Breast feeding let down query

[melsy]

dd2 3.5 wks old often takes the 1st 10 mins really well and then my let down goes mental and she cant get a good latch and starts fussing like mad and getting upset. I know its a mad fast let down and sometimes when pumping I can get 4oz in about 10 mins and I see it sparying out all over.

Can I do anything about it , or will it calm down in the next week or 2 ? and if its so fast she must be getting a good feed very very quickly may be ??? Or is it that shes taken what she wants and doesnt need any more? Its all so confusing sometimes , as I put her down and then she gets upset and starts routing again, soI assume she does want more.

It all seems like Im 2nd guessing and feel like a newbie to all this as dd1 didnt work with BF at all.

[Judy1234]

I think the milk lets down usually earlier. Once I had breastfeeding going okay I'd feed, wait may be 1 - 2 minutes and then it would let down which was the point at which she started getting more milk unless my breasts were already very full anyway and there as a lot of it just there ready for her/him.

I think she will want more so keep on with it. It sounds as if you're still just getting supply and demand adjusted and it will sort out soon and she'll get bigger and better able to cope with the rush of milk. She can't keep latched on because she's got so much milk rushing down her throat? Is that it? She should already be latched so not come off when the milk lets down and just suck faster to get it all down her I think. Most babies once it's going well suck, are very happy whgen the milk lets down because that's when they get most of what they're after so the last thing they want is for you to stop and also like to suck for quite a bit of time after as it all slows up again.

[PinkTulips]

melsy, posted reply for you on post natal thread

[melsy]

Sorry didnt explain that I tend to put her down because she falls asleep and stops sucking and drinking!! and the other time she comes off is due to it coming in so fast she cant always cope with it.

Xenia when u say "the milk lets down usually earlier", does that mean it starts as soon as they feed?

[amijee]

Have you considered wind? My let down is fast and ds gulps and chokes and sometimes stops feeding - when I try to wind him. He is still hungry so will stil root but putting him back on the breast makes him very angry!!

[melsy]

yerrr shes a right windy babes, try to wind her before during and after, but she doesnt always seem to bring it up well despite all techniques ! I gave her infacol but she started possiting more with it.

Its all trial and error at the mo, having never been successful before. Well I think Im doing sort of ok with it , shes certainly gaining no problem.

[amijee]

I have exactly the same problem and it's leading to frequent feeds because I can't always wind him and he is still hungry and feeds again 9 mins later. ( he is now 6 wks - growth spurt at present) I found infacol useful and give it every feed - it works better nce it is built up in the system. other mums swear by colief, although I have not tried it. I recently discovered having him face down on my lap and patting him was useful.

Out of interest, what are the nights like for you? I'm not sure why, but ds doesn't seem bothered about not burping over night and is usually half asleep when he feeds and doesn't make a fuss. Not really sure why this is - was thinking of posting a new thread on it.

[amijee]

whoops - should say 90 mins later!

[melsy]

yep sounds like we have the same child here , feeds seem to go on for ages with the stop start business!!

Some nights she seems a little less fretty but tends to want feeding every 3hrs , but others she wakes up totally with wide eyes and continues the same way as during the day. Im frazzled alot of days from it.

[amijee]

i sympathise but also slightly glad I've come across someone who knows what i'm goin thru. Been a bit flat this w/e as dh is at a stag w/e ( !) Aware that ds is having growth spurt but was still feeding frequently before hand.

Have decided to take a step back from automatically shoving tit in mouth, in order to look at what it is he might need. ( only been doin it for a day but making some progress) someone who overheard me in the dr's surgery with regards to frequency of feeds suggested secrets of the baby whisperer - just strted looking at it and a lot of it makes sense - listen to their cues, try and read what they want and don't go straight for the tit. I think there is a lot of confusion about demand feeding - i took it to meant offer a tit any time you think they want it - not sure that's the best way forward for a windy baby as they think they want it but it actually makes their wind worse.

Gonnna call dh now and summon him home! Good luck love and keep me updated x x x

[melsy]

yes some of baby whisperer was quite helpful, I garnered what I wanted from her book when trying to get dd1 on a routine a few years ago.Im definately more a routine kind of person , so if Im happy and the girls are happy , then happier house all round. Will do something similar with dd2 once shes 3-4mths I think. I just hope this all settles down soon.

