Ask an LC: Everything You Need to Know About Overproduction & Undersupply
By: The Willow Team
How to know if you’re making too much or too little milk — and what to do about it? We’ve got answers from our LC, Brie.
Once your baby is born, you will start to establish your breast milk supply by feeding your baby regularly — either by breastfeeding or pumping and bottle feeding.
It can take between four and six weeks to establish your full milk supply. This is because your breasts are wired to adjust to your baby’s demands. In other words, milk-making hormones are directly linked to your infant’s feeding patterns! When milk is removed by your baby or your pump, your body responds by producing more milk. The more milk is removed, the more milk your body is told to make. This is how supply is established!
Most moms make the right amount of milk for their babies. However, some moms deal with overproduction or undersupply — conditions that can make feeding difficult and stressful.
Read on for tips from our LC, Brie — a member of the amazing team at our partner SimpliFed — about how to identify these conditions and manage them if you find yourself dealing with them.
Q: What is oversupply?
A: Simply put, oversupply means that you’re making more milk than your baby needs. In the early days of feeding, you may overproduce as your body gets the hang of your baby — blame hormones! Within a few weeks, your supply should regulate as you get into a feeding routine.
Q: How do I know if I have oversupply?
A: If you’re dealing with oversupply, your breasts will likely feel full (AKA engorged), swollen, and painful. They may still feel full after breastfeeding, and you may deal with constant leaking. Your baby may also be fussy while feeding — this may be due to an overly fast letdown.
Q: Is oversupply caused by pumping too much?
A: Oversupply can occur if your pumping schedule doesn’t match up with your baby’s feeding needs — but some moms just make too much milk regardless of how often they’re pumping or feeding.
Q: How can I manage oversupply if I’m exclusively pumping?
A: Try to reduce the number of ounces pumped during a single session by trimming time off of your pumping sessions until you’ve regulated your supply. A lactation consultant can help you come up with a personalized plan!
Q: What is underproduction?
A.Underproduction, or “low supply,” means that you’re not able to make enough milk to meet your baby’s needs. Some studies suggest that between 10 - 15% of women struggle with this!
Q: What causes low supply?
A: Sometimes there’s just no cause. Frustrating, we know! After that, the most common cause is not meeting demand — not feeding (and removing milk) frequently enough. Stress and lack of sleep, certain medications, drug or alcohol use, and dehydration can also play a role.
Q: What can I do to increase my supply?
A: Make sure that you’re feeding whenever your baby is hungry! Target 8-12 feedings per day. Focus on your baby’s latch (or on alignment, if you’re pumping), offer both breasts each time that you feed, and try to empty them during each session completely.
Q: How can I pump to increase my supply?
A:You can try “power pumping” to stimulate production! You’ll want to pump for 20 minutes an hour, three hours in a row, for three to four days. (This is in addition to your existing breastfeeding or pumping sessions.) If that feels like too much, you can also try simply adding a few pumping sessions throughout the day after feeds.