Some mothers for so much and others for so little. As you read it: while some new mothers report problems getting their milk to rise, others have to face an excessive production that the newborn still does not know how to handle.
If your baby chokes, retches, or moves away from the breast a minute or two after starting to eat, the cause may be excessive milk let-down. We explain what signs can help you find out if you really have this problem and what you can do to manage it.
Symptoms of excessive flow
A rapid flow of milk can make it difficult for the newborn to feed well, in addition to being uncomfortable for the mother and even lead to mastitis. Luckily, there are some tips that can help control it. But first, you should bear in mind that it is not advisable to try to reduce milk production until you are sure that the main problem is too much milk , especially during the first month, when lactation is still being established, to make sure that the baby has all the milk he needs.
So if you are not sure that it actually exists or if it does not cause inconvenience to you or your baby, it is advisable not to do anything.
But there is more. You can only be sure of an excess supply of breast milk if the baby goes through excessive weight gain. Taking into account that it is normal for babies to gain approximately 900 g of weight each month, if there is an excessive supply, the weight gain can be up to double.
However, these signs can help you know if you really have to take steps to control it:
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The baby may cough and protest at the beginning of a feed, grabbing or biting, or holding the breast with the mouth with little squeeze.
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You may move away from the chest if the rapid flow surprises you and you start crying when you see that your feeding has been stopped.
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Along with a lot of milk you can also take in a lot of air, so you will likely spit up a lot and need to burp frequently.
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You may feel congested and tense, and constantly feel full.
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It is common to experience blockages in the ducts or repeated episodes of mastitis, since the baby cannot always empty a very full breast.
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Breast milk leaks are normal for the first six weeks , so they are not usually a sign of excess milk. But if you are still very wet two months after birth, it is best to consult an expert. Although it may be due to other causes.
Measures that help regulate the flow
The following tips to help you, always after consulting with your pediatrician or an expert:
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Allow your baby to let go of the breast when needed.
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Let the newborn nurse until the milk comes in. Then quickly peel it off your breast and catch the rapid flow of milk with a towel before the little one latches back on to feed.
To separate your baby from your breast while he is actively breastfeeding, you can gently put your finger in a corner of his mouth to break the suction. You can then remove the baby from the nipple.
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You can express your milk manually or with a breast pump until you see the milk flowing. Then you can put your child on the breast.
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Be as gentle as possible if you burp him – jerky movements combined with a stomach that has filled up very quickly can cause some babies to vomit and discomfort.
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Hold the nipple between your index and middle fingers. Or press gently using your hand on the side of your breast during the descent to slow down the flow of milk.
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Avoid the consumption of infusions and any other supplement to stimulate the production of breast milk during the first days.
Positions that can help
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Position the baby so that the back of the throat is higher than the nipple. In this way, the milk has to “rise” during the descent, which slows down the flow. This can be accomplished in the following ways:
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Lying position. Lie comfortably on your back on a sofa or on pillows. Support the newborn on you face down, straight and abdomen against abdomen. Then your baby can nod to latch on or you can guide him to hold.
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Rugby position. Place your baby on your lap, supporting his back with your arm. Hold the baby’s head with your hand at the level of the nipple. You can gently lift him so that he reaches the nipple and latches on.
Consult a lactation expert before taking action
Either way, if your baby has symptoms of an over-supply but is gaining a normal weight, consult a lactation consultant or specialist before attempting to reduce the amount of milk you produce.
Also in case the previous help measures do not work, since the lactation expert can recommend more specific measures:
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Interval feeding. Your baby is breastfed whenever he wants for a period of four hours, but only on one breast. The other breast will be filled to the maximum with milk. Since breast milk contains an element called a “Feedback Lactation Inhibitor” (FIL), overfilling will signal to that breast to slow down milk production.
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Complete emptying technique. With an electric breast pump, the breasts are completely emptied in the morning and your baby is fed immediately afterwards. The flow will be slower, so the baby will assimilate it better and will get more milk with a higher fat content at the end of the feed, which will make him feel fuller.
The mother can start interval feeding for four hours at a time and, if not effective, switch to six, eight, or twelve hour intervals the next day, depending on the severity of the oversupply problem.
Photos | iStock
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