and I had a C section. I’m not bleeding properly anymore just some brownish discharge stuff that starts on and off. I’d like to do the deed with my partner; is it okay to do so or shall I wait the full 6 weeks. I feel up for it but also worried because the advice is 6-8 weeks.

Avatar

9

When did you circumcise your baby?
If you DID NOT or DO NOT have a circumcised son DO NOT comment this post is not for you!

Did you wait a certain amount of time or have it done immediately?
Again respectfully, this is only for the parents who choose to do so.
opinions about how not necessary it is will not be appropriate for this post. Thank you in advance. 🩵

Avatar

28

Postpartum

I’m only 3 days postpartum (FTM) and already have extremely bad anxiety. I’m crying every night, as I think of another night of no sleep. My baby will not settle in his cot, he cries every moment we put him down unless in his chair rocker. So me and my partner are having to alternate after 3/4 hours of being awake with him downstairs. I’m trying everything to get him to settle. It’s a load of overwhelming stress. I’m 23, I was desperate for a baby and now I have one and feel completely useless. I miss it just being me and my partner.

Avatar

2

20

Read more on Peanut