Son chokes from fast milk flow

[Asiago]

I am not sure if it's over active let down or just an over productive milk supply but my poor baby (he's 11 weeks) often chokes on milk when breast feeding. I try various positions, some help a little.

Some nursing sessions he does take a drink and then get off the nipple (as it sprays or leaks all over). Then he relatches for each drink until the milk supply slows down when he can nurse continuously. Yet, if he is very hungry he doesn't have the patience to do this (can't blame him) and he just wants to nurse.

I pump or squeeze out a bit prior sometimes, it helps but it likely is counter productive as it may even be increasing my supply.

I'm not sure what to do, any thoughts? (I will also ask at my next LLL meeting)

[PatioGardener]

Have you tried nursing with your son sitting up on your lap facing you? If you then lean back a bit it often helps to 1) slow the flow, and 2) allow baby to have more control with swallowing.

[kismetbaby]

We have this same problem. . .as my DS gets older he deals with it better basically. But some things I have noticed: its better when he is sitting up in my lap rather than laying down (if that makes sense)--I sit cross legged and let his bottom fall into the middle and then support his back and head so that he is really sitting up sideways in my lap. Also, for some reason he chokes less when we lay down to nurse. . .sounds like it should be the opposite, but complete, flat, side-lying nursing is better for him than the cradle hold.

For us the choking/oversupply is worst in the AM after I have gotten full from the nighttime (and less nursing), so I do often pump in the morning. I was also worried that this would just cause more oversupply, but on the other hand I am building a great freezer stash of milk this way. And personally I haven't felt that this one pumping has changing my milk supply. Over the holidays we traveled and I didn't bring the pump and I got a plugged duct (maybe not directly related). . .he did choke more in the mornings, but he managed and my supply seemed to remain the same.

I think your supply is pretty established in the beginning (either way) and its hard to change it much whatever you do. Sounds like your LO is already learned good coping skills for your oversupply! Of course, none of us would want to get drowned/sprayed/gagged with milk, but its better than not having enough!

[honeybunmom]

The reclined mama, baby sitting up position worked best for both my babes as well. Additionally, with dd, I had to take a burp cloth (or something) and compress my breast when this started until it slowed and then put her back on. My son, however, just tried to keep up with it! He also didn't have the patience for unlatching for me to slow it down.

[curious&eager]

I never worried about it. He chokes. I rescue him. Then we continue. When he was tiny, he'd choke and that would be the end of the feed because he wouldn't go back. But now, he can choke and not even let go. It's weird.

He's 6 months old now and still chokes on most feeds. I don't even feel full. But, he'll usually just pop off and cough and pop back on. Sometimes I'll pick him up if he's choking bad. I never bothered with pumping to relieve the fast flow. I had so many let downs during a session it didn't make sense to do that. Plus I didn't want to up my milk flow.

I'd say don't worry about it and your breasts will calm down a hair and your babe will try to keep up. He's a pro.