Fast Let Down, Silent Reflux or Something Else?

MaineIslandBride

I've been dealing with breastfeeding issues since the day my son was born (so over a month now). I have been working with a lactation consultant at my local hospital. She thought that I had oversupply/fast let down and that was what has been causing our issues.

DS will choke sometimes while breastfeeding and let milk dribble out of his mouth and un-latch, re-latch etc. (basically all the typical symptoms you would assume for fast let down/oversupply). She has me doing block feeding, laying back while nursing, etc. (DS does not like it when I lay back though). I'm not sure I have been doing block feeding 100% correct, but my supply doesn't seem as strong now regardless. I don't get engorged and leak all the time like I was a week or two ago. Either way, We're still having the same issues of him being fussy at the breast.

Recently, I've started keeping a log of when he is fussy while feeding. It seems to be mostly during the day and evening. He is NEVER fussy overnight. Why would this be? If it were fast let down, it seems like it would bother him no matter what time of day. In fact often times at night I can see milk spilling out of his mouth and also I have had fast let down at night where it's spraying out of my breast right into his mouth and it doesn't seem to bother him at all...he keeps sucking away. During the day however, the same situation would have him fussing- pulling away, screaming, etc. SOMETIMES (not always) during the day he is fine too. If fast let down was truly my issue, why would it bother him sometimes, and not others?

 The things I am thinking of are

1. Sometimes he's sleepy when he eats so he's not sucking as hard ...so the letdown wouldn't bother him as much.This would explain overnights and why sometimes during the day he's OK too (if he happens to nurse when he's sleepy before a nap or something)

or

2. He has silent reflux and let down/over supply isn't our issue at all...but instead his stomach bothers him  sometimes and that's the reason he fusses at the breast. I've read that reflux is often better overnight, so that may be a reason why he never fusses overnights. Often times when he fusses at the breast he will arch his back. He is also very gassy.

3. Sometimes he may just not want to eat and want the pacifier to suck on, so gets frustrated when milk comes out of my breast (because he doesn't actually want milk). The Lactation Consultant even said he may just want to suck a lot. When he fusses during the day, I will take him off and give him a pacifier sometimes. However, I am still wary that this is truly why he would scream and fuss so much, especially since if I offer him my breast he will usually attempt to latch back on and eat. I worry a lot that the pacifier will keep him from letting me know he is truly hungry. 

 What do you ladies think? Am I on the right track with either of these options? Any other suggestions? I'm so at a loss as to how to fix our issues at this point. It's so frustrating having your child scream his head off 90% of the time you try and feed him.

 

hlc820

My guess, as i have same issues, although i know he has reflux and he is on meds....is a fast letdown and some reflux.  The back arching is a tell tale sign of reflux.  My LO will oly nurse for 5-10 minutes due to my forceul flow.  I blockfeed as well and he is better once the boob is less full.  My LO fusses less at night also but i think bc he is sleepier.  Does LO spit up and cry after feedings and arch back?  Forceful letdown and over supply can cause some reflux.

MaineIslandBride

hlc820:

Does LO spit up and cry after feedings and arch back?  Forceful letdown and over supply can cause some reflux.

He doesn't spit up too much, which is why I'm thinking if it's reflux it's actually Silent Reflux (apparently they don't spit up with Silent Reflux).

Ugh. He just ate for 5 minutes, cried and un latched so I took him off, now he's displaying feeding cues again.