ok--it looks like we are dealing with this again :rolleyes:

Last time with Alexis she got so miserable we had finally given up on nursing at 6 weeks because nothing would work. I really want to get passed it with Isabella

She is really miserable with the amounts of gas she has....to the point where she just cannot sleep unless you are holding her tight.

I have been giving her regular old gas drops....but does anyone know of something that might work better and give her more relief??? I hate to see her cry like this.

**ETA**
We have been doing one sided nursing since she was born hoping that we could avoid this....I think she is getting pretty good at stopping the flow as she does the pull back when it first starts (and I am amazed at how far my nipple can stretch!!)

I'm guessing that OALD is overactive letdown?

Do you feel your letdown? once it starts, can you pull her off and catch the milk w/ something till it slows down? i had to do that for a little while w/ dd #3. She was getting too much too quick and was throwing up after eating. As she got older she got better at handling it.

could the gas be coming from something you are eating that she is having trouble w/?

it will get better. all the difficulties in the beginning are just both of you getting in sync. hang in there mama. you can do this!!

you can do it jessica! I have this problem too! So far it's been as easy as going to 1 side per feeding (instead of offering both sides) - the key is reducing your supply so it isn't so overwhelming for my baby. I was just nursing ruby to sleep and the poor thing was crying and even choking a little, but normally she really works hard to keep up and it doesn't make her upset.

I wouldn't pump off milk - that caused more problems for me b/c I produced more and then it was even stronger.

With Brian, it got better over time and I think he got used to it. So try to stick with it and remember how much babies change over time (and so will your body too).

Here are a couple of threads I ran across a while ago

http://mothering.com/discussions/showthread.php?t=147811&highlight=overactive+letdown

http://www.kellymom.com/newman/colic_in_the_bf_baby_01-03.html#fastletdown

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

do a search on the kellymom website for more information on overactive letdown

HTH ((())) (and no, ruby hasn't outgrown the babystyle outfit LOL)

All of this is great advice. Use cabbage leaves in your bra too. They will help decrease your milk supply & get it regulated. I would sometimes pump just enough to get my letdown started, catch the spray in a cup, then nurse. Gas can sometimes just happen too. Remember this will get better. Hang in there & don't give up. Oh, and sitting my babies up on my shoulder and "burping" them immediately after feeding seemed to help. I did this even if they were asleep. Dawn

Can you nurse while laying down? On your back even?

I had this with Rebecca. I had to do a good 3 hours or so per side before switching. So if she nursed every hour (and she did in the beginning), I'd do the 6:00, 7:00, and 8:00 nursings on the left, then the 9:00, 10:00, and 11:00 on the right. Yes, I got pretty engorged on the "off" side, but it resolved itself within a week or so I'd say. Maybe two weeks. My LC told me to pump for comfort if necessary on the "off" side, but I only expressed a little a few times...I really didn't want to interfere with the process, yk? If you are really uncomfortable, though, express a bit so you are more comfy. I had to keep that up for a month or so I think, then went to one side per feeding after that. We still basically feed one side per feeding, unless she's in one of her "nurse all day" moods, and then I just switch when the spirit moves me. :)

Also, I don't know if this could be an issue for you, but I gave up dairy (well, okay, I drastically cut down dairy, not completely gave up) within a few weeks of starting the side switching. She seemed to "get better" right around then, so I really don't know if it helped, or if my OALD was just finally getting resolved.

Try to stick with it, mama! YOu're giving your baby the best by breastfeeding. I know it's hard at first, but your body will adjust, and you will be an old pro in no time! :thumbsup:

Michelle

you've gotten some good advice from mamas who've btdt with oald (myself included).

once the option of a feeding alternative is out of your mind, i promise you~all of the hurdles & hard times/challenges will disappear :)

go nurse that baby!

