Babies whose moms have too much milk may exhibit symptoms such as fussing,\u00a0pulling off the breas<\/a>t, colicky crying, gassiness,\u00a0spitting up<\/a>, and hiccuping. They may want tonurse frequently<\/a>, and they may\u00a0gain weight<\/a>\u00a0more rapidly than the average baby (who usually gains 4-8 ounces each week during the first 3 or 4 months), or they may\u00a0gain weight<\/a>more slowly than the average baby.<\/p>\n Their\u00a0stools may be green and water<\/a>y, and their bottoms may be red and sore. The mother’s letdown reflex may be so forceful that the baby chokes, gags and sputters as he struggles with the jet of milk that sprays too quickly into his mouth.<\/p>\n Mothers who produce too much milk may suffer from full,\u00a0engorged<\/a>\u00a0breasts,\u00a0plugged ducts, and mastitis<\/a>. Sometimes they feel a few seconds of intense pain as the\u00a0letdown (<\/a>or milk ejection) reflex occurs, because it is so forceful.<\/p>\n The cause of the problem is usually a combination of an\u00a0overactive letdown reflex<\/a>\u00a0along with a\u00a0foremilk\/hindmilk<\/a>\u00a0imbalance.<\/p>\n The article\u00a0Oversupply: Too Much Breast Milk\u00a0<\/a>has details about tips and techniques or handling an oversupply off milk including burping often, offering one breast at a feeding, drinking sage tea, altering positions so that the baby isn\u2019t leaning back with milk gushing down his throat, catching the initial forceful spray with a towel, and donating to a milk bank,<\/p>\n Usually, the problem of too much milk will resolve as your baby matures and is able to handle the flow better, and also as your body settles down to make the milk your baby needs and not a lot of extra milk. Like all other breastfeeding problems, this too shall pass.<\/p>\n Join the more than six millions of moms who come to Breastfeeding Basics each year for information and support, and visit Anne on\u00a0Facebook.<\/a>![\"Anne](\"http:\/\/www.breastfeedingbasics.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/02\/Anne-avatar-150x150.jpg\"){kind=avatar}
Anne has been helping moms reach their breastfeeding goals for over 35 years, as a La Leche League and an IBCLC in private practice since 1990. Breastfeeding six children gives her a unique combination of first hand experience as well as professional expertise. In 1999, she started her website,www.breastfeedingbasics.com,\u00a0<\/a>with lots of information on breastfeeding and parenting, and a wonderful group of bloggers, including Abby from\u00a0The Badass Breastfeeder,<\/a>\u00a0Rachelle from\u00a0Unlatched,<\/a>\u00a0and Marie from\u00a0Anarchy in the Sandbox.<\/a><\/p>\n
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