too much breast milk in reserves

Cleaver - posted on 11/27/2012

i had this problem when my son got out of the hospital and i was pumping and starting to breastfeed your body will adjust but if your baby it cannot if you pump and nurse

Charlette - posted on 11/27/2012

If you have the opportunity to stay at home on parental leave for a full year like I did, it is a good idea to try and breastfeed for at least 1 year as recommended by the W.H.O. I exclusively breastfed all my children for 5+ months and during that time I also donated my extra breast milk and did so for a full year. For approximately 16 months I was producing well over 60oz of breast milk in a 24 hr period and within a few months I had a surplus of 300 oz of breast milk. It was at this time that I started to donate my breast milk and I am glad I did. I could not live with myself if I had disposed of my milk.

Jennifer - posted on 02/16/2010

I'm in the process right now of donating my excess milk. I'm not sure how much I have stored, but it's a lot. My little man hates the bottle so at this point, I just pump to relieve my discomfort while at work.

Supposedly, your body regulates how much milk to make based on what your baby takes. I have a good pump (Medela Freestyle) which is comfortable and pretty efficient. I used to pump about an hour after he ate for 15mins (both sides at once). That seemed to increase my supply.

Right now, I generally try to feed him in the morning before I leave for work, and then pump around 11am. If I can't convince him to eat before I leave, I generally get about 7 oz, but if he does eat, I get about 5oz. He usually visits me at lunch, so he nurses around 12pm and again around 1:30pm before going home. (I have a very flexible job.) He doesn't seem dissatisfied. On the weekend when I don't pump, I find that my breasts get painfully full around 11am because my little man doesn't eat much in the mornings.

Kristie - posted on 02/15/2010

If you are having a problem keeping a milk supply. Remember you are producing fluid for another human being. So that means you have to drink plenty and when I say plenty of water. When my milk supply was down, I noticed that I hadn't drank enough water that day. Evertime u sit down to pump or to nurse have a nice cold glass of water with you..Also don't diet, I tried it and it didn't work. As soon as I started eating enough calories I produced more milk and I also started losing weight faster..it's weird I was eating more and losing weight at the same time. My baby is 4.5 months old and I lost all 65lbs I gained during pregnancy..that is a plus from nursing :)

Andrea - posted on 02/15/2010

You could ween her early and just use what you have - just account for a growing baby - she will continue to grow in what she eats.

For those of you who "feel" empty! Just remember that your body will only produce more if your baby tells it to - so even if you "feel" empty, put the baby on the breast - every 1 1/2 - 2 hours, for 2-3 days straight! (except when they sleep at night) - this will tell your body that the baby needs more milk - and then in about 72 hours you should notice a difference - continue to go no longer than 3 hours for another couple of weeks, then depending on the age you can go with when your baby needs it. Also pumping after each feeding helps to empty the breast (which is key to producing more). If the breast is not empty, there is a hormone released that tells the body to stop lactating - so the longer you go in between feedings, the less milk you will produce. If you pump after each feeding and are only getting a few drops, then there is no need to do it (cause it will be obvious your baby is doing a fine job) - but if you do get something, then you know that will help you. Also, you can take "More Milk Plus" - herbal supplement that helps milk supply - I've been taking it for over 2 months now, works great.

I'm only able to get an extra 4 oz per day, but hey, that's something! It helps to get it in the morning. I am so engorged in the morning that my daughter is satisfied after one breast (usually she gets two) and I pump the other one.

Katherine - posted on 02/15/2010

I had probably 100oz frozen that I donated when my daughter was having some kind of intolerance. I had to give up dairy entirely for awhile and I didn't want to be tempted to use it again after she was better in case there was something else I had eaten that she had an allergy to... but now she is almost 10 months old and I am pregnant again and having lack of supply issues... sure wish I had all that frozen.. I am still glad that I donated it though. Wouldn't want to risk allergy, but, oy. Otherwise, no matter what age I weaned at I'd still be happy to use frozen milk until it was gone because of the antibodies in it...

Karla - posted on 02/15/2010

I donated through national milk bank. They made it super easy. They even gave me a free Ameda pump.

Rebecca - posted on 02/14/2010

Donate it to a breast milk bank! I use to use this one...http://www.breastmilkproject.org/
They supply you with everything... testing, storage bags, shipping containers & cost. You can also research other milk banks & choose one that suits you best. They pasturize it & give it to premies etc. It is a great gift to be able to share! Good luck!

Liza - posted on 02/14/2010

Annna & Danielle- you could tke Mother's Milk (tea) or Fenugreek. I was a difference when I took them.

