Colostrum Powder

Breast milk production?

I'm 13 weeks pregnant with my second child. Within a few hours of giving birth to my first child I had full blown milk and had gone from a D to a DDD cup (bra). Anyhow, the doctor didn't look at my chart or me and told me to pump every 2 hours, assuming that I was having trouble producing milk. Well, I produced even more than I ought to have. I am scared this will happen again. It was very painful, I couldn't actually breast feed, I couldn't put on the breastshields not because of pain but that I wasn't physically able to. It was horrible. Enough background info, onto my questions: Is there a way to avoid early colostrum production in pregnancy, even old wives' tales (I started leaking at 5 months last time)? Is there a way to reduce the amount of milk you produce without stopping the milk production completely? Any suggestions on reducing the pain? I just want to be prepared this go round, thank you. Oh, and my nipple was completely flat, and hard like your knee is... so my kid had nothing to latch onto... that is why I thought the breast shields might have helped, but they couldn't be put on either... I'd like to avoid the knee-nipple too :) Thanks again for all the help!

Public Comments

1. I was that way with my son- you don't need to use breast shields in this case- ban that from your mind unless you have inverted nipples. It would help if you are engorged to either pump a bit or to use manual stimulation to lose some of the breastmilk. That helped me a lot. After your body gets used to producing, your breast and milk production will even out. Our daughter is 11 months old- and I never had this problem with her as I did with our son- with him, there was milk everywhere. This time, it was more controlled. I still leaked when nursing and sleeping for a period of time, but not like with him. I woke up once from a nap- and I was engorged- after only about 2 hours. I am still several sizes up in bras than I am without breastfeeding. Good luck to you and congrats! I hope this time is easier! Edit: Your nipple was flat because you were engorged- what I did with our son was used warm water and warmed my breasts, then self expressed for a bit. I didn't have to do any of this with our daughter.
2. The first pregnancy I leaked milk as well, but for my other two I did not, Your milk production always comes in quite heavily at first but it will settle down in time, I know that it is painful but it settles down and is well worth the pain. You have to remember you are able to breast feed it sound like you just need the right person to guide you through it try the website below they should be able to assist you more.
3. I had this overproduction problem also! At first I had way to much it did even out on its own after about three weeks. Pumping out a bit of the milk will help with the engorgement. Pain ..... place 2-6 cabbage leaves in the freezer for about 20mins. then place the leaves in your bra . I dont have any idea why this helps but believe me it does ( you will never wanna be without cabbage again!) About the pumping .... pump only enough to help with the engorgement problem and do this only when nessary because the more you pump the more you produce. Its your bodies way of making enough milk for your baby . Avoiding eerily milk ..... there is no way to avoid this ! I know that sucks but , really you are kind of luck most people on here are trying to find out how to produce more for their baby ! Congrads on your new add. I wish you a lifetime of happiness!