Overactive Letdown

I would go see a lactation consultant. I attended a clinic for a different issue but there was a woman there with overactive letdown. She was advised to pump before feedings to get rid of the foremilk so the baby would get less but more nutritous hind milk.

Good Luck!

The constant spitting up could be an allergic reaction, my son had a cow's milk allergy when he was young, he would spit up a lot, he developed a bad diaper rash and cradle cap. His pediatrician prescribed some cream for his head, but it was another mother that suggested he was allergic to something. I took him to an allergy doctor and they did a simple test, they had a tray of different allergens and they dabbed it on his back and then waited for a few minutes to see if there was any reaction. He showed positive for cow's milk, but the allergy doctor said most babies outgrow it before they are two.

This used to happen to me too with my son and it worked itself out. The let down relaxed and as he got bigger he was able to take in more... but then spit it up...
Good luck.

Debbie, do you stop and burp inbetween every 5 to 10 minutes? It could help.

Are yo giving her maybe a ounce stopping then burping her, if not you should be, sometimes it takes a couple of minutes to get a burp up, best way is to rub her upper back in an upwards motion, babies are air swallowers, when they suck, it could be she needs to burp and to much air in her, this should help with the barfing, now with you not sure maybe you can pump the milk, I would talk to your doctor about to much milk is coming, you could always share the breast milk with other new borns, if that is something you would do, I am not sure I would but I have heard a lot of other mothers who do it,.

Mammary PMG helped me when I had too much milk. I on;y had to take it for a few days - ALL natural. I had a friend who took it when she didn't have enough. it just balanced milk production. it's not a stimulant or a milk depressant, which is why I like it.

Hi Debbie,
Just keep hanging in there! I know it is inconvenient, especially since you are an active on the go kind of mom. It will get better though...you will notice you go through cycles with your production and your body and hers will eventually get it all worked out. As she gets older, she will be better able to accomodate how rapidly your milk is released...this is not all bad when you need to feed her quickly!

One tip I have for you that worked for me with regards to the other side letting down and soaking your pad. Was, as you feel the let down happening, just press on the breast that baby is not nursing on. This will decrease the flow on that one side while allowing the other side to release the milk.

I do remember times when my milk flow was so rapid that the babies gulped, choked, etc. But, it was usually when they had been nursing frequently because they were growing then the milk is in full force...it will mellow out and going out in public wont be a big deal in a few weeks. Hang in there and enjoy it. Also, it might be a good idea to just figure out places where you can deal with all of the milk where ever it is that you take her. For example, know where you can have some privacy at the local park...maybe your car? or at the mall, maybe a nice lounge in a department store? If I was out, I wouldnt really worry about trying to catch the milk in a bottle, I would just take along absorbent cloth diapers to catch the milk on..probably even remove the breast pad on the breast she is not nursing on and put the diaper underneath to catch the milk on. You will figure out what works for you and your little one.
Best of luck,
T.

Question? When you started breastfeeding, did your child throw up constantly? If not, then she is lacking the colostrum that you produced when she was first born.

There is a product out that will help her stop throwing up and will not cause a mess. Go to www.twihealth.com/jlwagner and look up the information on colostrum pills. There is also another product that has colostrum in it that will help clean your body out and will help you and your child.

Call me if you have any questions or e-mail me and I will try to answer any questions you have. ###-###-#### or ____@____.com.

J.

Hi D.,

Emily C. is right on with her information and experience. The extra burping and spitting up is because your baby is getting a large amount of milk in a very short amount of time as well as very rapid flow so its probably not an allergy just her body's way of dealing with it. (Some babies refuse the breast because they're scared of getting choked.) Leaning back and allowing gravity to help should work, while doing some nipple compression to help stop the other breast's flow. Does she usually nurse both breasts every feeding? Discussing this with an LC is a great idea - they can help with positioning and other things. Keep up the good work - you can be very active and continue to breastfeed!

K.

All the info for the letdown is great. I agree that the baby will be accustomed to it in time. The spitting up could be because the baby isn't getting all of your milk. My sister had this problem with her baby and did find info online about it but I'm not sure what it is called. The first part of your milk that is expressed is good but at the end of all that milk are extra nutrients that help the baby digest everything and stop the spitting up. If the baby can't take that much yet I would suggest pumping first and then be sure to let the baby emty your breast fully so she can get all of those good nutrients. Good Luck

Welcome to the BARFY BABY CLUB!

