Oversupply

[GOmamab15]

Any suggestions tips or stories for me?
My boobs. They are so sore. Full of milk. I squirted milk on the side of his head today when he was done nursing and I apparently was not done feeding him. First time noticing that happen. I think pumping twice a day & nursing all night is making me produce too much. But I'm afraid of trying to go down to 1x per day. I guess just pump for a shorted length of time? I'm only doing it for about 6 minutes on each side now.

[manybellsdown]

Are you pumping twice daily even on days when you nurse him all day? I'd definitely try to wean from those, if so.

Do you block feed (only one side in a nursing session)? That was the best thing I did when I was making too much milk with DD.

[GOmamab15]

Nov 12, 2016 21:26:15 GMT -5 manybellsdown said:

Are you pumping twice daily even on days when you nurse him all day? I'd definitely try to wean from those, if so.

Do you block feed (only one side in a nursing session)? That was the best thing I did when I was making too much milk with DD.

Thanks.
No, I don't pump at all when I'm home on the weekends, but by the afternoon I am feeling it. I have felt like I "need" to pump because I'm so full but I haven't since I know it won't help the oversupply issue at all.
I typically only feed on one side except for his bedtime feeding at 7pm.

[manybellsdown]

Oh man, I definitely thought you meant you pumped on days off work too. That's a lot of milk! I would be scared of supply loss or clogs, etc., with only one pump. But I know you feed him at lunch, and a couple friends of mine have done only two pumps per workday with plenty of milk. So I bet it's possible. I hope it adjusts soon for you and for comfort!

[GOmamab15]

Thanks, Bells. It'll work out.
I got a suggestion to try a manual pump so I may do that this week and see how it is.

[origamimommy]

GOmamab15, try block pumping! It's what I did when my supply was crazy when I first came back to work. So pump twice per day (feeding him at lunch I saw?) but one breast per session. If you're crazy uncomfortable then manually pump or hand express the other breast just to relieve some discomfort.

[nymama917]

I was going to say to cut the pumping to once in the day. But if you're feeding at lunch that might be difficult timing wise. I am doing well with morning pumping 1 side and fedding her with the other. Then pump both sides (simultaneously) twice a day. Then feed on demand in the evening and through the night. With DD1 I had a large freezer stash and cut back to pumping once a day at work and it didn't ruin my supply. So if you can work out the timing, then maybe you can try that. If not, like someone else said, block pumping and use a manual pump on the other side just to take some of the discomfort away.

[sandandsea]

I have an oversupply and what helps most is pumping first thing in the morning to clear them out. I only pump for 10 minutes per session and pump first thing in the morning (around 6am), and twice while at work. DS is with DH/at DC/driving home withe me from 6:30am-6:30 pm, so I don't feed him for those 12 hours. I BF when we're together in the evenings, nights, and weekends. On weekends, I pump first thing in the morning if I'm feeling too full, but don't pump unless I have to. I also feed one side per session.

Since you're feeding him at noon, I would only pump first thing in the morning and then once in the afternoon only if you feel full. So, only pumping once a day, unless you are uncomfortable.