https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Tue, 07 Apr 2026 05:03:09 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/overactive-letdown-and-pumping#post-1686725 Sat, 07 Jun 2014 16:01:48 +0000 gilmoregirl 1686725@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have this problem too but I do have a little bit of an oversupply. I pump about an ounce or two, which takes just a few minutes and that helps him latch and not choke. It has definitely not hurt my supply and I've been adjusting down a bit recently too. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/overactive-letdown-and-pumping#post-1686654 Sat, 07 Jun 2014 14:23:10 +0000 lady grey 1686654@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think pumping a few minutes before the first nursing session of the day is a good idea. Most moms have the most milk in the mornings, so that a reason why this nursing session is one of the hardest for you two. I don't think this will contribute too much to an over supply. More milk is better then less anyway, thats for sure! Plus after pumping a few mins every morning you can start a little freezer stash for later. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/overactive-letdown-and-pumping#post-1678571 Wed, 04 Jun 2014 14:15:18 +0000 Adira 1678571@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ellewoods84: haha, no problem! I feel like as moms, we LOVE giving advice, so I live for these kinds of questions, haha! I just try to avoid giving unsolicited advice! :D </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/overactive-letdown-and-pumping#post-1678567 Wed, 04 Jun 2014 14:13:34 +0000 ellewoods84 1678567@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Adira: yeah that is what I was thinking! Thanks for responding to my 1000 first time mom questions!<br /> @catlady: yeah, she will usually cough, so maybe that's when I should unlatch and let it spray. I am sure she will be unhappy like your lo, but I agree it's better than choking! I can't wait for this to resolve, hopefully soon! Thanks for the suggestions. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/overactive-letdown-and-pumping#post-1678548 Wed, 04 Jun 2014 14:04:36 +0000 catlady 1678548@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had this in the early days. I would know when letdown happened because my LO would kind of sputter or cough and then unlatch. At that point, I would hand express into a burp cloth until the spray died down. Then I'd re-latch her. She'd be kind of cranky while waiting, but it was better than the alternative. Not sure if that helps or not! I thought about pumping but it always seemed like too much work. She eventually got used to it plus my letdown seemed to become less forceful in time. I'm not sure when it resolved itself but I want to say around 10-12 weeks or so. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/overactive-letdown-and-pumping#post-1678539 Wed, 04 Jun 2014 14:00:51 +0000 Adira 1678539@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I never had an issue with oversupply, but I would think pumping for a minute or two prior to nursing SHOULDN'T cause an oversupply. Since your LO is choking on that milk anyway, she's not really drinking it, so she probably won't be trying to drink MORE than what you have left after you relieve some of the pressure and won't stimulate you to start making more milk. Plus if it's only just that one time a day, I think you'll be fine! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/overactive-letdown-and-pumping#post-1678531 Wed, 04 Jun 2014 13:57:53 +0000 ellewoods84 1678531@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>So, my baby is 5 weeks old today (yay!) and EBF. It has been established by the lactation consultant that I have an overactive letdown, but we don't think that I have an oversupply. If I do have an oversupply, it is only a slight oversupply (if that is possible!). She is a very good eater and always has been, no problems with latching, but in the mornings when she wakes up (around 6 am), we have the worst nursing session! I know it is because I am choking her and drowning her with all the milk that is spraying out and of course it makes her very uncomfortable. I can't feel my letdown, so I can't just unlatch her and let it leak out. I have tried nursing in different positions, that doesn't work either! So, I have been hand expressing for about 20-30 seconds prior to nursing, which works all day and all night long. However, that one nursing session is stressing me! 20-30 seconds doesn't seem to help. Tomorrow morning I want to pump and see if that helps, but my question is will pumping for around 2-3 minutes aggravate or maybe cause an oversupply? I don't want to cause more problems in the long run! Sorry this is long! </p>