Block feeding & EASY

[B J]

DS2 is 9 weeks and I think I have oversupply and overactive letdown.  He coughs and chokes when he first starts feeding, poops 24/7, explosive BMs, etc etc.

I started doing block feeding, but not sure if I'm doing it right.  I am trying to follow a 3 hour EASY.  From what I've read on block feeding, you should start with 2 hours feeding on 1 breast.  If I am doing a 3 hour EASY, then I don't really have a chance to feed on the same breast within 2 hours.  So I've been doing 2 feeds on 1 breast, and then I switch to the other, but that means the block is longer than 2 hours and I get pretty engorged on the other side.  Not sure if that's helping matters.  I express a bit before offering the engorged breast so that the let down isn't as strong.

What I was doing before I started trying the block feeding was starting on the breast that I had left off on so that DS would get the hind milk, and then offer the other breast. 

Which method is right???

[Shiv52]

I did what you've described second. So if I fed left then right at one feed then next feed I offered the right first and so on. Thats what I understood block feeding to be.

Is your LO managing 3 hours between feeds ok?

[B J]

Ok thanks.  Yes, he is fine with 3 hour feeds.  Will sometimes even go longer if he is napping and I have to wake him to eat.

[B J]

Hmmm, actually, I have always started on the breast that I left off with, even before I realized I had an oversupply problem.

So I was already block feeding, but I didn't know that's what it was called.  How can I reduce my supply then?

My main concern with DS2 is the frequency of his BMs and possible gassiness affecting his sleep.  His Doctor says it's normal for some babies to go after every feed, but it still feels excessive.  He poos when he wakes up, while I'm feeding him, while I'm changing his diaper....it's non-stop!

[Shiv52]

I always found things evened out at 12-14 weeks when the breasts move from storing milk to making more on demand so I do think you'll see a difference in a few weeks. 

My BF's baby did about 6-8 poos a day and I remember thinking that was loads but her GP said that was fine. 

What are his nappies like?  Are they yellowy or green?  Any muscous? 

[B J]

Ok good, I'll wait it out.

He has 8+ poos a day - every diaper change is a dirty one, and sometimes it takes me 3 or 4 diapers to get through a diaper change because he keeps going while I'm trying to change it!

His poos vary in colour.  Sometimes a dark mustard/brown, sometimes yellow/green.  They are usually runny.  I don't get the mustard/seedy kind.

He constantly has a sore bum because of all the dirty nappies!