Forceful Letdown

[lola]

Hello, and Merry Christmas to those who celebrate! My baby is 12 days old, and due to nursing very frequently before my milk came in, I think we're in an oversupply situation. During the day, she eats a little more frequently, so I'm not as engorged and letdown isn't quite so forceful as at night, but in general she's coughing and pulling away while feeding initially, until enough milk is expressed to not choke her. She's also pretty gassy, so I'm burping frequently during feeding. I'm using the laid back position to let gravity help.

Are there any other tactics you recommend to keep baby and me more comfortable during this time? I don't want to try to reduce supply yet with something like block feeding, as I've read that shouldn't be done this early in the process. And I'm nervous to use my manual pump or hand express and create additional oversupply. Instead I'm using the method of switching sides more frequently linked to by KellyMom. I'm also going to start icing between sessions today. Anyway, wanted to see if there was additional advice from the group here. Thank you!

[melody330]

Congrats on your LO! I had a forceful Letdown as well. In the early days the thing that helped the most was to keep towels near by.
Once LO got a letdown I would unlatch and let it spray into the towel until it was crazy anymore. Then relatch and finish the session. It's annoying, but it only lasted about 6 weeks with both boys. Eventually baby gets older and can manage a little better.

I would stay away from the pump and hand expressing too much too.

Good luck!

[westiemom]

Congrats!! I had forceful letdown too. Around 2 months, she got way better at handling it and had no issues so just know that!

Secondly, I also kept a towel close by to squirt in to. You can also try laid back nursing or pressing down the top of your breast at letdown to slow it down.

Supply will regulate over time. Hand express only for comfort if needed.

Good luck!

[sarcaztic10]

I also had/have a forceful letdown. I am going to echo the towel idea because that's what I did until he got a bit older and was able to handle it better.

Also going to agree that you Shouldnt pump for quite awhile and hand express for comfort.

[lola]

Thanks everyone! I've been using the towel today and it seems to be helping. I'll avoid pumping and hand express as needed. Hopefully it's temporary.

[jewel441]

Definitely a towel. I also had a lot of luck with side lying position. Eventually they grow used to it/learn to love the fast flow! Great job mama!

[lola]

Thank you! I'll try side lying too. We couldn't make it work in the hospital, but it's been enough time to try it again.

[jewel441]

Dec 26, 2016 12:05:50 GMT -5 lola said:

Thank you! I'll try side lying too. We couldn't make it work in the hospital, but it's been enough time to try it again.

Ya I couldn't do it until about 2 weeks old until then it was just too uncomfortable to be on my side like that

[lola]

Dec 28, 2016 15:06:58 GMT -5 @kc295905 said:

lola I agree with PPs and had this with DS1 and now DS2. It's def worse during the day as supply is higher but we manage. I think your LO will figure out how to manage the flow soon, but it is sad when they're coughing/choking. My LO sometimes has trouble latching in side lying position, but if I have him latch in cross cradle and then lay him down it works well.

Good tip! I'll try that transition to side.