[amijee]

Hi again

Just did the last feed in total silence to concentrate on what was going on. Yep - he is definitely drowning by my let down which makes him drink a large qty in a short space of time and become very windy. He can actually make my breast feel empty in under 10 mins! when he stopped and squirmed the 1st time, I successfully burped him. After that he drank a little and then strted back arching, red in face, legs up in air - as if he had a problem in his belly. At that stage, I put him on the changing mat on the floor, took off his nappy and let the fresh air hit his bottom! somehow that makes him fart and poo and makes him feel better. I wash approx 7-8 muslin cloths daily as a result ( may as well be using terry nappies!) Once that's all over, he may drink some more!

Anyway - will keep monitering and let you know if anything else materialises!!

lots of love

[amijee]

ps - what's your opinion about nipple shields to reduce the flow from a fast let down - i was thinking about giving it a go.

[melsy]

oh is that what they do ?? My midwife didnt encourage their use, but I dont know anything about them. I think theyre more for dodgy sore nipples lol !!!

Sounds so much like dd2 with your feeding scenario, I also feel very empty after 10 mins of her going for it. Sounds like a good idea to put her on changing mat starkers below , she normally loves that , so might help her movements, although not pooing Ive been told is a good thing with BF, as they absorb the feed.

[amijee]

yeah - they are for sore nipples but the side effect is that they can reduce flow - so maybe an option.

How often does you LO feed? And if you've expressed, how much is taken in?

Out of interest, when my dh botle feeds her EBM, he makes no fuss, I think because the flow is slower. He burps well and actually uffers less wind so i'm gonna do it more.

The other factor is that i've just discovered he has been using me as a dummy when he's not really that hungry and feeds but not to fullness. I think this may be contributing to my breasts feeling full all the time ( and fast let down) and also possibly the wind ( I read somewhere if the are feeding too much foremilk it is high in lactose and makes them more windy)

Well, between us, dh and I are working on all these things to try and get his feeding a bit more smooth and regular. Will keep you posted.

[melsy]

interesting interseting, she also likes to use me as dummy , so yes I can see how that encourages supply, and makes me feel very full alot of the time. She also doesnt fuss with the bottle. Parralel universes hey !!!

oh during the night she feeds every 2hrs but during the day shes so comfy on her bouncer cradle for naps that she can go 4hrs or so, why oh why wont she do that at night ?? Were guessing she doesnt like her crib much and so wakes alot more. I think I will try bouncer cradle at night too.

[amijee]

I hate to say this sweetie, but maybe you need to abandon the comfey naps during the day. we are currently working on a similar thing.

I was using the vibrating chair ( in the living room) and rocking him to sleep a lot. Suddenly we thought - when are we going to knock this on the head? It's far easier the earlier it's done is my guess.

Right now he is having his afternoon nap in his own room in the cot. We have also decided to use a dummy because his sucking instinct is so strong. I was always very against dummies but I guess there's a reason why people have used them for centuries! I'm using the dummy to space out his feeds ( when he wants to suck but isn't bothered that there is no milk coming thru) and to use as he is drifting off to sleep instead of using other props. ( I figured a dummy is a lot easier to use and dispense with - once they are older enough they can suck their hands)

Anyway, we are still in the experimenting stage but I've managed to space 2 feeds out today, successfully. One was from dh and one from myself - and he fed and burped beautifully. Anyhow, let's see how the night goes!!

[alibobble]

Hi, I realise this may be repeating something that others have said but if baby sleeping loads and not feeding much in the day, will want feeding every 2 hrs at night. dd needs feeding every 3 hrs normally and every 2 hrs in growth spurt but as a result when little only woke once and now sleeps through. Also awake most of the day too.

[adath]

I had this problem with let down and sorry if someone has said this what I had to do was take DS off at the let dwon and catch it with a muslin or even a breast shell if you want to keep the milk and after less than a minute the milk will still be flowing but not as fast latch baby back on and continue feeding.
Both my chilren drowned in my let down and even now after nearly 5 months it is still quite strong but thankfully not needed to stop us drowning for ages.