It's a question I hear a lot as a lactation consultant - a mom who is pregnant or has recently given birth plans on having an oversupply and wants advice on how to achieve this. Read on to hear how I answer.
Do I ever recommend deliberately cultivating an oversupply?
In short: not really, no. At the very least, I always recommend caution and education on the potential benefits and risks.
Of course, every woman's breastfeeding journey is her own and it is always entirely up to her how she would like to manage it. It is not my job nor my place to make these sorts of decisions or value judgements for anybody else.
There are also cases where a woman wants to increase her milk production beyond what her baby needs in order to meet a specific goal. For example, maybe she knows she will be undergoing medical treatment soon that requires her to wean, and she wants to store as much breast milk as she can in the meantime. Maybe she has a need to provide milk for an additional baby, or wants to donate milk to someone she knows who is in need. These mothers may indeed benefit from a management plan which allows for a controlled increase in milk production.
That being said, I often meet mothers who have been led to believe from social media or other influences that more is always better. They want to avoid the stress of low milk production and don't believe there is any downside to producing as much milk as possible.
So, what's the harm?
It may seem counterintuitive, but women suffering from oversupply are often just as stressed as women suffering from undersupply (albeit it in very different ways).
Some possible complications of oversupply include:
- frequent pain and engorgement
- frequent leaking
- increased risk of ductal plugging
- increased risk of mastitis
- increased risk of nipple trauma (due to breast pump use)
- increased need to empty their breasts (which in turn creates more milk, perpetuating the cycle)
- for the baby: choking or coughing at the breast, spitting up, loose/watery/green/frothy stools
Managing an oversupply can also be very challenging once it has been established, and is a common reason for seeking support from a lactation consultant.
The take away
There are many reasons why a breastfeeding mom might want to increase her milk production, but it is important to recognize the risks associated with making more milk than you need.
If you are looking for help managing your milk production, reach out to an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) for help!
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