XP: Forceful letdown?

LaLaaaa · December 2010

Based on all the information I've read it seems like my forceful letdown is the reason I'm having so many problems nursing LO. If you have this too, what did you or are you doing to deal with this. I've read some of the positions that may help, did any of those work for you? Does it get better after time? This is really frustrating and I would love to hear someone's success story.

SnoopyLuv · December 2010

LO has seemed to get used to it with time but definitely still chokes once a day or so. I do a lot of side lying nursing (especially in the AM when I am full and the flow is faster). Another good position is to sit her on my knee facing me so she is above my breast. She is basically straddling one knee and sitting upright to eat. We cannot do cross cradle or any other hold. I also let her suck until I let down (she usually pulls off that's how I know) and let the milk spray into a burp cloth. That seems to help a lot.

When in it was really bad I was using my manual pump to let down (I'd pump about a 1/2 ounce first) and then put her on the breast. We also nursed with her lying on top of me. Kellymom.com is what I used to help. GL!

Teach84 · December 2010

DS seems to have gotten more used to my letdown now that he is older. I try to nurse him so I am leaning back slightly and he is above my breast, that makes my letdown a little less intense. DS still unlatches and coughs sometimes during letdown. I just make sure I have a burpcloth to "catch" the forceful milk and DS relatches when it has died down a bit. GL!

kspies · December 2010

Block nursing is what helped me the most (it's explained in the Kellymom article on oversupply). Essentially you just keep offering the same breast at each feeding until the other one is uncomfortably full and then switch sides. The length of time you stay on that side depends on how serious your oversupply is. It worked within a few days for me.

nerual115 · December 2010

We do the same. Let DD suck and then pull her off for a second and use burp cloth or pump for a minute until milk flow is better.

Mt2G1012 · December 2010

kspies:
Block nursing is what helped me the most (it's explained in the Kellymom article on oversupply). Essentially you just keep offering the same breast at each feeding until the other one is uncomfortably full and then switch sides. The length of time you stay on that side depends on how serious your oversupply is. It worked within a few days for me.

Ditto all PP, but I also have an oversupply problem. DO you just have a forceful letdown or both? Block nursing took 3 weeks to fix my problem. And it still is on occasion. LO has gotten used to the fast flow but still chokes maybe a few times a week. Good luck it can be done.

fotobird · December 2010

I wouldn't recommend laying down to feed your baby while they're ontop of you for the fact that you can develop clogged ducts and worse.

LaLaaaa · December 2010

heatherm818:
kspies:
Block nursing is what helped me the most (it's explained in the Kellymom article on oversupply). Essentially you just keep offering the same breast at each feeding until the other one is uncomfortably full and then switch sides. The length of time you stay on that side depends on how serious your oversupply is. It worked within a few days for me.
Ditto all PP, but I also have an oversupply problem. DO you just have a forceful letdown or both? Block nursing took 3 weeks to fix my problem. And it still is on occasion. LO has gotten used to the fast flow but still chokes maybe a few times a week. Good luck it can be done.

I don't *think* I have oversupply, but I have an appt with an LC tomorrow so I'll see what she thinks too. My milk just comes SO fast. My little peanut threw up 3 times today after her last feeding. She's never done that before.

LaLaaaa · December 2010

Thanks ladies, it seems kind of impossible right now but if you guys can do it then there's hope for me

shelbyl · December 2010

I'm dealing with his also and it's been difficult but is getting better day-by-day. I just feed with one breast during a feeding. Like PP, when the letdown happens and he pulls off, I let it flow into a burp cloth and then relatch LO. I'm able to do the cradle hold w/ My Brest Friend, but I try to push the side with his legs down so he's at a bit of an angle, and then I also lean back so that the milk is shooting up into his mouth and not straight down his throat. The LC wants me to not use the pillow and hold him at even more of an angle, but I'm still struggling to do that. She also recommended the side-lying position, and I'm practicing with that.

LO was pulling off a lot more, spitting up all of the milk, and getting so frustrating with the overflow, but it's gotten so much better. It will get better with time, hang in there. I know it can be really difficult.

LaLaaaa · December 2010

shelbyl:
I'm dealing with his also and it's been difficult but is getting better day-by-day. I just feed with one breast during a feeding. Like PP, when the letdown happens and he pulls off, I let it flow into a burp cloth and then relatch LO. I'm able to do the cradle hold w/ My Brest Friend, but I try to push the side with his legs down so he's at a bit of an angle, and then I also lean back so that the milk is shooting up into his mouth and not straight down his throat. The LC wants me to not use the pillow and hold him at even more of an angle, but I'm still struggling to do that. She also recommended the side-lying position, and I'm practicing with that.
LO was pulling off a lot more, spitting up all of the milk, and getting so frustrating with the overflow, but it's gotten so much better. It will get better with time, hang in there. I know it can be really difficult.

Thank you!!!

MrsJeffers2006 · December 2010

I also deal with this. I block feed and lean back in the recliner like a sort of modified cross cradle hold. I get really frustrated sometimes, and so does LO. It also makes him pretty gassy. I have an oversupply as well, so that adds to the issue. Things get better. They say our supply should even out at 12 weeks and the overactive letdown will subside. I am just looking forward to that day.

NillaWafers · December 2010

I block fed, and I only feed if he is level with my boob AKA laying down or with a boppy. I can't feed in public because gravity makes the letdown awful! So hard without a pillow. DS will pull off when I letdown if its to forceful and I just catch it in a cloth. It's amazing how fast you can soak it!

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