Expert: ruth kraft - 5/5/2009

Question
My second child is currently 7 days old and I have had a difficult time with nursing.  With my first child I nursed also and had overactive letdown and an overabundant supply that gave me many clogged ducts, mastitis and my baby choking half the time.  With my second child I noticed it all starting back up and was in a lot of pain due to the fact that she couldn't empty my breasts and I was severely engorged all day and night not allowing me to sleep or eat. I didn't want to repeat all the problems I had with my first child and nursing so last night I decided to pump both breasts to empty completely. Since then I  have been pumping both sides every six hours to slow production.  I went from producing 12 ounces total the first time to 6 ounces now.  My question is how can I go back to nursing without increasing my supply? I am also taking sage to help slow production.  I want my baby to be able to nurse without getting frustrated, gassy, and gagged by my overactive letdown.  How can I easily go back to nursing or how long should I wait to go back to nursing so I do not overproduce again. I also looked at trying a blocked schedule, but possibly adding nursing in a little each day and slowly wean off the pump.

Answer
I would slowly start weaning the pump, as the pump and nursing will increase milk. if you are down to 6 oz a pumping,  First, i would pump to get the first let down or two to go down , into the bottle, then, nurse the baby. its usually the first couple letdowns that are the hardest, they ease up and become farther inbetween after that.

continue using the sage, and if you get engorged, you can use sage in wet tea bags to help the engorgement and also you can use fresh cabbage leaves to help it go down. one leaf inside the bra cup, until it wilts.

but no longer pump. Doing this shoudl help your baby get it under control. and then after a couple weeks, you should be able to wean the pumping before nursing. Do not pump until empty ever. as this makes even more milk. only pump to comfort.

I would try this and see what happens. if baby hasnt been nursing this long, i would also suggest getting someone to evaluate latch, like a lactation consultant or la leche league leader.

Good luck!