Originally posted by CincoDeMama
you've gotten some good advice from mamas who've btdt with oald (myself included).

once the option of a feeding alternative is out of your mind, i promise you~all of the hurdles & hard times/challenges will disappear :)

go nurse that baby!

we are nursing tons...and I am getting WAAAYYYYYY better at BFIP--starting to lose some of my modesty finally! Luckily- feeding her anything else is not even an option for us-we don't even have formula samples in the house! (which is why when the ped and LC wanted us to supplement some we were pumping so I could give her EBM instead..luckily we don't have to do that anymore since she finally gained some weight!! :D ) but we are determined to make it to at least 18 months--big incentive here for me.

I had someone else recommend some sage.....but I don't know if I should chance messing with something like that where I have a past history of supply issues...I am terrified to do anything to decrease my supply! IYKWIM

Yes, we can do laying down...bur haven't been able to do on my back...luckily, Isabella does the pull back when my milk lets down so she does control it a little bit....she doesn't choke as much but she still gulps rapidly.

Yes, I can feel my let down...it hurts so bad there is no missing it! Sometimes she pulls off on her own and I can catch some of it...I am practicing this one a lot more!

I've been watching my diet and seeing if anything in particular sets it off...nothing sticks out too much. There has been almost no dairy in my diet since I have been eating so irratically I have been able to watch it better and keep track of it.

(I think I got all the questions???)

I think most of this is just me being emotional about it......(warning vent ahead.......so back out now if you don't want to read it)
but:
Why can't my breastfeeding just work the way it is supposed to ONE **** TIME!!! Why does my FREAKING BODY FAIL ME and my children!!!! haven't I gone through enough to deserve one EASY time of it???

I AM SOOOO SICK OF IT
first it was the past sexual abuse and a non-existent supply (due to my insulin problems) that got in my way...then we overcame that and was finally able to nurse on baby #5....who was so ill with the OALD or FM/HM imbalance that we finally had to stop because I felt like I was being selfish. I could never relactate despite 2 different attempts. now we are having to deal with it again--and mind over matter doesn't work here...crap I wish it would.

All I want is to nurse my baby! this is my LAST chance to have a
successful nursing relationship and I want it SOOOOO bad.

ok--vent over....thanks for letting me get it out!

Originally posted by dawnwick
Use cabbage leaves in your bra too. They will help decrease your milk supply & get it regulated.

i wouldn't recommend this method -- your body can/will regulate it's supply in time :) **trust your body** it really knows what to do!! :thumbsup:
i had to express some milk before letting the boys latch on -- once the powerful spray had subsided, they didn't sputter and choke. as they grow older, they learn to handle the spray, and it sounds like isabella is already learning to do that (pulling back).

for the gas issue, i highly recommend hyland's colic tablets -- they worked well with griffin -- much better than simethicone drops. and i second cutting dairy from your diet. that really aggravated tucker when he was a babe.

hth. hang in there jessica --- you're doing GREAT!!!!:D :heart:

Originally posted by jessica_momof6


All I want is to nurse my baby! this is my LAST chance to have a
successful nursing relationship and I want it SOOOOO bad.



:big hug: you can do it jessica!!
i know you can. i don't mean to stalk this post, but i am so passionate about bf'ing. don't think about your past experiences. isabella is a separate person and time has passed and you are different now than when you had your other babies. positive attitude + healthy diet + strong support system = successful nursing relationship!! isabella is lucky to have you as a mama :heart:

Oh jessica - it IS hard! I remember with Brian he would start screaming of frustration and I'd start crying - it was our biggest BF challenge. And I was very emotional about it. But controlling the supply really helped and after a while it wasn't an issue AT ALL. So just remmeber that while you're struggling now, when you get past these difficult times, you will experience EASE with breastfeeding. I'm sure of it!

This time around, while I know it's a struggle, I don't stress out or worry about it and that is helping immensely. It's because I know this will pass and things will get better. You havne't experienced that, so you don't have the same confidence. But believe me, you will overcome this and your body will amaze you

Best wishes!

first :big hug:

next--take a deep breath and relax!!!

ok, your body is working mama. it just takes a while for everything to get regulated. dont stress over it. It will happen. I'd be willing to bet that by no later than 3 mos. (and probably much sooner), you and babe will be doing great w/ no problems. So, thats at least 15 mos. of easy, simple bf. (if not longer). YOU CAN DO IT!!!!

