Oversupply (hyperlactation) is a condition in which a breastfeeding mother produces significantly more milk than her baby requires, potentially causing difficulties for both mother and baby.
Oversupply, also termed hyperlactation, is described by La Leche League GB as a situation in which a mother produces more milk than her baby needs. La Leche League GB notes that having a lot of milk is not problematic in itself: "Oversupply is only a problem if it causes difficulties for you or your baby." It can arise from natural high milk production, breastfeeding management practices, or overuse of a breast pump.
What are the signs of oversupply?
According to La Leche League GB, maternal signs of oversupply include breasts that are "rarely soft or comfortable", a forceful or overactive let-down reflex, excessive leaking between feeds, painful nipples from the baby clamping down to manage rapid milk flow, and recurring breast inflammation including blocked ducts or mastitis. In babies, signs can include very fast weight gain moving upwards through centile lines, "explosive green frothy poos", struggling with forceful milk flow, pain and excessive wind, gagging, coughing or spluttering at the breast, frequent spitting up, and in some cases breast refusal.
What causes oversupply?
La Leche League GB identifies several contributing factors: a naturally high milk production capacity (which can increase with each subsequent baby); hormonal imbalances or certain medications; breastfeeding management issues such as scheduled or timed feeds; overuse of a breast pump or incorrect pumping technique; and, less commonly, a shallow latch that causes the baby to feed very frequently without fully draining the breast.
How is oversupply managed?
La Leche League GB describes a range of management strategies, which should be undertaken with professional support. These include adjusting positioning to slow milk flow, practising responsive feeding rather than following schedules, reducing expressing to avoid overstimulating supply, and block feeding — limiting the baby to one breast over a set period of time to allow fuller drainage before switching. La Leche League GB advises that mothers should seek support from a lactation specialist or their GP before making significant changes to feeding patterns, particularly as changes may affect the baby's weight gain.
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