Too much milk, Help!

My two-month old daughter seems to be thriving on my breast milk, but she frequently has trouble latching onto my right breast due to engorgement. She also pulls off my right breast many times at the beginning of a feeding and often chokes or gags due to the rapid flow. My problem with engorgement is with my right breast only. It always appears to be engorged and painful, not to mention lopsided compared to my left breast!

My daughter nurses frequently during the day (approximately every 2-3 hrs.) and will go for about 5-6 hrs. between feedings at night. She only nurses on one breast at a time, and feedings last for about 10-15 min. After about 10 min. on either breast, she appears full and satisfied. I have read that feeding only on one breast should help the problem of over-production of milk, but it hasn't helped my engorgement. My doctor advised me to pump about an ounce out of my right breast before feeding her, but I find this to be very unnatural and time consuming. What can I do to decrease the milk supply in just one breast?




 

Dear Nancy,

You obviously have a very abundant milk supply, and while many women think they would love to have your problem, they don't realize that it can cause just as many problems for a woman as not having enough milk!

I'm sure your doctor meant well when he told you to pump about an ounce out before feeding your baby, but that is probably the worst thing to do. (However, it does take care of the choking and gagging problem at the beginning of the feeding.) The more the breast is stimulated and the more milk that is taken out, the more milk there will be.

In order to cut down on milk supply, you need to "trick" the body into thinking that your baby is weaning. A weaning baby gradually has fewer and/or shorter feedings. Anytime just a small amount of milk is taken out of the breast, it is a signal to the brain to cut down on supply. Here are two different suggestions: One thing you might try is feeding on the left breast for two feedings in a row, then follow with the third feeding on the right. In the meantime, express only enough milk from the right side to relieve the tight feeling and no more.

You don't want to do this on a schedule--just pay attention to how it is feeling. When it begins to feel tight, then it's time to express a little milk. Not expressing puts you at great risk for a breast infection, so don't just ignore the discomfort.

Another suggestion is to set a time period (usually about 4-5 hours), and during that time nurse only on one breast. Then for the next time period use the other. For example: 6--10 am--left breast, 10--2pm--right breast, 2--6pm--left breast, etc. The baby can nurse as much as needed, but you only use that one breast. For tightness on the other side, you do as above and express just a little milk.

You may want to try both methods for several days to see which you prefer. Of course, if you start out with one and it works, stay with it! Realize that anytime you change the feeding schedule you have been using, it will take at least 2-3 days to realize any change. Let me know how things go.

Cher Sealy, RN, BSN, IBCLC, LLLL





 

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