Oalt

[TSomm]

So I've got over active letdown and my babe is just about 4 months. She used to let go, fuss and cry at the breast at each feeding, but now that she's gotten older she just turns her head away while keeping my nipple in her mouth. A powerful yank. I heard they eventually grow out of this and will be able to handle the excessive flow... About when can I expect relief and a peaceful nursing session?

I have a feeling it'll be when she starts getting distracted by other things and yanks my nipple to look at things, right?

Is there no such things as a calm and peaceful nursing session?

[Lovumms333238]

just commiserating, i am experience this with my 7wo dd

[ewe+lamb]

OK I just posted on the other thread for this problem - will try and do a cut and paste for you.

Here it is:
First of all you are not doing anything wrong - there are just a couple of adjustments to your breastfeeding sessions, your best bet is probably to block nurse, so nurse on the same breast 2 or 3 times - or more so that baby has to really work to get that thicker milk out - hand express or pump off the other breast but just to comfort, try to use a wrap during the day so that baby is nursing in a sitting position - easy in a wrap or sit your baby astride your thigh to nurse - gravity is obviously helping here there is also www.biologicalnurturing.com which gives you a sort of upright nursing position which quite frankly is wonderful and solves a multitude of problems. Try this and see if it works more for you - post to let us know how you are getting on. Good luck and believe me you really are not doing anything wrong at all, you are doing everything that is correct, which is nursing your baby and finding the solutions to the problem that you have - that really is the right thing to do.

To add on to this I always like to mention to mothers therefore this applies to both of you, to be aware of overactive letdowns which can led to just as many problems as under active - so be aware of how your baby is nursing that the suck is still strong and 'working', many babies forget how to nurse as the supply is so easy and they don't really have to work for the milk and then when the time comes that they do have to work there in lies the problem, personally I had to teach our dd to nurse at 7 months because my supply was so overabundant, so keep the block nursing and make sure that the actual nursing session is proactive. Keep going - you're both doing great!!

[TSomm]

I did do block nursing in the early months. I don't necessarily follow a clock about which breast to use, but I do put her back on the most recent breast. Sorta twice on each side before switching.

I've heard pumping can exascerbate the problem because it works to increase your supply. I've determined I'll deal with OALT in order to build up a good stash.

I also try to pump a bit just before babe wants to nurse in the morning, when the "back flow pressure" seems to be the greatest.

We pretty much ONLY side lie nurse. She gets upset in any other position. If we're out of the home and can't side lie, she just snacks enough to get her by.

My DD's latch has been getting pretty darn shallow, so thank you for the reminder to make sure they still nurse correctly. Every few weeks I try to teach her to open wider, but she just falls back toward the nipple after repeated yanks.

Don't worry, I'm committed to breastfeeding as long as my baby is interested! Let's hope I don't run into supply issues down the line.