Block feeding

[PumpkinZulu]

So I'm giving block feeding a go with DD2. I have an oversupply and a crazy letdown, and as such she's got lactose overload. What's the best way to block feed effectively? At the moment I'm doing four hours per boob. Is there a maximum amount of times I should be feeding her in that four hour block, like, should I be holding her off a bit (to help the pain) or is it okay because she's going back to the same boob? Or is it okay to feed her whenever I think she needs it? I demand fed DD1 no problems, so this is all a bit weird to me. Also, is it okay to pump the other breast if it gets really full, or should I try to leave it be for the full 4 hours? I do want my supply to settle, but I've got an hour to go and the unused boob is starting to feel extremely full, not to mention how lopsided I am lol.

Any other tips, experiences or suggestions would be awesome.

[Arcadia]

I block fed in two hour blocks: so I fed whenever baby wanted but only from one boob in any two hour period, then I'd switch to the other boob for the next two hours. Sometimes they would feed once in that two hours and sometimes ten times. Both mine were frequent feeders and stacked on weight. Dd was colicky but ds seemed to cope better with the oversupply and spewed and cried less.

Remember it's normal for bub to fuss and want to suck all the time and the solution to too much milk intake is to spew. With oversupply spew becomes a very normal part of life (and I mean almost a litre on the floor not just a posset). Get those terry flats ready!

[Cassius2]

I block fed in two hour blocks: so I fed whenever baby wanted but only from one boob in any two hour period, then I'd switch to the other boob for the next two hours. Sometimes they would feed once in that two hours and sometimes ten times. Both mine were frequent feeders and stacked on weight. Dd was colicky but ds seemed to cope better with the oversupply and spewed and cried less.

this is what i do as well. my boobs cannot handle the 4 hour blocks and then i find that in that time the boob that i am using just produces more and more and then i start having like 3 letdowns in that time...

2 hours is my limit that i find works best for both of us.

and yep, went through a packet of terry flats today i need to buy shares in the terry flats factory hahaha

[PumpkinZulu]

I live covered in terry flats lol!! So do you think 4 hours might be too long? She won't take a dummy to help with the sucking, so it's either noob or my pinky finger at the moment.

[Liz]

Maybe compromise and do 3hrs since you're already feeling full on the other side?

We lived covered in terry flats for a long time too. Always puking. Amazing how they still put on so much weight when it looks like the entire meal just came up! LOL. Ours were all happy chuckers tho, no real pain symptoms to go with it. Hope block feeding works to help things settle a bit.

[Lady-bug]

I did 3 hours with block feeding, definitely helped with over supply.

[Arimeh]

I did 3 hours with block feeding. I didn't have an oversupply issue though, I just wanted her to get the richer milk because she would only feed for 5-10 mins max per side.

[HotI]

have you got the ABA booklet on oversupply "too much milk"? It is $5 and has more info and suggestions than the website.

[luna moth]

If you can't manage 4 hours, then start with 3.

I've had to do it this time around, bit different because I'm tandem feeding (are you still feeding your DD1?) so I actually did 6 hours each boob, but I have a toddler who was happy to clear the other side. Also, my boobs never went crazy swollen when full like last time, I put it down to feeding through pregnancy, and it made oversupply really hard to diagnose.

I did 6, then down to 4, and then started doing 3 hourly feeds from both sides. Going to 3 hourly really helped, and as much as it made me feel like a T.Hall disciple, I'm glad idid it! So, yeah, I say try and hold her off a bit. After about 3 weeks of 3 hourly feeds, we're now happily demand feeding.

[Chrispe]

I did 2-3 hr blocks. So basically 1 boob per feed (as 4 hrs would have been at least 2 full feeds, not counting snacking) And if I expressed it was only a little (40ml most)