| Definition 1. Hyperlactation is an overabundant production of milk during the lactation period. Also known as overproduction or overproduction syndrome. 2. Hyperlactation is the production of milk in males or in females who are not currently breastfeeding an child. Also known as galactorrhea. In this paper only the first definition will be used. Symptoms in the mother · ongoing engorgement · breasts continue to feel full during and after breastfeeding · leaking in between feeding sessions · (sometimes) tendency to have plugged ducts and/or mastitis. Symptoms in the baby · ''greedy'' feeder · milk dribbling out of mouth · choking · lots of burping · fussy after feeding · spitting and vomiting, ''reflux'' · gassiness, audible gut noises · copious, sometimes green, foul smelling, foamy stools · very high or very low weight gain · not happy, unsatisfied after feeding Not all symptoms will be seen in all infants with mothers with more production than they need. Causes · Personal, inborn variety · breastfeeding management Treatment · empty both breast as complete as possible · Offer baby both ''empty'' breasts (one if baby does not want to switch) · baby will probably fall asleep fully satisfied · divide the day in time blocks of 3 hours · every time baby wants to breastfeed within one time block offer him the same breast · start with the last breast given after expressing the breasts · change breast with the first feeding after the start of the new time block · or after a longer period of sleep · repeat the total emptying of the breasts if the breasts are again filling to an uncomfortable level · delay expressing as long as possible, but at least 4 hours · increase the intervals between expression (24 hours – 36 hours – 48 hours - ...) · in severe cases it may be necessary to increase the length of time blocks to 4, 6 or even 12 hours · Apply longer time blocks only under the care of a lactation consultant Example This is just an example and not meant to be a schedule to follow exactly! 08:00: express both breasts, baby nurses 10 minutes on the left and 5 minutes on the right breast, falls asleep 09:00: awake, nurses 15 minutes right breast 10:15: fussy, nurses 10 minutes right breast, falls asleep 12:00: awake, nurses 20 minutes left breast 12:45: fussy, nurses 5 minutes left breast 13:15: nurses 15 minutes left breast, falls asleep 14:30: awake, nurses 5 minutes left breast 15:15: fussy, nurses 20 minutes right breast, falls asleep 15.50u: awake, nurses 5 minutes right breast, falls asleep
16.30u: awake, nurses 5 minutes right breast
17.00u: fussy, nurses 5 minutes right breast, falls asleep
17.30u: awake, nurses 5 minutes right breast, stays fussy, nurses another 5 minutes right breast
17.50u: stays fussy, nurses 10 minutes left breast
18.10u: stays fussy, nurses for a couple of minutes multiple times in an hour left breast, fussiness
20.45u: nurses 25 minutes left breast, falls asleep
01.15u: awake, nurses 20 minutes left breast, falls asleep
04.00u: awake, nurses 10 minutes right breast, falls asleep, mother starts feeling engorgement
07.30u: awake, nurses 1t5 minutes left breast, fussy, more engorgement
08.15u: nurses 5 minutes left breast, stays fussy, engorgement increasing, mother expresses both breasts, baby nurses right breast, falls asleep. This is just one example of a normal pattern for a breastfed child. The child is with his mother and is mostly carried at his mother's body during the day or sleeping within reaching range and co-sleeps at night (sharing the same bed or baby's crib is immediately next to mother's bed). The timing and duration of the feedings are estimated and more open variation than shown in this example. The fussiness in the late afternoon end the longer sleep period in the early night are quite typical, as well as the increasing fussiness as the breasts refill. Eventually, engorgement will decrease and milk expression can be delayed more and more. The high frequency of nursing may stay or change as baby and breast adjust to each other. This depends primarily on baby's preference.
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