I'm starting to LOSE IT! « Back to Group Discussions

[jill the pill]

DD1 was a happy baby who laughed all the time and was just a joy to be around.  I was not prepared for what DD2 has been like.  Our nursing still sucks and I know it's because of an overactive letdown reflex.  This gives her terrible gas since she breaks suction constantly and swallows air.  She crys from pain and I feel so bad for her but I can't take much more of this!  I've tried everything and nothing seems to help.  She only smiles first thing in the morning and she is usually ok for a while but she seem generally uncomfortable most of the time.  It's just really wearing on me and I want to know if anyone else has this problem with the letdown and the gas.

[Paigekitten]

Sometimes when Éowyn can't keep up with my milk flow I just let the milk spray into a towel until it slows down, otherwise she coughs and pops on and off all the time.  My first daughter was not a happy baby so it was quite the surprise for us when our second was smiles all the time.

[Jaimee]

Originally Posted by Paigekitten 

Sometimes when Éowyn can't keep up with my milk flow I just let the milk spray into a towel until it slows down, otherwise she coughs and pops on and off all the time. 

I do this, too, if it seems Avery is having trouble keeping up. 

I'm sorry you're having a tough time.  I know what you mean about personalities... sometimes I feel quite lucky that I had my most challenging child first- my second and third have felt much easier in comparison.  However, I had a very, very tough transition to motherhood b/c of it.  But, as a second time mom you know that this period goes quickly and before you know it she'll be walking and talking instead of fussing.  ((HUGS)) mama, I know it's not easy!
 

[KayPea]

This was how my DD was, too.  For us, she was the worst between 3 and 6 months - she would SCREAM for hours.  All related to overactive letdown and foremilk/hindmilk imbalance. Nursing strikes too, a couple a week.  She was much happier after 6 months - when her size and abilities finally caught up to my milk supply.

Some things that helped were nursing side-lying or tipped way back - using gravity to help stem the flow - as well as popping her off and spraying into a towel.  Though I'm not much of a leaker so this didn't help much. You can also use the pinch grip, which basically means pinching your breast right above the aereola to stop some ducts from flowing. Change where/how you pinch often so you don't get plugged ducts. Are you block feeding? This helps if your overactive letdown is a part of oversupply.  

Hang in there!

[LunaLady]

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Edited by LunaLady - 6/29/12 at 4:13pm

[jill the pill]

Ok now I'm starting to think she might have an allergy.  She had a few bm's with streaks of blood and a little mucus and now an allergy ring around her anus.  The funny thing is that she has been totally happy the past couple days with no pain or gas.  Weird!  I think it is helping the letdown leaning back and side lying definately helps.  She seems more relaxed.

[Jaimee]

Ugh, about the blood and possible allergy.  Sounds like classic signs.  Do you eat dairy?  You could try her on a probiotic first to see if that gives her system enough of a boost to deal with whatever is bothering her.  Glad to hear that different nursing positions are helping a bit, though!

[jill the pill]

I forgot to mention her congestion too.  She got a cold at one month old and has been congested ever since.  The ped seemed to think it is just the dry weather and wood stove in my house but I don't think so.  She is on probiotics but maybe I should up them a little bit and see if that helps.  I do eat dairy and will give it up if I have to. 

[Jaimee]

Do the probiotics you are feeding contain dairy or soy?  Many do.  Not sure if you saw my many previous recommendations of Pharmax brand HLC Neonate probiotics, which are human strain and dairy/soy free.

[Abraisme]

Your ped may be right.  ALL of my kids have struggled with congestion issues when  they were infants.  Tiny nasal passages tend to get clogged easily.  I pretty much have to clean Coralies nose with saline every day or she doesn't sleep well.  The other issues may be an allergy though.
 

Originally Posted by jill the pill 

I forgot to mention her congestion too.  She got a cold at one month old and has been congested ever since.  The ped seemed to think it is just the dry weather and wood stove in my house but I don't think so.  She is on probiotics but maybe I should up them a little bit and see if that helps.  I do eat dairy and will give it up if I have to. 

[seraf]

Jill, I recently cut out wheat and dairy for an allergy ring, blood and mucus in poo. His poo and bum are better and I have less oversupply. He has less gas, less barfs and I am seeing that perhaps I have some issue. This is my second time going off wheat and dairy for a baby and when I noticed the connection I remembered looking it up before and being startled that cows are fed wheat to increase their milk output. 

Just a thought. In no way suggesting you change your diet but perhaps notice if your supply changes from day to day if you eat different things.