Block Feeding Technique: How It Works, Benefits & Side Effects

Avoid hyperlactation and clogged breasts with block feeding.

Reviewed by Arushi Agrawal, IBCLC Arushi Agrawal Arushi AgrawalIBCLC facebook_iconlinkedin_iconinsta_icon Specialty: Lactation Experience: 4 years
Written by Dr Bisny T. Joseph Dr Bisny T. Joseph
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What Is Block Feeding When To Do, Benefits, And Side Effects

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Block feeding is a breastfeeding technique that helps reduce excess breast milk supply to meet the baby’s needs. Breast milk production depends on supply and demand, which means more breastmilk is produced if the baby requires more.

Usually, breast milk production is stimulated when the breast is empty after the feedings (1). However, milk production may not be stimulated if some milk is left in the breast, called milk lakes. This may lead to an over or undersupply of breast milk in some lactating mothers (2).

Read on to know when and how to do block feeding and its benefits.

When Should You Block Feed?

Take up block feeding only after consulting a board-certified lactation expert. Block feeding is recommended when the mother is hyper lactating(an overabundant milk supply in the breasts). Hyperlactation is not good for the mother and baby. Excessive milk supply results in regular full breasts that are uncomfortable and cause recurrent plugged or clogged milk ducts.

For the baby, excess milk supply can cause them to choke, aspirate, or spit-up. Oversupply of milk can also make the infant restless during nursing (1). The method of block feeding is usually temporary and continuing it longer than required can result in low milk supply (2).

How Does Block Feeding Technique Work?

The main purpose of block feeding is to keep one breast for a block of time, i.e., one to three hours or so. It means that if the baby needs milk again for this block of time, the same breast is offered. In the meantime, if the other breast is full, mothers can allow passive leakage and use an absorbent pad to relieve the pressure; or they may remove only that much milk that will make her feel comfortable. If the block period is over, you can feed the baby with the other breast.

In doing so for a week, the mother can manage and reduce her supply of milk to adjust to her little one’s demand. In most cases, the mother is able to normalize her breast milk supply according to her baby’s demand (1).

How Do You Block Breastfeed?

 If you are looking to block feed, here are the steps you can follow (2):

  1. Decide which breast is the first of your block feeding schedule.
  2. Use a breast pump on each breast for a short time, an hour before you wish to begin block feeding your baby. It helps to soften the breasts and allow easy ejection of milk on your baby’s suckling.
  3. When it is time to feed your baby, offer one breast. Let your baby feed from that breast as long as they want. For subsequent feeds in the next three to six hours, offer the same breast.
  4. Once the first block time is over, offer the next breast to your baby.
  5. There are chances that the other breast will begin to leak during the block period, but you can pump just enough to relieve the pressure.
  6. Avoid emptying your breast to relieve the discomfort as it will lead to more filling of the breast.

Consult a doctor or lactation expert before taking a call on block feeding and if your hyperlactation doesn’t get normal in one week.

What To Do When You Have Full Breasts?

 Apart from block feeding, if you still have breast full of milk, you can try these:

  • Allow the breast to leak, or use an absorbent cloth to clean your leaky breast. It will also reduce the stimulation of breast milk and control your milk supply.
  • Apply ice on the breast to reduce the swelling.
  • Allow collection of milk using a breast pump but just enough to let you feel better.

What Are The Benefits Of Block Feeding?

Block feeding, within limits, has benefits for the mother and baby.

Benefits for the mother include:

  • Less engorgement and discomfort
  • Less nipple pain

Benefits for the baby:

How To Know Whether Block Feeding Is Working For You?

 When you begin your block feeding schedule, in most cases, you will be able to optimize your breast milk supply within a week. Also, better feeding of your baby and an improvement in their health is another sign that shows your block feeding method is working.

What Can Be The Side Effects Of Block Feeding?

One of the most common side effects of block feeding is blocked ducts. Excess milk accumulation in the breast due to block feeding may cause swelling or inflammation and trigger mastitis. In some cases, emptying breasts one by one using the block feed method leads to overstimulation and subsequent overfullness (1).

Sample Block Feeding Schedule

For lactating mothers who wish to begin a block feeding schedule to manage their breast milk’s oversupply, here’s a sample schedule that can be helpful.

To begin block feeding at 7 am, empty both your breasts an hour early.

  • 6 am: Pump and empty both your breasts
  • 7 am: Start feeding your baby with right or left breast until the baby has finished is done
  • Consider a block of six hours, feed your baby with the same breast until 1 pm
  • 1 pm onwards: Feed your baby with the other breast.
  • 1 to 7 pm: use this same breast to feed your baby

Although oversupply of breast milk right after birth is normal, it is equally uncomfortable and may even result in complications such as clogged ducts. You may try the technique of block feeding after consulting with your ob/gyn. Doctors generally recommend this technique as it has shown to be effective for both the mother and the baby by improving digestion in babies and reducing nipple pain in mothers. However, remember to take the necessary precautionary measures while block feeding to avoid any side effects.

Key Pointers

  • When there is an excess supply of breast milk that is painful for both the mother and infant, block feeding is recommended.
  • It is a technique to match the milk supply to a baby’s needs where the child is fed from one breast over a ’block’ period of three to six hours.
  • This approach is beneficial to newborns because it reduces gas production and makes high-fat hindmilk more accessible.

References

1. Caroline GA van Veldhuizen-Staas, Overabundant milk supply: An alternative way to intervene by full drainage and block feeding, International Breastfeeding Journal(August 2007)
2. Infant and Young child Feeding, NCBI
3. Too Much Milk, Australian Breastfeeding Association (February 2019)
4. Evelina Fisher, Oversupply: Symptoms, causes, and what to do if you have too much milk, Breastfeeding USA
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Arushi Agrawal
Arushi AgrawalIBCLC
Arushi Agarwal is a certified lactation consultant (IBCLC) who started as a mom. She has four years of experience and currently works at Surya Hospital, Jaipur. Her struggles through the journey of breastfeeding led her to her mission of passionately creating awareness about the struggles of breastfeeding and the need for help.

Read full bio of Arushi Agrawal
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