My daughter is also 8 weeks and I am also an active, nursing mom! My sister's little girl (now 6) was very barfy, so I guess it runs in our family. Your doc is right: as long as she is gaining weight and producing dirty diapers, she is getting enough. That's hard to believe after she's burped up all 4oz of milk she just took down!

Things I've done with my little one to cut back on the mess:

1. When she goes in the car seat, put a bib around her neck and over the straps. When you arrive at your destination, remove the bib and her onesie will be relatively burp free.
2. Wear patterned shirts, and put the baby in a patterned onsie or dress. Think of it as Burp Camo.
3. Stash burp rags in your purse, the car. The little kleenex packs also come in handy.
4. When she takes too much and coughs, sit her up. It helps a little.
5. If we are home during her morning nap, I will pump for 5-10 minutes and store it in the freezer. That seems to ease the let down for the next feeding.
6. As for nursing in public, I just go for it. All of the Hooter Hiders seem to make it more difficult for me and the baby to communicate and she chokes more. I find focusing on feeding my daughter rather than worrying about others seeing me make the feeding easier.
Good luck!
With a Splat and a cough,
A

I had this problem, and as I recall there were 2 suggestions from my doctor, although they won't necessarily help with nursing in public. One was to only nurse on one side for several feedings, which means that there won't be so much of a letdown after the first time on that breast. The other is to pump before you nurse so that initial gush of milk is when you are pumping, not nutsing. I had a lot of projectile vomiting from my baby for awhile, but eventually it slows down and works into a rhythm - and they can handle more as they get bigger. I am trying to wean him now at 2 1/2, and I barely even get a letdown when he does nurse. No more milk shooting to the other side of the room these days.

my little guy has the same problem. what i do is pump before he feeds, until the milk stops spraying so he doesnt choke so much. he will be 3 months tomorrow and as the feeding schedule gets more regulated it is easier to know when to pump. if you are at home, lay down to feed her, it slows down the flow. also if you sit on the couch and lean back the flow slows but not as much. i have had to resort to pumping & bottle feeding in public, its just such a mess. good luck!

I, too had the same problem. At home I would nurse my son lying down, and when we were out in public, I would have to nurse in bathrooms or go to my car, because it was a messy and difficult situation. He would pull off the breast, and I could never figure out how to handle it in public. the good news is is that at about 4 months he was used to the flow and I could nurse him without lying down. The bad news is is that he got used to nursing in quiet places, and when I could nurse him in public, he was too distracted to do it. Oh well, we lived!!! :)

Hi Debbie - I had overactive letdown with both my girls. In public, I would have a cloth diaper or blanket handy to hold over my breast while it was squirting. As for the barfing, my kids didn't do that, so it may or may not be related to the letdown. I consulted with a lactation consultant and got a lot of good advice. Your doctor, midwife, or La Leche League would all be good sources for lactation consultants in your area.

Hope this helps! - P.

I had the same thing.
My lactation consultant gave me a print-out from this site: kellymom.com
Type in 'overactive let-down'

good luck

Hi D., I know its normal for babies to have spit-up, but a friend of mine's daugther recently was having the same problem, except when she breathed it would be raspy and she wasn't gaining much weight. Turned out that some of the milk was going into her lungs, causing the excessive spit-up and raspy breathing.
I am sure this is NOT what your baby is expereincing, but I didn't even know that problem existed and apparently, it does exist, more than I thought... So, not to scare you, just something to be aware of... And if your baby is gaining weight fine, I am sure she is good.

Hi D.,

Some women are blessed with this "affliction". Lucky you! Your approach will depend on what your ultimate goal is. Some women do have to rearrange their schedule for the letdown - at least until it stabilizes. fingers crossed that you'll be able to work through it.

I just have a couple of things to suggest, and maybe you can call the Pump Station in Santa Monica to see what they have to say about this...

1) there are a lot of moms out there who can't make enough milk, so donating your milk to another lovely child might be a thought for you? I was lucky enough to find someone to help me out in that way, and my son is SO healthy! Also, I have a new friend for life. We bonded in a special way because of it.

