Overfeeding is uncommon in breastfed babies, as they're able to self-regulate the amount that they feed. Parents feeding with a bottle, however, are more likely to push their child to finish the bottle regardless of whether they're full. Some parents add supplements to formula, which can also contribute to overfeeding.
Although overfeeding your breastfed baby is rare, it can still happen if you feed expressed milk via a bottle. Overfeeding is more common in formula fed and combination fed babies for this reason. Always pay attention to 'finished' cues and signals that your baby is giving you during feeding.
Signs of breast milk oversupply in your baby
Overabundant milk supply seems to go hand-in-hand with a fast flow, especially during the first let down. Your baby may respond by coughing and spluttering near the start of a feed, clamping or biting down, or holding the breast very loosely in his mouth.
Sometimes a baby may still be hungry because he wasn't attached properly to your breast, so he didn't get a full feed. In that case, your nipples will probably hurt a lot too and may look squashed. If you have any worries about feeding your baby, please don't struggle alone.
Evening Cluster Feeding
Sometimes your baby may be fussier in the evenings and want to nurse more often than during the day. Some babies may want to nurse every 30 minutes to an hour in the evenings. This is normal, and it does not mean your baby isn't getting enough milk.
He may be going through a growth spurt, one that requires more milk than what you may have been used to providing. So much so that his frequent nursing isn't so much a hassle as it is a pretty efficient way of increasing your milk supply. Or that he's about to reach a new milestone you're more than ready to welcome.
When is breast milk replenished? All the time, even while you're pumping or nursing. Your breasts are constantly making milk, so it's never possible to completely empty them.
Breast engorgement is swelling, tightness, and an increase in size of the breasts. It usually occurs in the early days of breastfeeding, between day 3 and 5, but may occur as late as day 9-10. Moderately severe breast engorgement results in hard, full, tense, warm and tender breasts with throbbing and aching pain.
Allow your baby to stay on the first breast for as long as they are feeding. Then take a break, wind your baby if needed and offer the second breast. Many babies can wind themselves while in laid back or upright breastfeeding positions. Some babies only take 1 breast per feed.
As we noted earlier, babies are innately capable of self-regulating their intake; they eat when they're hungry and stop when they're full. Just because it's rare, however, doesn't mean that it never happens.
Check how your baby is sucking
If he latches on well and takes long, drawn out pulls, then he's likely hungry and actually eating. But if his sucking motion is shorter and shallower, then he's probably sucking for comfort. You can also check whether he's swallowing the milk.
Switching breasts and changing breastfeeding positions can help to keep a sleepy baby awake for a longer period of time. Mothers are usually advised to breastfeed well on one breast before offering the second breast to ensure that their babies get the calories they need to grow.
An oversupply of breast milk generally refers to a mother who is able to nurse her infant, or multiples, and is still able to produce a significant amount of breast milk (more than 4-5 oz) in a pump session after a feeding.
The milk let-down sensation (aka “milk ejection reflex”) is often experienced as a tingling or a prickly pins-and-needles kind of feeling. But for some, the sensation is felt deep in the breasts and can hurt or be achy, especially when milk production is in overdrive.
Breast engorgement
It can take a few days for your milk supply to match your baby's needs. Engorgement can also happen when your baby is older and not feeding so frequently, perhaps when they start having solid foods. See how to manage breast pain while breastfeeding.
The maximum volume of milk in the breasts each day can vary greatly among mothers. Two studies found a breast storage capacity range among its mothers of 74 to 606 g (2.6 to 20.5 oz.) per breast (Daly, Owens, & Hartmann, 1993; Kent et al., 2006).
Your breasts feel softer
This happens as your milk supply adjusts to your baby's needs. The initial breast fullness reduces in the first few weeks. At around 6 weeks, breast fullness is completely gone and your breasts may feel soft. This is completely normal and has no effect on your milk supply.
Second Night Syndrome
Generally occurs about 24 hours after birth for almost every baby. Your baby will want to be on the breast constantly but quickly fall asleep. If you put him down, he will probably wake up. If you put him back to breast, he will feed for a short time and fall asleep.
Often when babies have had enough they'll detach and pull away from the breast. They can sometimes get frustrated and cry when their mother tries to get them back on. Another thing they do is fall asleep. Lifting the little arm that's most likely resting on your chest is a good way to tell.
The 3-month growth spurt is probably the most complicated of them all because it involves changes in the baby and changes in milk production. This is the breastfeeding crisis that leads to most cases of mothers quitting breastfeeding.
How Long Does Nursing Take? Newborns may nurse for up to 20 minutes or longer on one or both breasts. As babies get older and more skilled at breastfeeding, they may take about 5–10 minutes on each side.