any ideas?

[noteworthy]

So, J will nurse at night just fine. She doesn't like my overactive letdown, so she is off and then on the breast a few times, other than that she is a peaceful nurser, no gulping no gasping. She hardly wakes up and has no issues with gas.
During the day, she is off and on due to the big shower of milk like at night, but is gassy, fussy and obviously in pain.
Nursing her more makes it worse and increases her spitup. So, any ideas why it is different at night then during the day?
I am ready to pull out my hair. She nurses every 2-3 hours and then it is 1.5 hours of fussy/gassy crying. Then she falls asleep for 30-45 minutes and then it is time to nurse again. What a vicious circle. At night she sleeps her 4 hour stretch and then 2, 2hour blocks, with no gas. What's the big idea?

V

[tiffany21074]

hugs mama, my dd did it too; she just kinda grew out of it. i don't know if it is there insides maturing, or what, but we had that late at night as well. i remember everything seemed more terrible when you aren't getting sleep too! hang in there!

[crazyeight]

laying down? your activity level? isn't it when you excersize or something you make energy that is acidic or something? maybe thats in your milk? do you work out/move around a lot? could be that laying down is allowing your dc to let the air out and when you sit up he is cocked at an angle that doesn't...not sure.

my dc is going through this grunting groaning thing all the time that wakes her up but no gas or burps or anything!

[maciascl]

Most women have a larger supply during the day (highest in the morning) & less at night. So your let down is probably not as strong in the evening/night. Here is a great site with info on how to help manage an overactive letdown I am right there with you. I swear I can spray across the room if he lets go during a feeding. Fortunatly between 6-12 weeks your prolactin levels will regulate & your milk supply will settle where it needs to be based on babys sucking. GL & I hope that helps!!

[TurboClaudia]

ummm... from my info, most women have a greater supply during the night and in the morning due to prolactin (the milk producing hormone) being produced during sleep time. milk ejection reflex (or letdown) iscontrolled by oxytocin levels, which are independent of prolactin levels.

no ideas about why babe is gassy duiring the day but not the night... maybe food related? dairy? soy? other thing you eat each and every day?

[maciascl]

Originally Posted by TurboClaudia

ummm... from my info, most women have a greater supply during the night and in the morning due to prolactin (the milk producing hormone) being produced during sleep time. milk ejection reflex (or letdown) iscontrolled by oxytocin levels, which are independent of prolactin levels.

no ideas about why babe is gassy duiring the day but not the night... maybe food related? dairy? soy? other thing you eat each and every day?

I was refering to eveings & night being until midnight-ish, after that it is morning. Sorry if I wasn't clear.

Also strong let down & oversupply tend to go hand in hand & when the prolactin regulates the supply a strong let down often will work itself out. Though I realize this is not always true.

[TurboClaudia]

Originally Posted by maciascl

I was refering to eveings & night being until midnight-ish, after that it is morning. Sorry if I wasn't clear.

ahhh... ok.

[noteworthy]

thanks for all the info and support... I wonder if it might be the coffee... what a bummer. Life without caffeine has no meaning... I can quit when ever I want... zzzzzzzz

But seriously, I wonder if that is it. I am approaching the 5 cup a day mark and will cut back tomorrow... will post if my eyes stay open.

I nurse her at night in the same position I do during the day, sitting up. I am afraid of dozing off with her side lying. We have a down pillow top matress. She sleeps in the bassinet next to the bed.

[deleria]

Do your nursing patterns change during the night vs. the day? Do you nurse more on one side at night than the other? It could be a lactose overload issue (foremilk/hindmilk imbalance), which is what all my little ones have experienced to some degree before I figured out how sensitive each of their tummies were. With Jackson (two weeks old tomorrow) I've started nursing him for about three feedings on one side before switching to the other. So far, he's been far less gassy. Granted, it's only day one of this. I'll let you know how it is in a couple more days!

Good luck, mama. Stepping back into October DDC now

[noteworthy]

Great suggestions everyone. Thanks for the info and taking time to post... I know how precious time is.
Anyhoo, if I nursed off the same breast for 3 feedings (~6-7 hours) then I would surely end up with mastitis. I am serious. Miss by about 2 hours and I am in the land of Plugged Ducts.

I do mean oversupply! I nursed her 1 hour ago, pumped about 10 minutes and now have 7 more oz to freeze.
It is ridiculous. I only pump once a day.
However,I think I figured it out. At night, I clock watch... 4 minutes, no more, no less. A big belch when off the breast and back to sleep or is satisfied (sleep is optional to her now). Daytime, I lost track of the time. I get preoccupied with other kids or dh, and then she nurses longer, gets too much milk and then the spitting up and gas festival begins.
So, clock watcher I am and she is doing much better.
If she gets too much and gets gassy then I use the simethicone drops and she recovers.
I also cut back on the coffee but, she is less gassy and wearing less outfits and I have only to change shirts 3 times, not 8.