Oversupply of milk

I experienced this with my first, and I am also day three with my new born and I am very sore and engorged. I find a few things helpful: I DO NOT offer both breasts each feed, I alternate between feeds. I freeze savoy cabbage leaves and put in bra when feeling hot and achey. Gentle massage in towards areola after feeding to move milk from harder areas. Heavy duty breast pads for leaking. A tight bra to help with the weight aches. I have a hakka if absolutely necessary but I don’t recommend pumping for relief because your body will just put back the additional milk you remove, adding to the over supply issue. Hope you’re okay and this will pass, but it can take a while for your body to settle down and understand your baby’s milk order 😂 xxx

@Cliona, thank you so much for this! Ok, so don't express it, just expressed it, and so much came out. I'll need to get some cabbage as it's hot to touch, not so much achy but heavy. I will massage it because I can feel one side of the breast is harder. How long does it get better as I really donr want to give up! There's me thinking I won't have enough milk lol

I know, and that’s amazing!! If you want to create a freezer stash or you pump loads of milk and give it to your baby in a bottle, just don’t pump and then feed or feed and then pump if you don’t want your body to make that amount of milk consistently because you are almost telling your body to up your supply because you need enough to feed baby at the breast, but also pump off what you removed to get comfortable. It is really uncomfortable but it’s almost like you have to bare it until your body learns all you need is what you’re offering at the breast. Xx

Sorry, and yes, I've been swapping breast each feed aswel. Trust it to happen to me if was thinking I'm only on day 3 how can this be already hahq

@Natalie I will be honest and say with my first this went on for the first 12 weeks or so before it settled and I did have a lot of help from breast feeding support groups and my hospitals infant feeding team. If you can access those kinds of services definitely do so as soon as helpful xx

I got my midwife coming round tomorrow ill ask her thank you again x

Use your breast pump before each feed. Only needs to be for 5/10 mins each time. It’ll slow the pace down and help with the pain xxx

Thank you. I have a breast pump ordered i need it to hurry up I will definitely give that a go xx

Day 3 is when my milk came in and it’s very normal to feel full for the first few days. I just got my son to nurse normally. Take as much as he needed. I tried breast compressions as he fed too to help drain the breast. I’d say the engorged feeling lasted about 2 days for me and it’s settled down now. Try having a nice warm bath. That will cause you to leak out but not express if that makes sense and might also make you feel more comfortable

Oof, I greatly over supplied once my milk came in proper 3 days pp. I exclusively pump and doing the pitcher method. Built up a freezer stash now. I'm 3 weeks in and my supply has dropped a lot (like halved), but so far I can still keep up with demand. I do feel like I might not soon 🥲 My boobs are also super sore if I am close to a session to the degree that I was fighting off clogged ducts this week. Hot pads, regular massages, regular pumping, nipple cremes, and ibuprofen helped me

@Dominique can i ask how how much do you put in know bag i think I'll be stashing too. Yes I believe my milk has come in day 2 pp. What's the pitcher method.

@Lauren I can't have a bath yet unfortunately as.i have a c section but maybe putting shower on them? I'll give anything a try the thig is they not painful yet and I hope they don't they just massive and hard.

@Jodie I thought it would do opposite but I'll wait for my pump and give it a go.

@Natalie basically I have 3 of these pitchers, every time I pump (approx 5x per day now, was 8x), the output goes in the fridge right away to cool first, and then put in the pitcher. Then every feed I pour from the pitcher. I used to yield 2 pitchers per day almost, now I'm just over 1. Initially I froze whatever was left of yesterday's pitcher, but now I do this on day 3. Since my freezer is full I use leftovers for milk baths lol. Oh, it's a good idea to test if your baby takes to thawed milk as some ladies have high lipase milk, which isn't bad for baby but could taste soapy. In that case I'd look into donating the milk to a hospital that takes breastmilk donations (some nicu wards use donated breastmilk to feed preemies, after they pasteurise it) The bags just get filled to it's max line, so 180 ml Glass Mason Pitcher https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0DJXC1CGD?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

I had really bad oversupply and engorgement with my first (though this time around my boobs have chilled out a bit and understand to not just go insane). Honestly, it will improve. It can feel overwhelming and sore, but your supply *will* regulate. Patience and faith! A tip from me is not to be tempted to keep swapping baby between breasts constantly to get relief, as it will keep stimulating supply. Make sure baby is "finishing" one side before starting on the other. ☺️ The advice I give anyone and everyone is also to find your local breastfeeding support group -- they are always amazing at helping and advising. You've got this x

@Cliona I agree on the not offering both breasts with oversupply! I had shocking oversupply with my first but tbh this time by about day 7 I've been more chill - hope you experience the same xx

A warm shower should do the same thing 😊

Try expressing by hand in the shower to ease discomfort