You may have problems with leaking breasts and feel like you have an oversupply of breast milk. If so, you may want to try block feeding. This is where you use just 1 breast at a time.
Wait until you have been breastfeeding for around 6 weeks before you try block feeding.
How to block feed
You will use only 1 breast for feeding for a set amount of time.
How to get started:
- Start with a 3-hour block of time.
- Whenever your baby is hungry during that block, breastfeed them on the same side.
- Switch to the other breast for the next 3-hour period.
Express just for comfort if the unused breast feels too full.
Increase the number of hours in your block if you still have oversupply after a few days. You may find that you need to go up to 5 or 6 hours in a block.
If you find block feeding difficult, talk to your midwife or public health nurse (PHN). They can refer you to a lactation nurse or midwife for more support. This is a free service.
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Expressing your breast milk
With block feeding, 1 breast remains full.
If you feel pain or are uncomfortably full, try expressing the full breast a little for comfort.
This will help to avoid any problems such as blocked ducts or mastitis. A blocked duct is more likely if you do not remove enough milk.
How block feeding helps oversupply
When the breast stays full for 3 to 6 hours, your body releases hormones that tell your body to produce less milk.
Within 1 to 2 weeks, block feeding can calm down an overactive milk supply.
Getting support
Get help and advice about overactive breast milk supply from:
- a public health nurse
- a lactation nurse or midwife
- your local breastfeeding support group
- a La Leche League leader
- a Cuidiú breastfeeding counsellor
- a lactation consultant - alcireland.ie