If you’re noticing that your baby sometimes coughs, sputters, or pulls off the breast during feeds — or that milk sprays forcefully when your baby unlatches — you might be dealing with a bit of oversupply and a fast let-down. Other signs can include your baby being gassy or unsettled at the breast, having green or frothy poos, or seeming to feed very quickly but still wanting to breastfeed again soon after. You might also feel uncomfortably full, leak often, or have breasts that never seem to soften completely after a feed.
Your baby will most likely have extremely good weight gain: 300g a week +.
If this sounds familiar, please know you’re not alone — and it’s something that almost always improves with time. Your baby is still learning to manage your flow, and your body is still learning how much milk it really needs to make.
However, if after around 6 weeks and your milk supply has established ,you’re still noticing the same issues, a few things might help.
Many parents who experience an oversupply and have a baby gaining weight quickly find things settle down when they start offering just one breast per feed. This gentle approach helps your body adjust and gradually bring milk production to a more comfortable level.
If the other breast feels too full, you can hand express just for comfort — not enough to drain the breast, but just enough to ease the pressure. This small step can help prevent blocked ducts or mastitis while your supply evens out.
If you’ve tried this for a few days and things still feel unsettled, it might be time to consider block feeding.
This is best done under the guidance of an IBCLC (lactation consultant).
Here’s how that looks:
For example, you could feed only from the left side between 10:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. — that’s a three-hour block. Each time your baby wants to breastfeed during that window, offer the left breast. During that same time, if the right side feels full, hand express just enough to stay comfortable.
When the next three-hour block begins, switch sides. Keep an eye on the clock so the blocks stay consistent, and watch your baby’s symptoms to see if things start to improve.
If a three-hour block doesn’t make much difference, you can gently increase the block to four hours, alternating sides throughout the day and night. Always make sure the other breast stays comfortable — hand express when needed, or use a cool compress for about 15 minutes if you feel engorged.
Sometimes even four hours isn’t quite enough, and you might need to extend the block to five or six hours. If you reach that point, it’s best to get individual support from an IBCLC to make sure your supply doesn’t drop too much and your baby’s weight gain stays on track. Having someone check in can also make this process feel less stressful.
In some cases, if nothing seems to be helping, you might be advised to try full drainage and block feeding. This involves using a double electric pump to fully empty both breasts once, and then starting your three-hour blocks from there.
It’s completely understandable to want to pump for relief when you’re feeling uncomfortably full — many parents do. But frequent pumping when you’re already dealing with oversupply can actually make things worse, since it tells your body to make even more milk. That can lead to blocked ducts, mastitis, or even an abscess — so try to resist the urge to over-pump during this time.
The good news? Most often, this phase does pass. As your baby grows and learns to handle your milk flow better, and as your body fine-tunes its supply, things tend to balance out beautifully. Many parents find that, with a little patience and gentle management, breastfeeding becomes much calmer and more enjoyable for you and your baby.
If you are struggling, reach out for help and book in a consultation. I provide home visits in Roscrea, Portlaoise, Birr, Nenagh, Thurles and surrounding areas.