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Oversupply Syndrome

Breastfeeding, Oversupply Syndrome and Infant Diarrhea: Elusive Connection Solves Important Puzzle

Often, new Moms are concerned because their breastfed babies are having loose stools. While many will say that this is normal, it is actually an indicator that something is amiss. Frequently, it's just a matter of extending the feeding time to 30 to 40 minutes so your baby can consume sufficient amounts of "hindmilk," or whatever amount of time it takes for your breast to empty of the hindmilk.*

Foremilk is what comes out when your baby begins a feeding session. Hindmilk is what comes out at the end. Foremilk may, or may not, be low in fat. This is actually a function of how long it's been since your last feeding or pumping, and how thoroughly you drained your breasts of milk. (This will be explained in greater depth further on) Hindmilk, in contrast, is generally higher in fat, and is visibly different, appearing more like cream than water, with a higher viscosity and opaque color.

Deep within your breast tissue, milk is made. Milk is complex, comprised of an array of different substances. Some are procured from the Mom's body, like fat and calcium, while others are synthesized within the breast tissue itself, including whey and lactose.

Can Breastfeeding Cause Diarrhea?

The longer you go between feeds, the less fatty your milk will become. This more watery milk has less fat and more lactose. This can, in fact, cause diarrhea in the baby. Sometimes this is called "lactose overload." So, in the end, it's all about your baby getting sufficient levels of fats from feeding, and avoiding feeding only on watery foremilk, without waiting for the hindmilk to flow out.

Also, if you go too long between emptying a breast (or both), a polypeptide called FIL, or Feedback Inhibitor of Lactation begins to accumulate, as it's a natural component of breastmilk, always. It's actually the breast milk that has not been removed that contains the inhibitor, so the important thing is to remove all the remaining milk that is still there since you last emptied, as this milk is acting as an inhibitor on the breast tissues.

*And, every baby is different, every Mom is different, and every feeding session is different, and so it may take a different amount of time to ingest the proper amount of fat; there's no set rule how long to feed.

https://www.llli.org/breastfeeding-info/foremilk-and-hindmilk/

What Is Oversupply Syndrome?

There's also oversupply syndrome. Oversupply means that a mother is making more milk that her baby needs. The mother never quite feels like her breasts completely empty. This can happen from pumping. It cna also happen from pumping after each feeding to empty the breasts completely when the infant has already become full. It is also normal that some women produce larger volumes of milk.

Feedings get difficult. The baby may experience GI issues. Green, loose, explosibve stools that smell different is one possible result.

Overactive Milk Ejection Reflex (OMER) means that suddenly, milk flows very quickly. This can cause choking or coughing in the infant. Mastitis and plugged ducts are commonplace.

The issue is, the baby may never get to the valuable hindmilk before losing its hunger. And so, the milk the baby is getting is too watery, and higher in lactose than is best for the baby's GI tract.

For babies fed exclusively with breastmilk by direct feeding, this is not often an issue. Although the ratio of foremilk:hindmilk will consantly be shifting, there will be an overall balance, as long as the baby feeds until the hind milk is expressed. Don't switch breasts too quickly. Let your breasts drain. This may certainly help with supply, baby GI, and diarreah issues.

Since bottlefeeding may be easier, the baby may develop a "bottle preference." Avoid this by limiting the flow of milk by tilitjng the bottle back or using a lower-flow nipple. Bottlefeeding can also result in oversupply because of the need to pump. Milk supply is about demand. Pumping artificaully increases demand.

One way to dealwith this is to hand express the beginning of the foremilk for each breast, at each feed. Alternatively, you can store this milk and donate it to a local human milk bank.

https://www.llli.org/breastfeeding-info/oversupply/

Why Do Some Experts Say Breastfeeding Can Cause Jaundice?

Jaundice (https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/infant-jaundice/symptoms-causes/syc-20373865) in infants is indicated by the baby's sclera (whitea) of the eyes and skin are yellowish. It's cause is simple: Bilirubin, a pigment of red blood cells, is building up in the blood and tissues of the newborn. The baby's liver is not fully functional in babies born pre-term, and cannot clear the bilrubin that's created when red blood cells are normally recycled properly. The risk is brain damage, though there are steps that can be taken to mitigate this risk.

While there are other reasons for severe jaundice in newborns carried to the full term date, this article will focus strictly on breast feeding as a cause. It is true that breastfed babies can become jaundiced. However, if we look closer, it's really a matter of an issue with breastfeeding, itself.

How Can Breastfeeding Cause Jaundice?

If a baby is havinmg trouble latching properly, it is best to seek help before this leads to the infant not getting sufficient nutrition or hydration. Failing to consuing proper caloric intake can cause jaundice.

This is an issue when a new Mom is having supply issues, as there isn't going to be enough milk. In these cases, supplementing with forumla is indicated.

Conversely, oversupply can also be an issue, as then the newborn isn't getting enough of the hindmilk, the more nutrition-dense, creamy milk that isn't let down before the baby is full.

Of course, it is important to determine why the baby is experiencing jaundice, and as there may be other causes such as bruising during birth, and other serious reasons like mother/baby blood type incompatibility, you should absolutely reach out to your pediatrician if your baby is progressively becoming more yellow as the days pass. (Press the skin on the baby's hand. If it looks yellow when it's depressed, the baby may br jauindiced. Perform this visual check under daylight conditions.)

https://www.cdc.gov/breastfeeding/breastfeeding-special-circumstances/maternal-or-infant-illnesses/jaundice.html

Is Breastmilk Sufficient?

Breast milk contains everything your baby will need during her first six months. This includes fat, carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins, minerals and water (1,2,3,4). There are also other substances produced in the Mom's body that can help the baby's immune system to develop in a robust manner. Breastmilk is superior to infant formula, however if you must supplement with formula, or rely on formula exclusively, your baby will still grow and develop normally.

Animal milk may be used in emergency situations for infants under 6 months of age, however it must be diluted with water first, and sugar should be added, as well as vitamins, if possible.

"How Can I Increase My Breast Milk Supply," Is Our Most-Asked Question

Increasing hormones associated with lactation is the tactic you must take. It *IS* possible, so don't be discouraged! It's going to be rewarding feeding your baby, so just be patient. Postnatal Massage and Breast Massage, specifically, are proven in multiple studies to help raise crucial oxytocin hormone levels. You can also visit our more in-depth article about this topic, which includes many other tips on optimizing hormone levels, by clicking HERE.

Intentionally Causing An Oversupply Condition

Sometimes a new Mom will pump and create a situation where her breasts are producinmg more milk than is necessary. Sometimes this is done to feed an older toddler, a niece or newpew, or for donation to a milk bank. Many new Moms and Dadds also choose to save some milk in the freezer, for after the Mom returns to work and (often) stops breatfeeding.

This is fine, however, be sure that the baby is not receiving too much foremilk. Now, you know what to look for, so if you are doing this, be sure to give your baby a bottle of the hindmilk, or mix bottles for a more uniform bottled milk. Ideally, mix the milk from the same day together at the end of the day, and re-bottle the homogenized pooled milk. This will ensure uniform fat, and therefore nutrition, levels.

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