How To Slow Down Milk Flow When Breastfeeding?
You might experience the feeling periodically that you have an increased milk flow in the first few weeks of breastfeeding. The sections that follow will tell you whether you genuinely have an increased milk flow and offer some solutions.
Because breast milk is so great, having a lot is a good thing, right? Though perhaps not always. Some newborn baby struggle with the sudden flow that usually happens when there is too much milk.
In addition, oversupplied women have a higher risk of suffering recurrent mastitis as well as frequent or prolonged breast leaking. Thankfully, there are certain strategies that can be effective. However, take into account the following before you undertake any of these.
Do you really have too much milk flow?
The reasons for some oversupply symptoms (described below) may include a variety of different factors. It is not advisable to try to reduce your milk flow until you are certain that an overabundance is the root of the issue.
Without it, you risk providing your baby with less breast milk than they require, especially during the important first month when you’re attempting to establish your supply.
Do you or your child have a problem with excess milk supply?
If you are convinced that you have more breast milk than you need and you and your baby are both happy, there is no need to take any action.
The vast majority of cases are resolved after a few months. And as your child gets older, he’ll get better at managing a fast flow and maybe even start to like it.
Not all leaks signify a lot of breast milk, though
During the first four to six weeks following your baby’s birth, prolactin levels in your body increase each time milk is removed from your breasts. During these first few weeks, your breasts are still figuring out how much milk to produce each hour and how much your baby needs.
Therefore, frequent and typical breast leaking and filling, which may even spray milk during letdown are common. You should also prepare for some coughing and spluttering at the breast while your baby learns to synchronize his sucking and swallowing motions.
After four to six weeks, it should begin to follow a more obvious “supply and demand” process based on your baby’s needs. However, it’s understandable that it may take some time to acclimatize given the numerous hormonal changes that becoming a new mother brings about in your body. While it might happen right away for some women, it might take a little while for others.
Symptoms of oversupply
Mothers who produce excessive amounts of breast milk frequently feel engorged, tense, and always full. As we’ve seen, breast milk leaking during the first six weeks or so is typical and not typically an indication of overabundance.
However, if, after this time, you’re still getting wet every time your child feeds, there might be a problem. Breast milk oversupply can also lead to blocked ducts or recurrent bouts of mastitis since a baby can’t always drain a very full breast. However, there may be more causes for these issues.
Ways to decrease milk flow
Here are some easy steps you may take if you’ve determined that you produce too much breast milk and it’s a problem. For some mothers, they are adequate:
Consider relaxed breastfeeding
Because it provides your kid more autonomy, feeding while seated or lying down can be beneficial. If your flow is too rapid for him, he can set the tempo and raise his head for a rest. Don’t forget to lay a towel down to catch any extra milk.
Relieve pressure
You can manually express or pump a small bit of milk to help ease an unpleasant breast, but try to express as little milk as you can. Your breasts receive a signal to start producing more milk each time you withdraw some of it.
Therefore, while expressing oneself may provide short-term solace, it may actually make the issue worse in the long run. It is preferable to wait until you’ve dealt with your oversupply if you need to express and preserve milk for times when you’re away from your baby.
Invest in nursing pads
Placing disposable nursing pads or milk collection shells inside your bra could keep you dry if you’re leaking milk. Ultra-thin disposable nursing pads will provide you confidence in a discrete manner whether your leakage is only light to moderate or you have leaky breasts when pregnant.
Steer clear of supplements and lactation teas
Make careful to cease using any methods that you may have used in the beginning to promote breast milk production, such as mother’s milk teas, lactation cookies, or herbal supplements, as they may now be contributing to the issue.
Block feeding to reduce milk flow
If you’ve tried the aforementioned solutions and you or your baby are still experiencing issues, block feeding may be able to reduce your supply to a more acceptable amount.
However, before using this technique, visit a lactation consultant or breastfeeding specialist. Block feeding is giving your kid four hours of uninterrupted breastfeeding from just one breast, anytime he wants. Your second breast will start to produce a lot of milk.
As a “feedback inhibitor of lactation” (FIL), a substance found in breast milk signals the breast to stop producing milk when you feel overly full. Your body does this to prevent your breasts from enlarging indefinitely. By switching breasts every four hours, try this method for 24 hours. If things don’t get better, you can make the blocks six hours long.
Full drainage and block feeding technique
Another variation of this strategy termed “complete drainage and block feeding” may be appropriate for mothers who have a more severe oversupply of breast milk if there is still no improvement after another 24 hours.
With this technique, you start the day by completely draining your breasts with an electric breast pump, then feed your baby right away. Your baby should be able to handle better because the flow will be slower. Additionally, he will consume more of the higher-fat milk that is served at the end of a feed, increasing his sense of fullness.
After that, you can start block feeding for four hours at a period as described above. Depending on how bad the overstock issue is, switch to blocks of six, eight, or 12 hours the following day if this is ineffective. Before using this procedure, see a healthcare provider.
After the first time, you might not need to completely drain your breasts again, but some mothers do. While some mothers experience an improvement in just one or two days, or perhaps a little longer, block feeding shouldn’t be kept up for longer than five days.
Final thoughts
Since the flow of milk will fluctuate to meet the baby’s demands, an “overabundant milk supply” of breast milk supply is normally a temporary occurrence.
The feeling of having too much breast milk, however, can persist for longer than the first few weeks following delivery in some mothers and can lead to mastitis, frequently clogged milk ducts, and engorgement.
Despite the fact that some newborns do well with weight gain, problems from the oversupply of milk may cause them to appear tense and unhappy at the breast.
Choosing the optimal course of action for each woman and baby can be done with the help of a breastfeeding expert. A variety of management strategies can help or hinder oversupply.