What Can I Do If I'm Overproducing While Breastfeeding Twins?

What Can I Do If I’m Overproducing While Breastfeeding Twins?

Last updated on March 8th, 2024 at 09:32 am

A MoM Recently Asked:

What can I do if I’m overproducing while breastfeeding?

Here’s What Our Twiniversity Fans Had to Say:

If your babies are newborns, your milk will stabilize in a week or so as your body adjusts to their demand.
∼ NL

I had that issue the entire 16 months I nursed my twins. I know you probably never feel completely empty and it can be painful. Unfortunately you kind of have to suffer through until your body adjusts to their needs. I always over produced but eventually around 5 months things started to settle some where it was no longer painful and I wasn’t engorged. Don’t pump unless you are doing it to replace a feed. Be careful how long you pump. I couldn’t pump more than 15 minutes or my body would over react and start producing more. Yes, you can freeze extra. I used it for rice cereal and for weaning to cows milk. I would mix the two.
∼ AGV

I tended to relief the pressure manually in a warm shower so I wouldn’t continue to overproduce. It helped relieve the pressure without adding to the problem. I also pumped occasionally to build up a solid freezer supply to cover a few feedings in case I wanted to have help watching or give my husband or other family a chance to feed. Hang in there! Before you know it, it will be time for weaning and a special milestone will be achieved.
∼ RO

I embraced my oversupply. (It’s both a blessing and a curse). I did get clogs and one nasty case of mastitis that landed me in the hospital for 4 days, but without it, I don’t think I could’ve been able to feed both babies only breast milk for a year!
∼ JCY

Don’t pump, unless you need it to be away from babies. I didn’t realize my pumping the first few weeks was causing my oversupply and I HAD to pump to relieve it, it caused me more stress than anything.
∼ KS

Be careful. I developed a bad case of mastitis because of my overproduction. Don’t pump too often and try to nurse as much as possible versus pump if you can. I’m still dealing with it but I’ve been told that in a few weeks it will level out.
∼ JC

I also had this issue. My kids were sleeping through the night but I couldn’t because I felt like I was going to explode. It’s very painful. A blessing and a curse in one. Pump for less than 5 min and don’t take more than 1 oz from each side. You need to just relieve the pressure. Go as long as possible between pumping when you have to pump. Otherwise feed when the babies need it. Your body will adjust to the decreased need but it can take time. If you pump everything out your body thinks it needs to produce to keep up with the need and it’s a viscous cycle. That’s why you just pump enough to relieve pressure.
∼ AC

This can be so painful! You can bring your production down by drinking sage tea, like half a cup a day. Be careful to not drink too much. Good luck!
∼ NGV

Nurse on demand and avoid pumping to regulate your supply. Pumping sends your body mixed messages about how much it needs to make for your babies. If you have to keep pumping because of work you could freeze the extra and donate it. Or freeze and wait and see if you need it down the line. I overproduced and ended up having to donate a freezer load of milk. I did experience drops in supply when going back to work at 5 months and then again at around 10 months. Having some in the freezer can take some pressure off if you are at work and pumping.
∼ KM

An oversupply can be terrible for mom and baby on so many levels. It’s not something to be thankful for and pumping only makes it worse.
∼ RP

Of course pump and store it! You’ll be glad you did.
∼ HM

If you want you can pump and donate your breast milk to babies in need.
∼ KMP

Donate. Donor milk made up the difference I needed to keep my twins EBF for a year.
∼ HD

Ditto to previous comments. Store it in a deep freezer if you have one. Up to a year! Also you can donate it if you don’t have the space to freeze it or you make A LOT extra. Check with your hospital if they will take it.
∼ SR