2) You might consider pumping for a minute or two before going out. Your letdown won't be quite so intense later. but don't pump longer than that. You don't want to further stimulate.... Also, when you are at home, it seems like you are doing the right thing. Save every precious drop that you can! Frozen breast milk is good for up to 6 months, if stored properly.

3) Is there one breast that produces and/or lets down less than the other? You might try to orchestrate feeding from the "lesser" side when in public.

Maybe none of this works for you. Or maybe you've thought of all of this. the Pump Station will have some other suggestions for sure! And they have support groups through which you can discuss this stuff AND/OR potentially find a recipient for your abundance!!

Hang in there. It won't always be like this. At this stage, your body is still regulating it's supply. Your let down will not always be this prominent, and the problem will resolve it. Also, you can always call your local La Leche League leader for help. She can work with you on the phone, or meet with you in person to help solve your nursing issues... for free! They are wonderful! Good luck!

Hi D.,
I remember having this problem while nursing my 3 babies. It was the most bothersome with my son who would get upset and stop feeding. I ended up pumping a small amount of milk out prior to nursing him, so the sudden release of milk was not so abundant. I did not have to do that for very long, maybe up to 3-4 months old, when my let-down reflex seem to regulate better and also baby could handle the milk flow better. Sometimes it helps to nurse more frequently; you could try this with your daughter, especially before going out. I know this is awkward when you are out socially, but people are usually very understanding about the challenges of baby care and if they are not, know that you are doing what is best for your baby. Just try to have a sense of humor about it and do bring a fresh shirt for yourself! Good luck and enjoy your baby girl.

It will get better. Please dont give up. The same thing happened to me. I felt like everytime she would eat she spit up all of what she ate. But like your baby, my baby was gaining weight just fine. One of my girlfriends called a lactation consultant about it and they told her to pump for a few minutes before you feed the baby so that you can let down before feeding your baby. However if you decide to just deal with her spitting up it will get better on its own. My daughter just turned 5 months and around 3 1/2 to 4 months she stopped. The other thing that you have to remember, active or not. Your baby comes first that is a decision that we make as parents when we conceive. Make the time to devote to your baby and her feedings. You CAN NOT get this time back once it is gone, and before you know it you baby will be off to kindergarten. Good luck! Dont give up!!!!
A.

You may want to see a lactation consultant. I had a similar problem. Jessica Sacker at the Pump Station in Santa Monica really helped me. One thing that worked well was nursing just from one side at each feeding. I also did what you did, releasing some of the milk initially at a feeding. Good luck.

it sounds like mama needs to Relax a bit!
when i first nursed, my nurse at the hospital told me that i was too tense. the baby can feel what mama feels
S.

I dealt with the same thing, and I'm sorry you have to! My dr. suggested that I pump a little before feeding, but that's not so easy when you have a hungry baby waiting for you. My daughter started solid food at 4 months, and that really seemed to help the spitting. Sitting up also helped her so I propped her up as early as I could. Things really settled down at around 4 months, and before that, I rarely breastfed in public, unfortunately. The Medela disposable breastpads were the best I've found, so I'd put one of those on one side while I fed her on the other side. She'll stop choking in the next few months too because she'll be able to handle more and your body will figure out her needs a little better.
Just have hope that this should only last for a couple more months!

I had the same thing happen to me with all three of my babies. This will balance out in a short time. I know it is frustrating, but be thankful you have "enough" milk!

Give her little breaks when she's feeding like you already do. Burp her once during feeding time. Once this works out you'll be able to comfortably BF in public. You'll have to be creative for now - BF in your car, plan feeding around going out, etc. This will pass soon!

I had this with my first son. I did not know what to do about it (using gravity-brilliant!) but I do remember that your letdown will adjust to her needs eventually. It probably seems like forever but it happens! I think the person who said pump some the milk off first, that's a great idea. I do remember that you don't want her to get too full on that first milk as you want her to nurse all the way to the end to get that rich hind-milk. That's IF you can get her to keep it down at all! Stick with it, nursing gets so much easier with a little time! Best of luck!

D.,
the good news is that this should only happen for a short time as soon, as she gets older, she will be able to take it all. So try and remember that it's only temporary. Good for you for wanting to continue. I hope you find some answers as to how to deal in the mean time.

