Breastfeeding - Cincinnati,OH

Might sound crazy but have you thought of keeping going and donating to a milk bank. It would help those little ones in need that their mommy can not help.

Oh how I wish I had too much milk! Have you thought about possibly donating some of your milk to milk banks? I don't know who to contact but it's a wonderful way to help save the lives of other babies needing this precious gold.
I used to produce enough milk but after 6 months, my supply dropped and now I have had to really change my diet to keep it up. That being said, if you want to experiment with decreasing your supply, here are some anti-lactogenic foods: sage tea, parsley, peppermint, spearmint, rosemary, thyme, any astringent foods (vitamin C, sour berries, etc).
Hope this helps! I got this info from Mother Food, by Hilary Jacobson. Amazing book.

What a great problem to have. I was the same way with my second child. I froze my extra milk and when I went back to work my milk producation slowed down considerably due to the stress. If you really have to much donate it to a local milk bank and help others. I also had a really fast drop down so when I started to nurse my son would gag because there was too much milk. My husband used to joke that I could have easily nursed a set of twins or triplets.

But eventually your producation will drop off or your child will catch up. I tried to donote my milk but they never called back and eventually I did use the milk I had stored in the freezer. Count yourself lucky. Good luck.

You are blessed! Oh my! I would say to donate some of it or sell it. It is like gold! Your frozen milk stores for typically 3-6 months based on the bags you use and freezer type, so if you are going to have excess which it appears you will, I would seek one of the above options!

Don't pump until you are empty, just pump until you are comfortable. When you take it all out, your body gets the message that you need more. If you just take out a few ounces your body will learn in a couple days that you don't need as much.
OR, keep pumping it all and donate it either to a milk bank or find a local mom on milkshare.com (.org?) who can't lactate.
Good Luck:)

When I was breastfeeding by daughter I had the same issue. However, the nurse told me that the more I pump, the more milk you are going to make because your body is telling you to make more. Can you somehow just pump a little bit of milk and stretch out the time in between to help slow down the production. I did end up doing that, it was more painful just b/c I needed to pump/feed but I knew if I did, I was just going to make that much more. Pump for like a minute or two to release the pressure and see if you can last a little longer and your body will adapt and maybe slow down a little bit on the production. Good luck!!

If you keep pumping at that rate, you will keep producing so much milk because your body doesn't know the difference between the pump and the baby. I always produced a lot of milk, and painful engorgement was always an issue for me until my supply/demand evened out (between three and six months for me). I would suggest very gradually lengthening the time between pumping sessions. When your supply starts evening out, you can pump more or less often depending on how much your baby is taking. Good luck!

Your body will continue to replace what you are pumping out. When I gave up nursing, I went cold turkey the first time and could barely stand the pain. The second child went smoother because I slowed down the nursing gradually. I know you want to keep producing milk just at a slower rate. I know it is uncomfortable waiting longer to pump, but I think that is your best bet. Even if you could wait an extra half hour each time I bet your supply would decrease. On the other hand, you could sell some of it over the internet. I have never done this before, but I heard it pays pretty well. Also, your baby may go through a growth spurt someday and need more than you think is humanly possible. So maybe just hang in there for a while and see how things go. I just reread my post and realize I gave you ideas on slowing down the production, selling the extra and keeping up production all at one time. I don't know how much help this is to you when I can't even decide on an answer. Good luck. It is nice to hear someone that is able to produce more than what their child needs instead of vice versa.

I produce a lot of milk too so I know the feeling. First of all when babies are young like that most woman do make a ton of milk like that. Your breast will settle down in another month or so and you won't make so much all the time. Second if you do want to cut back a little that will help too. Milk comes in on supply and demand. The more you pump the more milk you make. So try pumping every 4 to 5 hours instead of every 3 to 4. After a week or so your milk supply should start to slow down some. Also the breast is never fully empty but when you are pumping as soon as you notice that not much milk is coming out stop. If you are continuing to pump and not much is coming out your body is thinking the baby is trying to still eat more and therefor when your breast fills up the next time you make more milk then before. So just what your pumping. I hope this helps but really your supply will settle down in a while.

the more you pump the more you make. i agree with the donation idea. try calling a hospital

I thought for sure I saw something about Mother's Milk Bank needing milk for infants in Haiti. Having all this milk is like having a ton of gold! I saw below where some contact information was given.

I think checking with Le Leche on this or a lactaction consultant would be a good idea. It could be that you produce a lot in the beginning, but then slow down. Or, you may need to alter your pumping schedule to hold off a little longer each time. One thing I did that might help is to pump just enough to relieve the pressure. That way, you're not empyting your breasts completely so they fill up again. This wouldn't be a permenant thing, just to help lessen the milk supply a little. I did this at the end of the time when I was pumping.

By the way, a big bouquet of flowers for you! It takes a lot of endurance and extra time to do all that you are in providing pumped breast milk for your baby. Some would say it wasn't worth it and cease pumping. Having pumped breastmilk for my daughter for her first six months, I remember what it was like. I commend you on your desire to give your baby the very best you can!!!!

WOW consider yourself VERY lucky. I wish my supply was that big. I would consider trying to sell your milk and make some cash on the side.
I heard if you put cabbage in your bra that is suppose to help dry your supply out. However I would suggest to keep up the pumping until you have enough frozen so you can stop pumping all together, then just let the supply dry up. That means only squeezing (not pumping) out enough so that you are not so uncomfortable. I would do it in the shower or over the sink when I was trying to dry it up. Good luck

You could donate it OR save it for when she starts to eat and you can bake with it - anything that calls for cow's milk can be substituted with tata milk!

