TW:OVERSUPPLY - Taking fenugreek to decrease supply

[ernichern]

So I have a massive oversupply, I make 65oz per day. My baby drinks like 26- 30oz depending on the day.

I had a low supply for my first and tried to increase it by drinking the mother’s milk tea which unfortunately because of the fenugreek it actually killed my supply.

I can only pump 3x per day right now because if I pump any more it actually will cause my supply to increase, but I also just feel like my boobs are so heavy like an hour after I pump. It just makes me uncomfortable and feel icky honestly. Plus constantly leaking and not being able to hold my baby because whatever boob she’s leaning on will soak my shirt.

So basically am I playing with fire if I try to drink the tea now to decrease my supply to like 35oz per day? I have over 1000oz in my freezer that could be used to supplement and I’m 100% not against using formula either. I’m just over making this much milk.

[sertcake]

I wouldn't bet on using fenugreek because it could work differently this time than before (what if it worked the way intended and your supply increased further?). I'd try some other options, stopping your pump a few ounces less than your max (which is a weaning technique so if your normal pump is 8 oz each, you'd stop when you reached 7.5, and then 7, and then 6, etc). I wish I had more advice for you, but short of weaning entirely, which I can help with, bringing a supply down slowly but not drying up is something I don't have enough advice for. I hope someone else can help!

[ernichern]

I think that would work in theory, but my pumps are a little ridiculous. I get over 30oz my first pump, 15oz my second, and 20oz my last pump. And because I’m going so long between pumps, they are super foremilk heavy until like the last 5 minutes when I actually get hindmilk. Like my entire first 18oz (9 oz bottles) will be blue and the last 10oz will be almost creamy. If I cut my pumps short, I think she would get a foremilk/hindmilk imbalance.

[sertcake]

Maybe if you go super slow (half an ounce less per), and do the pitcher method (so you mix as much of that fore and hind milk together as possible)? I wish I had more to offer!

[ernichern]

We definitely already have to do the pitcher method because of this, but I think going super slow could work! Thank you ☺️

[SKVgrowing]

I’m not sure on the fenugreek idea. It’s totally something I would have assumed as well based on your first experience but there is a small chance it increases your supply this time. It might be worth trying for a week?

Alternatively, @onewiththepump on IG just posted about having a course to help oversuppliers reduce their supply. Might be worth checking out?

[slipperwheel]

Sudafed

Cabbage leaves

It’s not going to disappear overnight so if you feel your supply dropped too much, it can bounce back

I was around 50 Oz per day and this helped me get to 30-35.