D.,

I also had overactive letdown when feeding my daughter who is now 22 months old. The lactation consultant recommended pumping for the first minute or so to get the strong flow. I ended up saving the milk for later, which was a real hassle, but I did it. I know you said you were in public a lot, so it seem like if letting the let down pass and just holding a cloth to collect the milk would be best. The pediatrician wanted me to stop that practice and not do it for very long. So I ended up doing it a month or so and then things seemed better.

The most important thing I want to tell you is to continue to watch your baby for signs of acid reflux. It turned out my girl had acid reflux which no one caught until about 3.5 months and for those 3 months she was miserable. Looking back I wonder if the overactive letdown would have been a problem at all if my baby did not have acid reflux. Because my friends seem to have the same problem and their babies could handle it better. I am about to have another baby, so it will be very interesting to see what happens this time :) The best resource I used on acid reflux was the book "Colic Solved". You can buy it on Amazon.

I hope this helped some.

Hi D.!

I didn't read all the responses so not sure if this was already said-

I also had overactive let down and got some good advice here:

http://www.kellymom.com/bf/supply/fast-letdown.html

and

http://www.llli.org/llleaderweb/LV/LVSepOct95p71.html

Maybe you can absorb the first 1/2 ounce or so in a towel or cloth diaper (they are really absorbent) if you are out instead of the bottles. I also found that my daughter was able to handle it better as she got older.

Sometimes I go to the car or a dressing room to nurse when I'm out. Now that my daughter is 1 she doesn't like to be under a nursing cover.

I don't recommend pumping since that will only worsen the problem. Your body will just make even more milk!

Good luck! Please let us know what ends up working.

I had the same problem when my babies were young. Maybe if you pump a little first then your letdown wouldn't be as powerful or abundant. Also you daughter is only 2 months so once she grows a little and is able to drink more and faster it won't be as bad. Good luck

Hi D.,

I had overactive letdown for a couple months after my first was born (who went thru terrible choking spells) - maybe 4 months, until my breasts got used to what they were supposed to produce. Especially in public, I used to put a big blanket over when I felt letdown coming and stuff a cloth diaper on the nursing side for a minute or two and then latch baby and put the cloth diaper on the other side because the breast pad couldn't hold the rest of the let down on the non-nursing side. I would hold the baby a little more upright while nursing - they could control how they swallowed a little more, and tried to burp within the first minute or two of nursing to get out the air they take in from gulping. Best advice is it should pass pretty soon - at least it did for me. Good luck!

You don't mention if she is your only child, or why you are so active with a newborn. If she is your only child, perhaps it is time to slow down for awhile. My feeling is that your lifestyle is so busy that you may not be feeding her often enough and so the milk builds up and leads to a huge letdown. Also, if you are very busy, perhaps you are rushing through everything, including feedings, burpings, and just not giving her enough down time. Maybe your active lifestyle is stressful for her and that is contributing to her digestive issues. As a mother, you MUST take these things into consideration. Perhaps all the on-the-run behavior is teaming up with the overactive letdown and her little system has two strikes against it. Both she and your breasts are new to breastfeeding at this point and both will adjust in time, but bringing more down time into your life would be good for both of you, especially your daughter. As for the overactive letdown - until it adjusts, why not pump during the first minute or two? You don't need a big electric pump for when you are on the go. A simple, small hand pump is all you need. My intuition is telling me that you just need to SLOW DOWN, reduce your schedule and accept that you have a daughter who would appreciate a bit more peace and quiet.

Hi, D..

I have a 14-month-old daughter that I am now trying to wean. I also had a problem in the first five months with overactive letdown.

What you can do about the over active letdown, particularly in public, is try to pump for a few minutes before you leave the house. This way, the foremilk, is mostly expressed. The foremilk tends to make babies really gassy, as you are experiencing with her burping a lot. Also, when in public, put her on your breast for a shorter period of time and burp her frequently. My daughter had to be burped multiple times during one feeding and even doing that still produced a lot of spit up after feedings. The key is burping a lot during a feeding.