At nine weeks old, your daughter would be nursing about every 3 to 4 hours at least, so you are pumping correctly. If you figure that a nine week old infant will take in anywhere from 5 to 8 oz at a feeding in one 24 hr period, your baby will take in anywhere from 30 to 48 oz of breastmilk. If you are pumping 60 oz, you are making plenty and no doubt will need the extra as she grows.

If you go here, there is even a breastmilk storage guide: http://www.mymammasmilk.com/NursingTips.html

Store your milk towards the back of the freezer for more constant temps. A separate freezer is ideal, especially if you are storing long term (6 to 12 months). You could probably get one on craigslist if you don't already have one.

You should also cycle your milk - feed her the milk that has been frozen the longest first and you will always have a fresh, frozen supply.

Peace-Love-Boobies!
K., Cape Cod Breastfeeding Moms Group!

If you do keep pumping and freezing, which is wonderful, you may want to start giving your frozen milk to your baby and freezing all of the fresh. You don't want the frozen milk to expire!

Donate to your local milk bank.

That is fantastic!!!!! I was the same way. You obviously know what a miracle you are doing for your baby, but have you considered feeding another child simultaneously??? I did that. I donated extra to the Mother's Milk Bank of Indiana......They love to have new donors. They use the milk to help feed preemies, etc in the hospitals and sell it to mother's who cannot breastfeed for one reason or another. Look them up http://www.clarian.org/portal/IMMilkBank.

First that's awesome that you are producing so much milk without nursing and only pumping! Check with your local La Leche to see if there is a local milk bank or if any of the hospitals are accepting milk donations. Sometimes they do for the preemies whose mothers cannot produce milk or feed them for some reason. If no one will take it I suggest if you have the room to keep it if you can. Your child will start to eat more as he/she gets bigger and then when it starts cereal you can use it for that as well. Plus since you are only pumping your supply might start to go down as you are not getting that natural stimulation. I just weaned my 17month old and am still using milk I have frozen to give her one cup a day of breastmilk in addition to regular milk.

T.:

Congrats on your little one and your milk production! You are doing great. I also had to exclusively pump for medical reasons with the baby and I was in the same boat. Keep that supply going because your little one will eventually use it all. I pumped for about 6 months with my first and was able to give him breastmilk for 8 which was a huge money saver! If you are running out of space can you borrow space in someones deep freezer? It can last longer this way as opposed to a regular freezer. Imagine if you only needed to pump for 8 or 9 months but could provide enough milk for an entire year. Huge! My other suggestion would be to donate it. There are milk banks around and you go through a screening process but it is an option if you care to donate it. Best of luck, you are doing great!

I sympathize! I had to pump off 8oz every feeding BEFORE I could feed my son. Otherwise I would drown him. It would flow so fast he couldn't keep up. I really don't have any suggestions. My period came right back too even with all of that nursing. I can only say that it did finally regulate, but it took until he was 5 months old. I had gallons frozen by that time. Sorry I couldn't be more help, but thought you might like to know you aren't the only one who has had this problem! Just make sure you are getting those girls drained fully, I had mastitis (sp) 7 times because I never really got them fully drained!

You might want to check with your pediatrician or hospital to see if there is a milk Bank in your area which helps premature babies whose mothers are not able to provide milk for them.
A La Leche organization in your area or their website might be able to put you in contact with someone in regard to your over abundance of milk.
I am sure that mothers who have difficulty establishing a good supply would envy you.

It's the basic law of supple and demand.... the more you pump, the more your body will produce because it thinks the baby needs it. Try pumping slightly less each time you do it to reduce it gradually. Many women start to produce around the 2-3 months point simply because their baby is eating less by then... but if you continue to pump the same amount, your body will continue to produce more and more - not decrease.

You might be able to donate pumped milk to the Milk Bank in Indianapolis. Search online for details.

Try taking cold medicine. If I remember correctly it's Advil that will reduce milk supply quickly. It says it's safe for breastfeeding but that's only in the sense that the medicine is safe for baby. It's not 'safe' in the sense of being able to nurse because it greatly reduces the milk supply. Most cold and allergy medicines are like that.

I say keep it up! If you have a deep freezer it will keep a full year. Also, you can donate your milk to a milk bank that provides for preemies and other medically fragile babies if you truly have a surplus. They do everything aside from pumping and packing in the fed-ex boxes they provide and pay shipping.

It would be devastating if you cut back and then ended up drying up and had to switch to $$$$ formula. Just my opinion!

I would seek out a lactation consultant.

I had the same issue with my daughter. And actually, my lactation consultant told me more women have issues with over production then with under production.

Anyway, I'm not sure if the advice would be the same for you given your situation... but I'll tell you what my LC advised me to do.

I was to nurse only on one side at a time and then IF I felt like I needed to relieve the other side... then I was to pump ONLY until the pressure was gone. Don't watch the clock, don't pump a certain amount... just until the pressure is gone.

I did this for 1 week and things were good. Basically, at this point ... your body is making what you are taking out. So, until you TELL your body what to do ... then it will just continue. That's one of the marvelous things about nursing. Your body makes exactly what it needs to make. Just SOMETIMES in the beginning it gets a bit confused and doesn't sort itself out. No worries on whether you will produce enough for your little one by just pumping on one side. If you find that she needs more at some point, then just pump more (or nurse when you are able). Your body will catch up within a day or so and produce what is needed.

Good luck. Hope the shingles clear up!!!

LUCKY YOU!

I would look into donation... if that's not a possibility just dump some of it...or keep on stashing it. Honestly I would not try to reduce my output, he will eventually catch up with you and you will eventually slow down every 3-4 hours doesn't sound like you pump too often...