I wouldnt do anything to decrease your supply. It will adjust itself. You just have to give it time to happen. I, too, would be afraid of trying to decrease and then not have enough. It is a natural process, let it happen naturally.

The quicker you sit back and relax, and let nature take its course, the quicker it will all start coming together. Just continue to take her off and catch the milk while it sprays (either w/ a cup, towel, dipe, or whatever is easiest), then let her latch back on. I would only feed on one side per feeding and maybe stay on the same side for 2-3 feedings. I've always only fed on one side per feeding. it is much easier than feeling like i have to switch all the time. (I did the switching w/ 1st dd, and it was a pain in the butt). Both dd #2and 3 have done well w/ one sided feeding.

I wish i could be there to give you support and help you through this. I wish you could've been here when I was having these challenges w/ #3, so you didnt feel like it was just you.

RELAX AND LET NATURE WORK!!!! YOU WILL GET IT!!!!

(and i'm not yelling at you, just emphasizing in case you quit reading all my mumble jumble.)

:big hug:


1) Do you go to LLL? If not, RUN...don't walk...to your nearest Meeting. Getting IRL support is crucial. OALD is a very common problem. It is made worse by switch nursing which alot of hospitals still recommend. The old 10 min per side is outdated and can cause OALD in women prone to it.

2) What you've been told is all good. RELAX & go with it. Catch the overflow in a diaper & then let her nurse. Nurse on ONE SIDE for 6 hours (per the 2003 ed. Breastfeeding Answer Book), this will help with any FM/HM imbalance.

She is very gassy...what do her stools look like?

The thing that worked for me was eliminating soy products (in my case it wasn't soy milk or tofu, but mayonaise and margarine :rolleyes: ) DS3 had severe reflux from me eating soy. It also caused him gas. He was so sick as a newborn they thought he had pyloric stenosis (a blockage).

Remember that to a large extent, it is normal for babies to have alot of gas...it can be a phase with the baby...maybe. Their digestive tracks are so immature. Of course OALD can cause more gas due to swallowing air, but keep in mind that it may just persist to some extent until babe is around 3 months (things just seem to come together for most nursing couples around then).

One thing that came to mind for me was having you take peppermint altoids occasionally to slightly reduce supply, but then I remembered how young your baby is and with your history of supply problems I'm not comfortable with that. Alot of moms don't realize that peppermint altoids will affect supply and pop them all the time...they are made with peppermint oil which reduces milk supply.

You have been supplementing with EBM? Are you still pumping? That can really mess with your supply and balance too...if she doesn't still need it perhaps you could stop until this issue is resolve? Just a thought. I get so many moms who have this issue and IMO for many of them it goes back to the pump when laying in bed nursing for a day or two would solve the problem (weight).

Jessica, I too have PCOS & know from experience that you can overcome a tendency to have supply problems....just NURSE alot. I mean ALOT. You can pm me or email me directly if you want-I also can help with LLL information :)

If you have a recliner you can lean back in the recliner and let gravity help with the flow. ;) Or lay on your back. I would assume the gas is from gulping in air while trying to keep up with the let down?

Good luck and HANG IN THERE!!! Once you get the little things worked out, it is soooo worth it. Keep up the good work, mama!

Originally posted by Snugglbond
You have been supplementing with EBM? Are you still pumping?

Jessica, I too have PCOS & know from experience that you can overcome a tendency to have supply problems....just NURSE alot. I mean ALOT. You can pm me or email me directly if you want-I also can help with LLL information :)

quick note to add....no we are not supplementing or pumping anymore! we had to do it at the start of things because she was not gaining any weight..just kept losing. they wanted me to give her formula, but I worked it with the LC to do EBM instead. Now that she finally gained some, we have been able to stop all of that and go just straight nursing.

