Too much milk can be a problem

I posted here a while ago about Oliver and his 45m day sleeps which were doing my head in. Anyway, thought I would share what the underlying problem was as no medical professional ever pointed it out to me (thank goodness for the internet!). Anyway, I have always had a great milk supply which midwives etc say 'isn't that fantastic' and O has put on heaps of weight, again always gets a tick. (Some other symptoms are a painful let down, lots of dirty nappies, spitting up...) But actually my excessive milk supply (and we aren't talkign leaks everywhere or heaps of power spraying, just 'good and full') has meant that even though O only ever has one side at a feed he has been getting too much foremilk which has given him an upset stomach. Too much of some enzyme apparently, as he was having to drink so much foremilk to get to the hindmilk. quite possibly he has been waking up after 45m either because he in pain or he hungry (hope not latter as I never thought to feed him, pretty sure was in pain). Was never thrashing around pain, really just enough to annoy him which is why i found it so hard to decide if was pain or just a 'woken up early but really want to be asleep' cry. anyway, now i express off a bit of foremilk before i feed him and he has been so much better. sleeping longer during the day, not spitting up as much and much more contented during tummy time. also generally has more 'relaxed' moments, rather than constantly moving as he used to. I only realised all this because i started giving him a dreamfeed and where previously he slept great at night he started to be in pain and toss and turn and whimper because i think previously he had all night to digest everything, now i was shoving yet another feed in his poor tummy. So, sorry so long but as i said no midwife, doctor or plunket ever mentioned it as a possible cause of the problem so thought i might save someone else from the pain. there might be articles on this on this site, but la leche league has a really good one. http://www.lalecheleague.org.nz/articles/gaining_gulping_grimacing.htm

Of course just when i thought i had one thing sussed, Oliver has started teething so the teething thread the other day was perfect timing!

I second that....Thanks heaps, have read the article (plus a few of the others) and found them really helpful. Cheers

Glad you've found it helpful. i called my La Leche league local contact as well and she was very good to talk the idea through with and possible solutions. Thats interesting about the 'thickening up' ideas as trying to reduce supply is pretty hard. I'm trying to use the same breast twice in a row hoping it will tell the other to stop producing but not sure it will really work. Also as i then express prior to using the breast the first time it will just produce more....so yeast and banana's you say..

Coconut cream is what I was told... and milkshakes with bananas in them.

Wow, I'd never heard of too much foremilk before! We live and learn! Glad to hear you've got your wee man sorted.

Thanks Andie, I remember now about reading this and have gone back and re-read some articles on the Laleche website. Maybe i should start the 'thicken milk' routine again - does anyone know if there is something you can get at healthfood stores that can help fatten up my milk supply.

A banana a day is good for milk too, but I am not sure if it's to boost your milk supply (not what you're after!) or to enrich the milk.