How Do I Decrease My Milk Supply?

Question

I have what my public health nurse calls "abundance," meaning that I produce way too much milk. I was told my supply would settle down after a couple of weeks, but it's been five weeks and nothing has changed. If I don't feed my daughter or express about five ounces of milk every two hours, they swell up and then gush milk - I literally get little jets of milk that soak through breast pads like nothing. I have to wear hand towels in my bra! Additionally, whenever I feed my daughter, I can hear her coughing and choking as she goes, because the milk comes out too fast for her to swallow it properly. This leads to multiple interruptions in feeding, and thus a very frustrated baby.

So, my question is this: I want to continue breastfeeding exclusively, but I can't deal with this anymore. Is there any way to decrease my milk supply to a manageable level, or am I just dreaming?

I know that expressing will only increase my milk supply, but it's so much more convenient to get rid of that extra milk into a bottle than all over my shirt, which is what happens anyway. Also, my daughter's weight gain is huge, she was born 8.7, we left the hospital with her at 7.12, within a week she was at 9.2, and now she weighs 12.3, so I don't think a minor decrease in milk supply will hurt her.

Answer 1

Ooooh, it's so easy! I had this problem too. Just do what's called "block feeding." You feed your daughter on one side for 2 or 3 feedings in a row, then switch sides. The breast on the side that's not emptying will get the signal to stop producing so much. If you find that you're getting engorged on the side that you're not feeding off of, you can pump but just for a few minutes to relieve engorgement. Not long enough to empty the breast.

This can remedy the problem within 2 or 3 days, if that. If you find that you still have too much milk, you can increase the one sided feedings to another time (3 or 4 times in a row).

P.S. You really shouldn't limit your calorie intake! That's not good for you or your baby. Also, you shouldn't have to suffer for 2 months in order to have a good breastfeeding experience. If you are still having problems, contact an IBCLC - International Board Certified Lactation Consultant. This should be a quick fix!

Answer 2

I had the same problem. But you cannot control your hormones and there is no minor decrease in milk supply. Just be patient and feed your daughter as much as possible. Or try to express just an ounce or two and feed your baby then.
Also you can wear nursing pads instead of towels, it's more convenient. But if it bothers you a lot, the best would be to see lactation consultant.

Answer 3

You need to feed the baby on one side for a few feeding then the other for a few feedings. It will be pinful for a few weeks as tries to slow itself down but in the end it will help. Believe me I know. I have had my milk in since i was 20 weeks pregnant.

Answer 4

I too had enough milk to feed an army of babies! What worked for me was limiting my calorie intake, and only nursing on one side for two hours. My breasts finally went from overly full and tight, to soft and manageable after about two months. Hang in there, you're doing great!

Answer 5

Pump milk, then feed baby from bottle

Answer 6

i just express it myself that works. just stop it will hurt for a bit then it will be all over

Answer 7

You have "oversupply". and it is more common than you might think. It can cause problems for your baby.

Why don't you donate some of that liquid gold! Many babies need breastmilk and can't get it from their moms for one reason or another.

Comments from Parents of Milk Bank Recipients:
"Donor milk meant the difference between life and death for my baby."
"As soon as we put Lindsay on mother's milk, everything changed. She's a to different baby...happy and peaceful."
"My child might not have lived if it weren't for breast milk donations. She is adopted and I couldn't provide her with mother's milk.... People don't realize that some children can't survive on formula and some mothers can't provide their own milk"
"It was hard to be a middle class family and know we could not buy or get any food our child could eat from the grocery store. Without donor milk, she could have starved to death in America."
"Unless you have gone through months with a chronically ill infant, you cannot appreciate how glorious it is to enjoy a healthy, happy child. A baby so happy that after a feeding, he can lie in my arms and look up at me with contentment and trust instead of agony and confusion as to why eating is so awful."



Partial List of Clinical Uses
Prematurity (multiple cases in all banks)
IgA-deficient liver transplant patient
IgA-deficient small bowel transplant patient
Failure to thrive (FTT), drug exposure in utero
Seizure disorder, metabolic disorder, low weight gain
Cerebral palsy, brain stem injury/birth trauma, FTT
Formula intolerance (multiple cases in all milk banks)
Allergies to cow milk/soy milk proteins
Family history of dairy allergy
Cystic fibrosis, cerebral palsy, formula intolerance
"Risk for immune deficiency" (= HIV-positive infant)
Immune deficiency, post operative for cardiac problems
Multiple birth, prematurity
Ulcers, aspiration risk, immune deficiency
Adoption
Surrogate premature infant with intolerance
Down syndrome, cardiac anomalies
Bater Syndrome
Seizures
Brain tumor
Botulism
Maternal milk insufficiency (several cases)
Chronic fatigue syndrome post Candidiasis
Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC)
Cerebral palsy, oral aversion, developmental problems, reflux
Surgical short gut post NEC ( at least 8 short gut cases were helped by milk banks)
Multi-visceral organ transplant
Twins with ventricular septal defect
Baby with mother diagnosed with 4th stage breast cancer during pregnancy
Babies with mothers who had breast reductions (insufficient milk)
Baby with cancer
Several adults with cancers of various types
Netherton syndrome

Think of how you could help a little baby!

PLEASE if you have extra milk, consider donating and contact one of these milk banks to find out more!

Don't worry if there is not a milk bank in your state They will send a fed ex truck to your house to pick up the milk. It will be deliverd to a child that needs it.

Distributing Milk Banks in the United States
Regional Milk Bank, Worcester, MA 508.793.6005*

Wilmington Mothers' Milk Bank, Wilmington, DE 302.733.2340

Mothers' Milk Bank, Raleigh NC 919.350.8599*

Mothers' Milk Bank at Austin, TX 512.494.0800

Mothers' Milk Bank, Denver CO 303.869.1888*

Mothers' Milk Bank, San Jose, CA 408.998.4550*

*Accepts out-of-state donors.

You can contact your local La Leche League Leader. http://WWW.LLL.ORG for more info.

Get advice from other breastfeeding moms at the LLL forums http://forums.llli.org/index.php

If you would like to learn more about oversupply, and how to decrease your supply feel free to email me by clicking on my avatar then on ‘Email Noggin Mama’ Please make sure to include your email address in the email or I will not be able to respond to your questions as the message system only allows a short message and I have a ton of info for you!

Answer 8

try a pump