I did email me LLL leader last night....the next meeting is not until next Tuesday. but I am also going to a BF support group tomorrow that has a LC present.

Thanks for all great advice you guys......this is really helping!

I feel your pain, mama - I've had severe OALD with both of my babies. I make so much milk, that I had to wear nursing pads until both of them were well over a year.

In the early days with my second (I didn't manage my first nearly as well, but he didn't have the same issues that the second had), I was convinced that she had colic. Then I realized that some of her symptoms could probably be attributed to the OALD. So I moved into crisis management mode. LOL! The first thing I did was nurse on one side for at least four nursing sessions. Because I would get so engorged, I'd pump the other side just to comfort. I didn't want to encourage the supply, in fact, I wanted the opposite to happen. Within a day or two, I could just manually extract a bit to ease the pressure. To this day (and Elizabeth is 15 months old now) pretty much nurse on one side for about six hours, then switch. I also kept a prefold by me whenever I nursed to catch the initial spray (I'd unlatch her or pump through the first letdown). Once that first letdown was over, I'd latch her on, and away we'd go.

To help with the symptoms in the baby, I used Gripe Water and Hylands colic tablets.

Hang in there - I know it's a pain to deal with. But with a little management it can get better. :)

I had this too. With all 3 of my kids. I'd let them pull away and off, and then release some into a cloth diaper or breast pad....it got better and easier as time went on. Or I'd release some before nursing. As for sides, I'd simply nurse on one side at one feeding, and then the other on the next....it worked excellent for their gas. I did the nursing on one side for 2-3 nursings then switching, but I'd become engorged on one side, lobsided and painful, etc. It simply worked better for me to nurse on one side each feeding.

Good luck Mama.....Many women have over-active let down and adjust in time. So will you!!! :)

I want to tell you first that you are doing a great job already and to keep it up! I had this with Saige at first and it was really tough until I finally got my milk regulated. I had some other problems with nursing that led to my milk being decreased dramitically (but to a very perfect amount for Saige) but before that I nursed 2 to 3 times on one side before going to the other side. I would suggest a nursing bra that isn't tight but is very supportive and not a Bravado. Sage does decrease your milk supply. I've heard that even the smell of it can decrease it. Saige would not eat with me laying down and him laying on me until he was like 12 months or older and I never could get him to do that either. At about 2 or 3 months though I could nurse him lying on my side and that helped considerably. Also, could you pump a little before you nurse him? I got a lot of great info from mamas here and lots of websites which I can no longer remember but one thing that does stick out in my mind is that babies with moms with this tend to be more gassy and have colick like things going on because they are getting an imbalance of the hind (I think that it was it is called) milk and because they get this imbalance they tend to nurse more often and for less time...so the best thing to do is to nurse them on the same side at least twice, then switch to the other breast. Sometimes I would nurse him 3 or 4 times on the same side. I've heard that nursing in the bathtub helps with the comfort factor for mom too.


Good luck and please hang in there!

I have not BTDT with this one.. BUT wanted to send some support to you jessica! I am so happy for you mama! You will pull through this! you are doing so well! :thumbsup:

{{{{HUGS}}}}

I didn't read all the responses -- but I had really good luck leaning back in my computer chair while nursing my ds.

My dd learned how to let let it flow out of the bottom of her mouth while not totally coming off the breast. Took me awhile to figure out why I was sopping wet...LOL

Originally posted by 2xlechemom
I didn't read all the responses -- but I had really good luck leaning back in my computer chair while nursing my ds.

My dd learned how to let let it flow out of the bottom of her mouth while not totally coming off the breast. Took me awhile to figure out why I was sopping wet...LOL

Omgosh Chris does the same thing!!! *lol*

For us, it took a couple of months.. Chris would gulp.. get off the breast and then be gasping for air.. he learned what to do.. now he just unlatches and the milk sprays him in the face and he laughs. :rolleyes: My little peanut. *lol*

:big hug: jessica! Just know you aren't alone in this.. we will all be your support if you need it.. someone's always here!!! :)