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FTM-help please!

JamieK1882JamieK1882 member
edited November 2014 in Breastfeeding
Hi everyone-I'm a FTM who just gave birth this past Thurs on 11-13 and breast feeding. Had some trouble initially in the hospital but seemed to have the hang of it by the time we left. LO was typically eating every 2-2.5 hours for about 20 min. LC was happy with her weight and dirty diapers so we seemed on track.

Yesterday her feeding was off some. She had two very short feeds but I was told not to push it if she didn't want to eat. Before bedtime we had a good normal 24-min feeding that started at 11:45pm.

I set my alarm for 4 hours later (4am), but figured she would wake me up first crying. She never did but when I got up at 4 she was awake and appeared hungry (rooting, etc) but no crying. I tried to feed her and omg my milk must have just came in because leaking EVERYWHERE. She was screaming and it took forever and DH's help to calm her enough to eat, which she finally did (a long 26-min feed).

Not to repeat the same mistake of waiting too long, I set my alarm for 3 hours, but she woke me up first. Tried feeding and same problem-was rooting for my nipple, would latch momentarily, then push away screaming. She finally just fell back asleep but never ate.

Any advice on what is going on? Am I producing TOO much milk now or maybe flow too fast?


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Re: FTM-help please!

  • LunaBug924LunaBug924 member
    Sounds like fast flow. That doesn't necessarily mean you have OALD, but it's something to look out for. Give it a day or two and take notice of your letdown. If it's spraying when LO pulls off then that might be the issue.

    For now, try side lying nursing if you can. Or you can recline back and put baby on your chest, belly to belly. Let gravity help slow the flow until baby gets used to the faster delivery.
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  • JamieK1882JamieK1882 member
    Thanks for the advice. It got so bad this morning I ended up pumping and giving her her first bottle which absolutely killed me.

    Just tried feeding again and got the same result. I wasn't leaking this time and don't seem engirged, so I have no idea why she's rejecting the breast. I'm seriously having a breakdown over it so appreciate any help or advice!


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  • JamieK1882JamieK1882 member
    Thanks for the advice. It got so bad this morning I ended up pumping and giving her her first bottle which absolutely killed me.

    Just tried feeding again and got the same result. I wasn't leaking this time and don't seem engirged, so I have no idea why she's rejecting the breast. I'm seriously having a breakdown over it so appreciate any help or advice!


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  • Abenedict2011Abenedict2011 member
    As pp said it takes time and practice the first few days/weeks. I had a fast flow initially too and it took baby a while I figure it out. Maybe try pumping a little bit first so it's not such a bi. Let down for LO. Then shorten your pumps until LO is used to it?
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  • JamieK1882JamieK1882 member
    Ok so it's getting a little but better. We had 3 good feeds, but now I have a follow-up question. She seems to only want to eat from one side at each feeding. If I unlatch her to switch sides, she'll stop.

    However, the side she isn't feeding from is getting engorged. Then she doesn't want to eat from it the next feeding. I had to pump a few minutes from the boob before she would eat, but I don't want to start that habit. Should I keep pumping a few minutes before feeding or try to get her used to eating from a full boob?


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  • Abenedict2011Abenedict2011 member
    At this point I highly doubt you'd be forming any bad habits. I'd recommend always offering both sides but I LO doesn't want to drink from the 2nd side and it's too engorged next time go ahead and pump or manually express enough to make it easier for LO to latch. I had to do this at first for my baby. Good job momma! Hang in there ; it gets so much easier.
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  • ThewizardofrhythmThewizardofrhythm member
    This exact same thing happened to me when my milk came in. It was so stressful! I had to form a nipple/sandwich shape with one hand in order for LO to latch and my H had to compress my breasts to encourage him to suck. LO also would only stay on one breast at first but after a day or two we both got the hang of things and everything was much smoother. I found i was engorged those first few milk days no matter what so i just hand expressed a little in the shower when it felt overwhelming. Your supply is in the middle of regulating so Id let your body it do its thing for a day or two. A pump may interfere.


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  • AlikiAliki member
    JamieK1882 said:
    Thanks for the advice. It got so bad this morning I ended up pumping and giving her her first bottle which absolutely killed me. Just tried feeding again and got the same result. I wasn't leaking this time and don't seem engirged, so I have no idea why she's rejecting the breast. I'm seriously having a breakdown over it so appreciate any help or advice!
    Pumping can worsen the situation over time, as it tells your body you need to produce MORE milk. So pumping now can mean a worsening situation as you keep making more and more milk....

    She may not be rejecting the breast. She may be so hungry that she is panicking and thus turning her head this way and that (agitation, see graph), out of frustration. Try feeding her sooner, before she gets to the frantic stage. 

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