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What is an overabundant milk supply?An overabundant milk supply is when you have lots of milk that may sometimes leak and spray.
Babies of mothers who are producing lots of milk often put on weight quickly, and have more than the average number of wet and soiled nappies a day (West 2008).
You and your baby may handle a plentiful and fast-flowing supply without any problems, or it may cause you difficulties.
If your milk is flowing very quickly, your baby may:
- Struggle to latch on and come off your breast.
- Cough and splutter, because she can't swallow fast enough.
- Arch her body away from you, refuse your breast and become upset (West 2008).
When you're getting used to feeding your baby, it can be disheartening if she's spluttering or turning away from your breast. Rest assured that it probably won't be long before you and your baby settle into a routine that's comfortable for both of you. It just takes a little while for your breasts to adjust to your baby's needs.
When you have lots of milk at once, it's often called an overactive letdown. In reality, your letdown reflex isn't overactive, it’s just quickly triggered. The letdown may be so full and fast that you don't have time to attach your baby before your milk starts spraying.
Your baby's normal and natural feeding reflexes, such as head bobbing, may also play a part, as they can stimulate your breasts to release milk before she is latched on.
What causes such a big letdown of milk?In the early days of breastfeeding, when your milk comes in, your breasts will produce lots of milk. This is because your body is making enough milk to feed twins or even triplets, just in case you need to.
As soon as your baby starts to breastfeed successfully, your milk production should begin to regulate. Then you’ll provide her with just the amount she needs. If the problem carries on after this, it could be because your baby isn’t latching on properly (NHS 2010, Inch 2009).
True oversupply is rare, and may be a symptom of an illness that you have, or a side-effect of a medicine that you’re taking. If you think this applies to you, talk to your doctor.
How can I help my baby to feed more easily?Check that your baby is able to latch on well. It can be a bit of a struggle for your baby to get a good mouthful of breast if your milk is leaking and spraying.
The following tips may help your baby to latch on:
- Before each feed, hand express or pump just enough milk to slow down your flow. You can either discard this milk, or express it into a sterilised container to give to your baby later. Don't pump too much, and don’t pump between feeds (West 2009). The more milk you take from your breasts, the more you'll produce to fill the demand.
- When your baby starts to bob at your breast or suckle, and triggers your letdown reflex, catch the initial spurt in a towel. If she is already latched on, you may need to gently break the suction to do this. Then let your baby latch on again, when the flow slows down a bit.
- You may find you can latch your baby on better if you vary your feeding position. Try sitting your baby up facing you to feed, allowing her head to tip back a little (koala position). You could also lie or lean back and feed with your baby on top of you, in a laid-back breastfeeding position, so you can use gravity to slow the flow down (West 2008).
What can I do if my milk supply doesn’t slow down?If your breasts continue to produce a surplus of milk, your baby is probably not latching on properly (NHS 2010, Inch 2009). Or the timing or length of feeds at each breast may be contributing to the problem (West 2008).
If your baby can't latch on well, she may need to feed more often. Very frequent feeds may keep your milk production levels high for a while.
It's also possible that your baby is continually filling up quickly on the more watery milk that is plentiful at the start of a feed. If your baby moves from one breast to the other too quickly, she may not be getting as much of the creamier, thicker milk that comes in the longer she feeds at one breast.
Having too much of the lactose-rich, watery milk may cause her poo to be green, watery or foamy. She may have wind and feel uncomfortable as a result of not being able to process the lactose (West 2008).
Ask your midwife or health visitor if they can refer you to a breastfeeding specialist, who can help you latch your baby on properly. You can also read our step-by-step guide to breastfeeding, or use our A-Z list of breastfeeding organisations for further sources of help.
If your baby is latching on well, but your breasts still feel too full, you could try using only one breast for two feeds to four feeds. Put your baby to your breast as many times as she wants to feed, making sure that you use the same breast for up to a two-hour period. You can then pump your other breast (but only a little) to relieve the pressure (West 2008).
This technique should reduce your milk supply within a day or two. Keep an eye on your baby's weight in the following week, though.
What can I do if my baby is refusing my breast?If your baby is getting upset and refusing your breast completely, it's important to get help from a breastfeeding specialist.
In the early days of breastfeeding, you and your baby may simply need a bit more practice. Or you may find that it is easier for your baby to latch on to one side, rather than another.
While you’re still getting the hang of it, if your baby is getting distressed and refusing your breast, you could express your milk. You can then give it to her in a cup. This may help your baby to feed calmly, without becoming upset (Inch 2009).
You can gradually reduce the expressed feeds, and your baby can go back to just feeding from your breast. Once your baby is latching on well, she should be able to cope with the flow of milk.
If you continue to express more milk than your baby needs, one option is to help babies in special care units whose mums aren't able to breastfeed. You can do this by donating your surplus milk to a milk bank.
ReferencesInch S. 2009. Infant Feeding. In: Fraser DM, Cooper MA. eds. Myles Textbook for Midwives. 15th ed. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone, 785-816
NHS Choices. 2010. Breastfeeding problems. NHS Choices, Health A-Z. www.nhs.uk [Accessed November 2013]
West D. 2008. Am I making too much milk? La Leche League International. www.llli.org [Accessed November 2013]