Too much milk when breastfeeding: causes and tips
While most women worry that they might produce too little milk, others have the opposite problem. The feeling of having too much milk stems from an initial imbalance between your supply and your baby’s demand. We’ll tell you how to get the excess milk production under control.
Especially in the first period after birth, it happens with many mothers that they produce too much milk. At the beginning of lactation, milk production is hormonally regulated. Only in the course of the weeks does the milk production adapt to the needs of your baby. Other reasons for too much milk are usually found in incorrect breastfeeding management, too early change of sides or additional pumping. If you produce too much milk, pumping is by no means the solution to the puzzle. When youpump, your body assumes that your baby needs this milk and produces more and more to adapt to the ever-increasing “need”.
Index
ToggleConsequences of too much milk
- Your baby behaves very restlessly at the breast, it chokes, lets go of the breast again and again. It may then struggle with a strong milk donation reflex and cannot cope with the large quantities of milk.
- Sometimes a strong green stool can be observed because your baby gets too much foremilk and the lactose intake is too high. As a result, your baby gets too little high-fat hindmilk and it will not be full. It reacts with great restlessness due to hunger and cries. This in turn makes you nervous as a mother.
- Too much milk production can lead to plump and tense breasts. This is extremely unpleasant and unfortunately also increases the risk ofsore nipplesormilk congestion.
- It also becomes unpleasant when the milk constantly runs out of the breasts. Thenursing padsthen have to be changed frequently and unfortunately stains often appear on the clothing.
What can you do?
- Give your child onlythe same breast at a time within a three-hour period. This approach is intended to stimulate milk production less than if both sides were always offered.
- Until your body has adjusted, squeeze a little milk on the other side, just enough to relieve the tension. Since the breasts are not stimulated for hours, milk production gradually decreases.
- Breastfeed your child in thesupine position.
- Sage tea or strong peppermint tea reduce milk production a little.
- Homeopathy can also be used to regulate milk production. For example, withPhytolaccaC6 andPulsatilla C6.
The leakage of milk is completely normal in the first period after birth, since milk formation has yet to occur in the interplay of supply and demand. To stop or reduce the leakage of milk (e.g. in public), you can apply light pressure to the nipple or cross your arms in front of your chest and press against it with the palms of your hands.
After some time of breastfeeding, the breasts will no longer feel so full and plump and the milk may no longer run. However, this does not mean that the milk is suddenly gone and the baby has less milk available, but that your milk production has adapted to the needs of your child.
Important: If you continue to have problems breastfeeding and can’t get the excess milk under control, contact your midwife. She will be able to advise you comprehensively.
