B4 you think how can having too much milk be a problem, think again! If you have an oversupply your breast can feel constantly full and you will have a rapid milk let down. Your baby receives a large volume in a very short time and can appear to be choking and sputtering. Often they compensate by biting on the nipple to attempt to slow down the flow. They may feed often, appear gassy, have explosive green poops but are gaining weight. Some babies can be done in five minutes and often Mom thinks they are not getting enough and so will nurse again leading to the baby spitting up and if nursed again increasing the milk supply.
Basically, the milk comes in so fast at the beginning of the feed that the baby is so full on foremilk before they can get to the higher fat hindmilk. To help get to the hindmilk there are several things you can do. Remembering that breastfeeding is about supply and demand, so it goes if you nurse on one breast for a block set of time and hand express just to comfort on the other side will often reduce supply to a more manageable level. Remember, everything with breastfeeding is individual and different strategies will work for some and not others. Feeding on just one side per session means the baby will get to the hindmilk.
Watch the output and keep a close eye on your supply. If you sense it diminishing just nurse more often. It is a balancing act and you may need to check with an expert to ensure things are going well. In cases of mild supply issues it should only take a few days , with a more severe case it could take a few weeks.
Another strategy for rapid milk letdown is to change your nursing position so the flow is going against gravity. Nursing in a laid back position or even lying down with the baby on top of you. You will get covered in milk so be warned. Another thing to try is to hand express or pump past the first let down and then put the baby on. This may reduce the choking and spluttering at the beginning of a feed.
