What Are The Side Effects Of Breastfeeding Too Much On The Baby?

What are the effects of excessive breastfeeding on the baby?

What is the overflow of breast milk?

Producing breast milk for your baby is biologically normal during the post-pregnancy period. Your body automatically produces milk after delivery but the process of producing milk is start in the first trimester of pregnancy.

Thus milk-producing cell becomes full and hence your breast starts growing when you are pregnant. Overflow of milk generally starts 4 weeks after pregnancy. The process of milk production occurs in alveoli cells and then it travels from ducts to nipple. There are several causes of milk production but sometimes production of milk becomes high. 

Production of breast milk in excess quantity is known as Hyperlactation.

How much milk production is normal in a day?

Though production of breast milk and the quantity of milk may vary from woman to woman. As the factors of excess milk production are different in different persons. The general amount of milk production of a new mom is 25-35 OZ which is equal to 750 -1050 ml per day. 

If you produce breast milk of more than 1050 ml per day then it is a symptom that you are suffering from hyperlactation.

Read Also: How to give a newborn first bath 

What age is perfect to consume breast milk?

Doctors are recommended that breastfeeding is essential for a baby till 6 months because up to 6 months babies are unable to take nutrients from other food sources. After 6 months they are gradually able to take other semi-liquid and some solid food. But after 2 years it is not recommended to take breast milk as at that age breast milk is not beneficial at all.

What is the cause of excess milk production?

Milk production is dependent on the secretion of some hormones like prolactin, oxytocin, estrogen, and progesterone. 

Prolactin hormone is synthesized by lactotrophic cells, which are situated in the anterior pituitary. Lactotrophic cells are responsible for milk production.

Oxytocin helps in the movement of milk from ducts to the nipple during lactation.

Estrogen and Progesterone are two main sex hormones present in a female body but during pregnancy or post-pregnancy period, their function is to prevent milk production during pregnancy and help to produce milk during the postpartum period.

The hormones, clearly mentioned in the above paragraph, directly or indirectly controlled milk production. So quality and quantity of milk flow depend on the quantity of those hormones. The causes of oversupply are :

1. As it is already said above the production of milk depends on several hormones, if those hormones are not functioning properly then it causes hormonal imbalance which is the main cause of oversupply.
2. Pumping the breast too much before feeding makes the breast softer and easier for the baby to lactate. 
3. The Baby prefers to feed by 1 breast. 
4. Maximum mothers prefer to feed their baby by maintaining a proper time schedule rather than according to the need of their baby, which can cause an overflow of breast milk.
5. If you are taking galactagogues as a component of medicine or artificial food then you may be suffering from hyper lactation because due to consuming galactagogue stimulation for breast milk production increases.

What are the symptoms of the oversupply of breast milk?

1. If you feel that your breast is full at the Maximum time of s day. 
2. If your baby spits up milk in excess quantity.
3. If your nipple becomes sore.
4. If milk is spraying out from your breast mainly while you start feeding your baby. 
5. Your baby may feel tired during breastfeeding.
6. You may observe the chough, splutter of your baby.
7. Your baby may gulp loudly.
8. Your baby may clamp down at your nipple.
9. You may notice that your baby becomes aggressive.

How producing excess breast milk can affect your baby?

• Producing excess breast milk makes breastfeeding difficult. As it is very difficult to know whether your baby is still hungry or they are getting too much milk as we can’t understand how much milk is consumed by the baby. 
• So, excess milk production is the cause of excess breastfeeding.
• If the baby overfeeds the breast milk, than it can cause a problem in the digestive system thus baby feels discomfort and start vomiting.
• Due to the overfeeding, infants gain too much weight.

How do know too much milk production is a cause of concern?

1. While the baby sucking milk from one breast but milk sprays out from another breast.
2. If your baby struggle with too much cough.
3. After the feeding of the baby, if you are able to pump several ounces of breast milk.
4. If you feel pain during pumping.
5. If your breast become hard. 

How to treat Hyperlactation?

1. You should stop pumping after feeding your baby. 
2. You should adopt the block feeding technic during breastfeeding. This technique includes feeding your baby from a particular breast for a couple of days or a longer period. This technique can be very effective for hyperlactation.
3. Avoid such medication or such drugs that usually increase the flow of breast milk.
4. You can breastfeed your baby in a lying down position 
5. You can keep a piece of white cloth under the breast to relieve.
6. You can also try a nursing pad under the bra which can help you from being wet.
7. You can donate breast milk as there are a lot of infants who are not getting breast milk enough according to their needs. 
8. If you donate your breast milk, than it will helpful for both you and those needy children. 

Conclusion (What Are The Side Effects Of Breastfeeding Too Much On The Baby):

In this article above, we tried to clarify several questions regarding What are the side effects of breastfeeding too much on the baby? and hyperlactation. Read this article thoroughly, I think you will get all of your questions about this.  If you have more knowledge or if you want to give some tips then please inform us below in the comment section.