How to Cope With an Overabundant Milk Supply When Breastfeeding

When starting to breastfeed, some women find that they have too much breastmilk. If your newborn seems to choke and gasp as he nurses, you make be producing too much breastmilk for him to swallow comfortably. This overabundance can also create embarrassing leaking problems. You may be producing too much milk right now but it is likely that your body will become in sync with your baby's needs and you will soon begin to produce that right about of milk for your baby. In the meantime, below are some tips for dealing with an overabundant milk supply when breastfeeding your newborn.

Instructions

1

Remove your baby from your breast for a minute. When a baby first begins to nurse, if she is gasping and choking, remove her from your breast for a moment. The beginning rush of breastmilk may be too much for your baby to handle. Wait until the flow has reduced to a slow stream and try putting your baby back to your breast.

2

Let your baby nurse from only one breast per feeding. Your breast will be drained more completely. Also, your baby will have to deal with the first heavy flow only once per feeding instead of twice.

3

Position your baby so that she is sitting up more. This may permit her to allow the overflow of milk to trickle out of her mouth while she is nursing.

4

Apply gentle pressure to your areola while nursing. This may help to slow the flow of breastmilk, especially when your baby first starts feeding.

5

Try sitting back a bit or even try lying on your back while nursing. Nursing against gravity may help to slow down the flow of breastmilk.

6

Pump your breast a little before each feeding. This will eliminate the initial, heavy flow of milk before your baby begins to nurse.