Leslie - posted on 02/14/2010

My daughter is 9mos old. I stopped pumping for her 2 weeks ago and am bottle feeding her all the milk that I have in my freezer until she's a year old. I have plenty too!!

Linh - posted on 02/14/2010

contact le leche. you could donate it.

Amy - posted on 02/13/2010

After weaning my son, I just bottle-fed him whatever breastmilk I had left in the freezer for another few weeks.

Kristie - posted on 02/13/2010

Thanks Ladies! I am hoping that the milk doesn't go to waste :( It is weird though. U supposely pump what ur child needs, well that is not in my case. I pump too much. Which I can't believe, cause just a month ago I was scaried I was going to have to stop b/c since I had returned to work I barely pumping enough to feed her. I went and visited a Lactation Consultant and she said "Kristie u r doing everything correctly, but one thing...u need to relax". Since I took her advice I relaxed and my milk is been plentyful. So for the ladies wondering how I produce so much milk. Just relax, when u stress about that u don't think u r producing enough, it slows down ur supply. I also started eating oatmeal for breakfast, it really works. But RELAXING really does the job, when pumping think about nothing but ur baby, and breath in ur nose and exhale through ur mouth. That worked for me. Everytime I pump at work I always breath in breath out and it relaxes you.



I don't know if this will work. But do you think I could stop nursing like a month or so before she is a year?? Cause I have enough milk.

Josie - posted on 02/12/2010

If your little one is old enough for trying soild food you can create your own natural ridiculously healthy baby food, using whatever veggies pureed and breastmilk instead of water. It is chock full of vitamins and DHA. It's the perfect food for little ones to start off with and they also take to it easier because they taste the familiar breastmilk in the new taste. It helped me use an extra 8 oz. a day. (mixing 2 oz. with every 1/4 cup of veggies)

Monica - posted on 02/12/2010

Kristie,
I like Sally's idea, it's what I was going to suggest. Maybe you and your husband could go on a short vacation or just let your mom or MIL take your little one for a weekend and just have a little relaxation time. Or extra time to do some chores around the house. :)

Kelly - posted on 02/12/2010

I would nurse my daughter and then right after I'd pump. It helps increase your milk supply. It's more time consuming but it helped.I also drank the Mother's Milk tea. I got it at the local GNC store.

Ana - posted on 02/12/2010

can u let me know too...i barely make enough for my almost 5 month old....i have to come by for lunch and drop some off, and be home before a certain time..or he wont have any...Please let me know too, how you have so much!

Danielle - posted on 02/12/2010

please please please tell me how you produce more, cuz i feel like my breasts are soo empty!! i feel like a failure cause i cant produce enough milk to pump and let her spend some hours with her grandparents with out me huvering over them....please message me and let mein on your secret i would be much appreciated....

Rebecca - posted on 02/12/2010

Krisite I have the same problem, I have almost 400 oz in my deep freeze! My daughter is 9 months and only gets milk from the breast. She HATES the bottle and because of this has never had one (we tried a few times) she will drink some from a cup but I am able to pump fresh is I want to give her some in a cup. I have emailed the Human milk banking association of north america (as Sara mentioned) and they said they will take any milk 12 months and under old, they just give the older milk to older babies. So I think that I will at least donate 300 oz or so. I just dont want to get rid of all of it as I have bad luck and something would happen and I would need some....but thats what Im doing!

Sally - posted on 02/12/2010

I've got a good amount of milk in my freezer. It's good for at least a few months in there! My mom takes her every weekend, so I send over a few frozen and dated sandwich bags every time.

Ana - posted on 02/12/2010

I was gonna say, send some this way!...but no, what the first momma said is best!...or maybe just put it in the freezer, and save it, I mean your baby might just have a grow spurt and want more milk..or when your baby starts solids, you can use your BM as the fluids for the baby cereal, or oatmeal..

Sheena - posted on 02/12/2010

you could donate it it store it for later use...in the freezer....then if you have to be away from baby for a bit baby can still have breastmilk...

Melissa - posted on 02/12/2010

I wish I had this problem :) I have just enough for my little one. How did you start producing more??

Abi - posted on 02/12/2010

Congratulations! That's a great problem to have! Donate it...it's liquid gold.

*Fluffy Bunnies - posted on 02/12/2010

Donate it. If you live in the U.S.or Canada this site has more info:

http://www.hmbana.org/index/donatemilk



It's easy to become a donor. You have to have a blood test (that they pay for), answer some questions and have your doctor and your child's pediatrician fill out a form. It sounds like a lot, but they do all of the work (faxing forms to doctors, sending you info). Then your milk is processed and sent to sick babies. It's a wonderful thing if you have extra!