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IME, cold cabbage leaves really do provide some relief. Maybe it was just in my head, but I don't think so. Mint tea is supposed to help a little too. Sage tea would be a more extreme measure, but if you have that much OS, I doubt a cup here or there would dry you up too much.
I don't know. :) I just did. I fed on the right side for two feedings in a row and then on the left side for two feedings in a row, but my younger baby would go 3 hours sometimes between feedings and it would be too long for each side. So then I started timing it. I fed for 3 hours (I think?) on one side and then switched to the other. But then that got to be too much trouble to pay attention to the clock and I fed alternating sides.Quote:
Originally Posted by @llli*jah73
When I get that bad, I feed DD on 1 side until comfortable (maybe 2 feedings). If I do get uncomfortably full on the other side, I will pump (versus hand express), just because it's faster and because to be comfortable and "unengorge" my boob I have to get quite a bit of milk out. That's why the milk I get out when I relieve my boob between feedings and to avoid mastitis, I started donating. I get anywhere from 3-5oz just trying to get my boob to feel "normal".
If baby is eating on one side (for the second time) and it feels soft, and the other is getting really full between feedings, and DD2 is still wanting to suckle to eat, I'll switch her to the full side.
If she falls asleep, or want to suckle to nap, on the side that's getting empty, I'll pump the full side to comfortable status, as if she had fed a little, then feed her 1 more time on the side she fell asleep on before switching. I know it's confusing. I honestly don't pay attention anymore. I'll try to journal it to give you an example;) Especially right now because DD2 is going through a growth spurt and is sending my supply for a whirl.
I did reply to your other post, BTW.:)
For women with OS, the pump can really exacerbate matters, and you can become "addicted" to it (it sounds like you might have this problem!). Block feeding, and suffering through some "fullness" while your'e doing it (not letting it get to the rock-hard and painful engorged point) will actually decrease your supply, relieving the need for pumping ... eventually, anyway. It can be a long process. I had oversupply AND was prone to mastitis/clogged ducts, and it was a VERY FINE LINE to walk. :dropQuote:
Originally Posted by @llli*juliet1
Growth spurts are an OS mom's friend. I don't think I could have gotten through my OS issues all on my own, especially after I made them a ton worse by pumping all the time. But as Joe got bigger and wanted more, I was able to nurse him, rather than pump, and things started to even out.
Trust me, no pumping addiction here:snicker I hesitate to pump because I'm afraid of making it worse, but if I pump vs. hand express, I'm able to save the milk for donation and because from hand expressing/squeezing I end up damaging my ducts, leading to clogged ducts, then mastitis. If I don't relieve as soon as possible, I do get rock hard, which sometimes I do tolerate if DD2 is going to feed off that side soon. But if I start feeling weird (in my armpits, or pain), and DD2 just finished eating off the other side (and won't be feeding for a while) I'm off to pump:ita It is definitely a very fine line.Quote:
Originally Posted by @llli*joe.s.mom
Growth spurts are my worst enemy:eye because I can't keep up and stay ahead of clogged ducts/mastitis, which is when I resort to eating my Altoids and stashing for donation.
OS is such a pain:banghead