Forceful Let-down (Milk Ejection Reflex) & Oversupply

By Kelly Bonyata, BS, IBCLC

 Is forceful let-down the problem?

Does your baby do any of these things?

• Gag, choke, strangle, gulp, gasp, cough while nursing as though the milk is coming too fast
• Pull off the breast often while nursing
• Clamp down on the nipple at let-down to slow the flow of milk
• Make a clicking sound when nursing
• Spit up very often and/or tend to be very gassy
• Periodically refuse to nurse
• Dislike comfort nursing in general

If some of this sounds familiar to you, you may have a forceful let-down. This is often associated with too much milk (oversupply). Some mothers notice that the problems with fast letdown or oversupply don’t start until 3-6 weeks of age. Forceful let-down runs the gamut from a minor inconvenience to a major problem, depending upon how severe it is and how it affects the nursing relationship.

What can I do about it?

There are essentially two ways you can go about remedying a forceful let-down: (1) help baby deal with the fast flow and (2) take measures to adjust your milk supply down to baby’s needs. Since forceful let-down is generally a byproduct of oversupply, most moms will be working on both of these things. It may take a couple of weeks to see results from interventions for oversupply, so try to be patient and keep working on it.

Help baby deal with the fast milk flow

• Position baby so that she is nursing “uphill” in relation to mom’s breast, where gravity is working against the flow of milk. The most effective positions are those where baby’s head and throat are above the level of your nipple. Some nursing positions to try:
  • Cradle hold, but with mom leaning back (a recliner or lots of pillows helps)
  • Football hold, but with mom leaning back
  • Baby sitting up and facing mom to nurse instead of lying down (good for nursing in public).
  • Side lying position – this allows baby to dribble the extra milk out of her mouth when it’s coming too fast
  • Laid back positioning- in this position, mom is reclining comfortably and baby is on top (facing down), tummy to tummy with mom.

• Burp baby frequently if she is swallowing a lot of air.
• Nurse more frequently. This will reduce the amount of milk that accumulates between feedings, so feedings are more manageable for baby.
• Nurse when baby is sleepy and relaxed. Baby will suck more gently at this time, and the milk flow will be slower.
• Wait until let-down occurs, then take baby off the breast while at the same time catching the milk in a towel or cloth diaper. Once the flow slows, you can put your baby back to the breast.
• Pump or hand express until the flow of milk slows down, and then put baby to the breast. Use this only if nothing else is working, as it stimulates additional milk production. If you do this, try to express a little less milk each time until you are no longer expressing before nursing.

Adjust your supply to better match baby’s needs

• Avoid trying to reduce milk supply during the first 4-6 weeks. This is a time period when your milk supply should be increasing rapidly, and it’s not unusual for a small baby to have temporary issues with even a normal supply or letdown in the early weeks.
• If baby is gaining weight more quickly than average, then having baby nurse from only one breast per feeding may be helpful. If baby is not gaining weight well, then it’s not a good idea to reduce milk supply before consulting experienced help.
• One method for decreasing milk supply without limiting baby’s feeds is called block feeding.
  • If baby finishes nursing on the first side and wants to continue breastfeeding, just put baby back onto the first side.
  • If the unused side becomes uncomfortable, express a little milk until you’re more comfortable and then use cool compresses – aim for expressing less milk each time until you are comfortable without expressing milk.
  • Between feedings, try applying cool compresses to the breast (on for 30 minutes, off for at least an hour). This can discourage blood flow and milk production, and soothe discomfort.
  • If block feeding is not working after a week, it may be helpful to get experienced help. There is a real possibility of decreasing milk supply too much by using block feeding, so you need to be cautious when using this.
  • Do not restrict breastfeeding at all, but any time that baby needs to nurse simply keep putting baby back to the same side during that time period.
  • See also: Block Feeding Dos and Don’ts by Nancy Mohrbacher, IBCLC, FILCA.
• Another method that has worked for some is switching sides more frequently during a feed. See this link for more information.
• A third method to consider is full drainage and block feeding (FDBF), where the breasts are first drained as much as possible (usually with a double electric breast pump), then block feeding is commenced, starting with around 3 hours per side. See this link for more information.
• Any time you are breastfeeding less frequently, keep a close eye out for plugged ducts and mastitis.
• Avoid extra breast stimulation, for example, unnecessary pumping, running the shower on your breasts for a long time or wearing breast shells.
• Additional measures that should only be used for extreme cases of oversupply include cabbage leaf compresses and herbs.

Even if these measures do not completely solve the problem, many moms find that their abundant supply and fast let-down will subside, at least to some extent, by about 12 weeks (give or take a bit). At this point, hormonal changes occur that make milk supply more stable and more in line with the amount of milk that baby needs.

Sometimes babies of moms with oversupply or fast let-down get very used to the fast flow and object when it normally slows somewhere between 3 weeks to 3 months. Even though your let-down may not be truly slow, it can still seem that way to baby. See Let-down Reflex: Too Slow? for tips.

 Additional Information

Coping with Fast Milk Flow by Nancy Mohrbacher, IBCLC, FILCA

Oversupply & Forceful Letdown from NurturedChild.ca 

Am I making too much milk? from La Leche League International

Colic in the Breastfed Baby by Jack Newman MD, FRCPC

Understanding Oversupply by Diana Cassar-Uhl

Can you make too much milk? by Dr. Jenny Thomas, MD, MPH, IBCLC, FAAP, FABM

Block Feeding Dos and Don’ts by Nancy Mohrbacher, IBCLC, FILCA

Overabundant milk supply: an alternative way to intervene by full drainage and block feeding by Caroline GA van Veldhuizen-Staas

 Resolution of Lactose Intolerance and “Colic” in Breastfed Babies by Robyn Noble & Anne Bovey, presented at the ALCA Vic (Melbourne) Conference on the 1st November, 1997