The overactive letdown will subside within a few months, but I know that pumping for just a few minutes before nursing (5 minutes worked best for my daughter) helped so much in making it easier and comfortable for her to nurse. She seemed much more satisfied after each nursing because she was able to get to the hindmilk faster and didn't have to deal with the letdown reflex because I already expressed the milk past the point of it.

If you have any questions, please feel free to send me a message and I can explain further. I hope this helps.

Good luck!

E.

Hi! It sounds to me like there are a bunch of things going on contributing to the problem. She's only 2 months old and (for me at least), it wasn't until a few months into it that my boobs "calmed down" a bit with the feedings. What helps with that is getting into a solid routine. I was feeding her every 2 hours during the day until she was about 6 months old. She was like clockwork and my body got into that rhythm. Also, I'd do only one breast at a time and wear breast pads in my bra to catch the other breast's milk during the letdown. It definitely got easier as time went on, I promise! And for her vomiting, my daughter was always "spitting up" and what my doc explained was that her digestive system just is not fully matured yet. It was no big deal, she was gaining weight. So even though it was a mess, that too eventually stopped. I always felt happy knowing I was giving too much rather than not enough! Keep at it. I promise it will get better! Good luck!

I had the exact same problem as you - I used to call our feedings milk baths.

I used to stuff a cloth under my breast and between my baby and me. Also - you can try pumping just a little to relieve pressure but unless you need the milk for bottles don't pump. The more you pump the more you'll express. That was my big mistake. Things called down for me around 3-4 months or so. The other thing that worked was since I was overproducing was only feeding from one breast over a long time (I think it was 4-6 hours on one breast before switching to the other). That told the breast to calm things down a bit.

Also - spit ups end around 6-9 months. Soon, they will be a thing of the past. I almost miss them (!).

You've gotten some great advice already -- the only thing I would add regarding the spitting up is to be sure you're not using a nursing cushion that keeps your baby flat on her back when she's nursing. All babies have reflux because their systems are immature and it's very hard to drink and keep the milk down if you're flat on your back! Her head should be above her belly -- a 45 degree angle works best.

Hi D.,

The same thing happened with my first baby, also a girl. At the time it was the most frustrating thing: doing a TON of laundry (including duvets and rugs!) was bad enough. But seeing her barf up all the milk I'd just given her so that there was hardly any left when she wanted more--that was harder.

I wasn't as active as you are, but when we did go out I always packed two extra outfits for the baby, and one for me. I took extra flannel blankets as well. I also took baggies to seal the wet clothes in. I counted on getting barfed on, and dressed in light, easily removable attire, and quick-dry athletic pants.

We could not stop the barfing. But--I hope this is a consolation to you--time took care of that. She "caught up" with my letdown, and seemed to learn to pace herself. Like others that have replied, I think that nursing while sitting back helps.

My daughter is now four. When my newborn son arrived and spit up for the first time, I flashed back to the time when our little baby girl was a Super-Barfer. And you know, that was the first time I had thought about it since those incredibly frustrating weeks when it seemed to rule our lives.

So, courage!

And kind regards,
S

Go to a Lactation Consultant.

Well at least you are fortunate to have so much milk and a good flow...but I know, it's just another side of the coin.

Perhaps... put your milk in bottles, and feed her with a bottle? But I know you are nursing...

Just see and ask a Lactation Consultant... that would be the best.

Take care,
Susan

Hi D.,

I have an 11 week old girl, and have the same issue. Here are some things to try:

1) blocking - go back to the same breast if feedings occur within two hours of each other. this will make the second feeding better, and ensure that your child gets the hindmilk, which is more nutritious.

2)when she starts gulping fast, remove her and let the letdown pass, and then put her back on (the key, especially in public, is to always have the burp cloth ready, and to have a nursing cover). in my case, my breast really sprays when i remove her, so i use the burp cloth to catch the let down.

3) wear a nursing pad on the non-nursing breast, of course.

4) pump a little before you begin nursing (probably won't work in public.

5) stop her mid-feeding and burp her, then put her back on.

6) be glad you have such a great milk supply! :)

THis combination has helped me. I still have overactive letdown, but only one in 3 feedings, since i go back to the same breast. I've also just gotten used to dealling with it. By the way, i got a lot of this advice at the new mom's support group at the pump station. i'm not a support group person in general, but that place saved my life. there's one in hollywood, and one in santa monica. the first meeting is free, and SO WORTH IT! www.pumpstation.com

Good luck!

