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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!!)
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!!
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Tanya
Wife to Keith (15 yrs.)
SAHM to Brooke Ashley(12), Sarah Ann(7), Taylor Alexis(5) and Sydney Allison (3-9-08)
Christian, HS
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
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
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!
Michelle
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~Michelle
Christian homeschooling mama
to a Jumpin Bean (1/01)
and a Pumpkin Head (4/03)
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!! ) 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!!
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!!!!
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Life at its best...Game Day in Auburn, Alabama...Go War Eagle!
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.
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
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
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.)
Location: Im standin at the crossroads, tryin to read the signs, to tell me which way I should go to find the answer.
Posts: 18,370
Jessica
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 ) 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!
) but we are determined to make it to at least 18 months--big incentive here for me.
you can do it jessica!! 
Or lay on your back. I would assume the gas is from gulping in air while trying to keep up with the let down? 
Military wife of a deployed soldier. 
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