Breast Milk: Over-Supply
You're probably thinking, "is there such a thing as too much milk?" Let me be the first to tell you that there is such a thing as having too much milk. My experience with producing a lot of milk has been a roller-coaster. I personally think my supply is still fluctuating at the moment, but I have been dealing with having full breasts for most of the day. I have to get up around 7 AM to nurse and pump, and by noon, my breasts are extremely full again. When I nurse my son, I only feed him on one side at each feeding, and that breast will still be slightly full when he's done. My freezer is full of milk, but I've been able to donate my milk to a family member with a preemie baby.
It's a blessing and a curse. Of course, you'll never have to worry about running out and not being able to feed your baby. However, there are several negatives as well.
It's a blessing and a curse. Of course, you'll never have to worry about running out and not being able to feed your baby. However, there are several negatives as well.
- Full Breasts. Your breasts will feel full most of the day. Even after feeding your baby, they will still be slightly full. Having very full breasts is very inconvenient and uncomfortable.
- Constant Leaking. Of course, having full breasts leads to leaking. Even when you have on nursing pads, there's still a chance that those will fill up, and you'll still leak through to your clothing.
- Engorgement. When your breasts get too full of milk, they become engorged. Engorgement is very painful and can lead to clogs and Mastitis.
- Clogs. If your breasts stay full and engorged for too long, a milk duct can become clogged. Clogs are even more painful. A clog feels like a knot or lump on the breast that is usually as small as a pea. These clogs can cause Mastitis to set in.
- Mastitis. Mastitis is an infection in the breast that is most likely caused by a clogged duct or bacteria in the breast. It is extremely painful and can cause inflammation and fever.
- Pumping all the time. To keep from becoming uncomfortable and engorged, you're basically attached to your pump. You'll possibly have to pump between most feedings, during the night, and any time your breasts get very full.
- No more freezer space. When it comes to pumping your milk out, you'll want to save it all because pumping and dumping is so hard to do. Your freezer will be full of milk. Even if you have a deep-freezer, you'll easily build a large supply and fill every corner.
Another plus for producing a lot of milk is having a large stockpile of milk. Although your freezer will be full, donating your milk is always an option. There are many ways to donate milk; many hospitals will accept donations as well as health departments. There are some screenings to go through before donating, but if you have a large supply, your milk can benefit preemies or other babies in the NICU or be sent to mothers who need it for their children. Here is a website for donating milk if you're interested.
In my case, my supply fluctuates from week to week, but I think it will probably settle out soon. I'll have full breasts and produce tons of milk for several days, then for a few days after that I won't produce as much and won't really feel full. Sometimes I'll be full in the morning, but won't be full at all throughout the afternoon and at night. The positive thing for me is that I still have enough milk to feed my son like I usually do, but it's so scary to think that my supply may be going away.
This is another problem with producing a lot of milk; if your supply ever dips for a few days, it'll worry you to death. Losing your supply is something that scares most breastfeeding moms, especially if your supply has never been an issue throughout the whole breastfeeding journey.
Important: A tip on leveling out your supply if it becomes too much is to make sure you're not completely draining your breasts when pumping. If your breasts are empty, it tells your body that next time, it needs to keep producing that amount plus extra because you ran out before. If you don't completely pump your milk out, it will tell your body that you don't need that much milk over time. So if you are producing too much and want to lessen your milk production, pump enough for comfort, but not all of your milk.
At the end of the day, having a large production of breast milk is manageable and can allow you to build a supply and donate. It can be very stressful and worrisome at times, but if you're careful and take care of yourself, you can manage it and benefit from it.
This is another problem with producing a lot of milk; if your supply ever dips for a few days, it'll worry you to death. Losing your supply is something that scares most breastfeeding moms, especially if your supply has never been an issue throughout the whole breastfeeding journey.
Important: A tip on leveling out your supply if it becomes too much is to make sure you're not completely draining your breasts when pumping. If your breasts are empty, it tells your body that next time, it needs to keep producing that amount plus extra because you ran out before. If you don't completely pump your milk out, it will tell your body that you don't need that much milk over time. So if you are producing too much and want to lessen your milk production, pump enough for comfort, but not all of your milk.
At the end of the day, having a large production of breast milk is manageable and can allow you to build a supply and donate. It can be very stressful and worrisome at times, but if you're careful and take care of yourself, you can manage it and benefit from it.
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