Too Much Milk - Hyperlactation

Many mothers worry that they do not have enough breast milk, but for many women the opposite is also a problem! After the first few weeks, the milk supply is usually adjusted to the baby's needs. However, this does not happen in some breastfeeding mothers and they continue to produce too much milk.

You may think that overproduction is not a problem, as many women struggle with insufficient amounts. While it's good to have plenty of breast milk, this can be a real problem if you produce more than your baby needs. Hyperlactation or milk that flows too fast can be exhausting for you and your baby.

In the early weeks of breastfeeding, it is normal for the breasts to feel soft after the baby has been fed. However, when producing too much milk, you may feel them painful and tense. Other problems that can be associated with the production of too much breast milk and too rapid flow are sore and sore nipples, blocked milk ducts, mastitis.

Despite these problems, you should not despair. It is possible to overcome difficulties and make breastfeeding easy and successful!

What causes hyperlactation?

Breastfeeding is a biological process for which the body automatically prepares during pregnancy. Breasts grow, and in the second trimester the body already produces colostrum. When the baby is born and the placenta separates, changing hormone levels signal the start of milk production. Each organism reacts differently to the hormones released, as a result of which hyperlactation can occur. Once hormone levels are regulated after birth, the body can better regulate the amount of milk that is produced based on how often and effectively the baby sucks. The exact duration varies from person to person and between pregnancies, but usually lasts until the baby is about three months old.

Excessive production can also be created by the way breastfeeding takes place. Parents who are concerned that their babies are not getting enough milk when they are actually receiving it can stimulate the release of more milk by routine pumping in addition to breastfeeding or by the misuse of galactogenic agents.
Sometimes hyperlactation is stimulated completely unintentionally and can affect only one breast. This can happen when the baby has a preference for one breast and is constantly feeding on it (more efficiently or for longer).

If the milk flow is too fast and strong, the baby may withdraw from the breast, especially at the beginning of feeding. It becomes irritable and may spit milk or choke during breastfeeding.

As a result, the nipples may become inflamed and sore as the baby pulls or presses on them in an attempt to reduce milk flow. Some babies tend to give up breastfeeding when they can't handle the heavy flow of breast milk.

• breastfeed more often - before the baby is hungry or when he wakes up. Before it is fully awake, the baby is relaxed and can feed more carefully (then the flow of milk is slower) and absorbs less air;
• express breast milk to relieve tension in the breasts and facilitate breastfeeding. You can do this manually or with the help of a pump.

Additional information on breastfeeding can be found in the topics "Manual breastfeeding", "Breastfeeding and storage", "Which breast pump to choose".

• change the breast only after the baby has expressed all the milk and you feel soft. If it looks hungry again after a short period of time, offer the first breast again if it is not empty or squeezed enough, then offer the other;
• choose a suitable breastfeeding position and help the baby to latch on properly. For this purpose, the baby's head should be slightly tilted back, the nose should not be resting on the breast, so that the child can breathe easily.

More information in the topic "Preparation and postures for breastfeeding".

• when the flow of milk is strong, it is good to breastfeed in a supine position so that the baby's head is higher than the nipple.

To avoid the inconvenience of leaking breast milk and the appearance of stains on clothes, you can use specially designed pads.

You will find more information in the topic "How to deal with spontaneous leakage of breast milk".

Babies breastfed with a strong flow of milk can become irritable if it is delayed. In this case, use breast compression to get the baby a satisfactory amount of milk.

The balance of milk is more important than its quantity

Even though you have enough milk, the baby may not feel satisfied. Instead, it may seem constantly hungry. The reason is the ratio between low-fat and high-fat milk that the baby receives. The amount of fat in milk increases during meals. At the beginning of each feeding, the baby receives low-fat milk, which quenches his thirst, and at the end of the session, high-fat milk, which creates a feeling of satiety.

If the baby does not get enough high-fat milk, he may want to eat more often and start gaining weight very quickly.

Hyperlactation with blocked milk ducts and mastitis

If you have blocked milk ducts or mastitis, you probably feel your breasts tense, hard and painful, even after breastfeeding. In these cases, you should express well until you take measures to reduce milk production. It is necessary to:

• squeeze gently until you feel relief and your breasts become soft;
• feed the baby within an hour by offering both breasts if necessary. Make sure the baby is breastfeeding properly.
• at a later stage, limit breastfeeding to only one breast, changing breasts every two or three hours.

What to do for yourself?

• See your doctor to order thyroid tests. Women who suffer from hireptyroidism or postpartum thyroiditis may have hyperlactation.
• Wear a comfortable breastfeeding bra. This is necessary so that you do not feel discomfort due to the tension in the chest.
• Drink a cup of sage before bed. The plant contains a natural form of estrogen that can reduce milk production. Stop taking it when milk production begins to return to normal.
• If necessary, express some milk to lighten the breasts. Do not express completely, as this will further stimulate milk production.

Conclusion

Too much milk production is common, especially in the first few months after birth. It can make breastfeeding an unpleasant experience or impossible at first glance, and this causes parents anxiety and stress. Hyperlactation can affect a baby's behavior and weight, which in turn can lead to inaccurate diagnoses such as colic or food intolerance. It can also cause breast trauma and recurrent milk duct obstruction.

It is important to recognize the problem and take adequate measures to solve it.
An alternative is to maintain hyperlactation and donate breast milk to formal or informal breast milk sharing networks.