Understanding Oversupply
Oversupply, also known as hyperlactation or hypergalactia. The practical definition is when a mother is making much more milk than the baby needs.
All the mothers out there with persistent low milk supply would probably love this ‘problem’. Yet the mothers who experience genuine oversupply often need to express milk just to stay comfortable, as they can be left feeling very full even with effective breastfeeding.
These mothers are unfortunately prone to complications such as blocked ducts and mastitis. Either end of the milk-supply spectrum can be incredibly challenging for new parents.
So how does genuine ‘oversupply’ generally play out?
Oversupply symptoms of the baby:
Baby may struggle with the fast flow of the milk and may pull off to catch their breath.
Typically correlates with very fast weight gain (x2 and sometimes even x3 more than the average per week).
Baby may be fussy between breastfeeds and may show what seems to be constant feeding cues.
Some babies will have explosive green, frothy (& sometimes blood stained) stools. Additionally (and often overlooked), an abundance of breastmilk supply can often correlate with complicated gut symptoms in the baby, for a variety of reasons.
A common cause of oversupply is, surprisingly, self induced from a lack of confidence in one’s own natural milk supply.
Mothers who breastfeed often AND express (even simply using a device like the Haaka) may find themselves confused by their fussy baby, not realising they are unintentionally causing an oversupply situation.
The underlying lack of confidence combined with a fussy baby can exacerbate the situation, causing a mum to further question her own milk-making capabilities and continue with the very things that are causing the issues. It can be a bit of a cruel cycle.
Informed support as you gain confidence is key!
If you feel you are on either end of the milk making spectrum and you find yourself questioning if you have too little or too much supply, seek support from a IBCLC.
Breastfeeding is journey and here at Full Circle we walk beside you until you are off and running.
References:
Johnson HM, et al. ABM Clinical Protocol #32 (2020)
www.bfmed.org/protocols
van Veldhuizen-Staas. Int Breastfeed J 2007; 2:11