Ok, I have had the same problem with both my kids, and yes it's annoying and frustrating to see them choking and gagging at every feeding and then throwing up what seems like everything they just ate and then having a TON of laundry! I hear you on that one! :) I think the stalling method is probably best, it's what worked for me, and out in public I just made sure to have a burp rag handy to cover up and catch the milk in it - and always have extra nursing pads cause the non nursing side side will be soaked after a feeding! Another way to teach your body to slow down is to only use one side for every two hours - feed on the left from 12-2 on the right from 2-4 on the left from 4-6... So if your baby is hungry more than once each period they go back to the same breast (is this making sense?) and only feed on one side for each feeding. This will teach your body that it doesn't need to make masses of milk and when your baby eats you won't be starting out majorly full and then adding to it with a fast letdown - it really works! The last thing that workes for me is time, now at 3 1/2 months old my daughter doesn't choke sputter or cough and there is no milk running down her cheek into her neck when she eats (you know what I'm talking about!) She is better able to control her feedings and it's a much more relaxing experience for both of us. So give it time, just a little, and it WILL get better :):):) Keep up the good work, my nursing relationship with my son was so rewarding (all 19 months of it!) and I look forward to the same with my daughter - it is such a short period of time out of your whole life, enjoy it while it lasts :)

hi Deb. I too had that problem with my daughter who is now 2 1/2. It'll all work it self out, your breast are a natural and amazing foodsource, just keep nursing on demand and it'll know when and how much to produce. It's like training your boobs to know your daughter and you. As for the large amount of spit-up, as long as she's growing at a normal rate and she's not in any pain, don't worry. My nursing troubles stopped at the fourth month. I would still leak occasionally but very managable. Keep it going and before you know it you won't even need a breast pad.

I had the same problem - good milk flow, which is good. Too much of it, which is bad. My lactation consultant told me to pump a bit before every feeding. Annoying, yes, but it worked. Get a hand pump if you are on the go. I had to pump about 2 ounces from each breast before feeding. Bad news is that it is annoying. Good news is, you will have a very LARGE stock of extra milk, which my lactation consultant told me was great, because then I could get out a little more and have someone else give bottles. Other good news - it will even out as your baby grows, and feeding in public will be a breeze.

Good luck!!

Hi Debbie -

My little girl also had a period of time (2-3 months of age) where she vomitted large quantities of milk very regularly. It wasn't reflux, but rather my pediatrician indicated that it is their overactive growth hormone that is making them want to eat too frequently. You didn't mention if she was eating every 2, 3 or 4 hours. My daughter was eating every 2 hours. Sometimes I was able to successfully distract her for 1/2 to 1 hour with a water bottle (per my pediatrician's recommendation). However, most often I just relented and let her eat because she was quite unhappy otherwise. By about 3 months, this problem resolved itself and she is back to the occassional minor spit-up.

If you think it is too fast of a let down, have you tried pumping a little bit before you nurse? This might help reduce the volume that your baby receives at the very beginning? Also, I find that if I keep breast pads in place it seems to absorb the let down on the non-feeding side.

Good luck!

I have this exact same problem - I'm on month 10 of nursing my second child and this is how I cope with it. 1st, let gravity help you, lean back when you are nursing so that the flow of milk from your breast has to go against gravity. Sounds silly, but it REALLY works. This is something you can do in public too. The natural tendancy is to lean forward while feeding, but for this problem using gravity will really help. So, when possible, lean back into a chair, and prop the baby up higher on you so they have to suck against gravity. Also, this will get better with time, it is a "new" nursing issue, once your baby is 5 or 6 months old, you won't have this problem any more. Finally, when you are home you can try the other thing I do sometimes, I will pump off the initial letdown with my breast pump, and then latch the baby on.

Hi D. - have you asked your Dr. about reflux? One of my twins was spitting up most of his milk for all his feedings. The Dr. gave him medication for reflux and he no longer spits up. It's good that your daughter is still gaining weight. My son was hardly gaining weight until we figured out the problem was reflux. I know how messy and frustrating it could be. I hope you find a solution soon. Good Luck!