Fast let down - advice needed!

[Pannacotta]

Am breastfeeding DS2 who is 8 weeks.
All going well and he is putting on lots of weight. But I think I have very fast let down.
After he has been feeding for a short while he often pulls off and milk sprays all over his face and often jets up to hit me too. He also chokes and splutters away...
This is ok at home but I dont feel comfortable enough to feed him out as this is a bit embarassing.
This didnt really happen with DS1.
I have tried to feed him from one side at a time after looking at advice on LLL website but it doesnt seem to make much difference.
I know I can express off some milk first but I never have a muslin to hand and also I dont want to do this when feeding him in a cafe etc.
Does anyone have any suggestions on what to do about this? Or when it might ease up a bit?

[BaggieBird]

I had this with both my dds. Sorry no advice, but it does settle down after a while.
I was bf in a pub once, dd pulled off and milk squirted all over an old man sitting on the table next to us

[thehairybabysmum]

ditto here...also hated public bf for the same reason plus i had to manhandle my boobs so it was never subtle. I just used to find a mother and baby room where possible. I have even (whispers) sat in the loos if they were nice ones...but i do stress this was for my own benefit rather than because i was worried about disapproving glances and the like.

If in a cafe or suchlike i used to put a muslin over my shoulder and just cover boob and ds with it. I also used to tuck a muslin or flannel into my waistband to catch downwards flow...only learnt htis the hardway after embarrsing wet patches on trousers!! You could also strategically place pushchair so that you can semi hide behind it.

I found nipple shields helped as well (at home) so that ds didnt choke to death.

[weeonion]

pannacotta - apart fom expressing milk off first - coudl you try a different position. i think i heard of a sitting up, facing you position so as they dont choke? no doubt someone alot more expert than me will happen along!

[Pannacotta]

Weeonion yes someone else has suggested the upright position, but he is quite a heffalump so not that easy.
Good advice re the muslins THBM, I often get damp patches on the front of my trousers/skirts

[BirdyArms]

I had the same with ds2, but like you not with ds1. Has now got a lot better - he's 4 mths and got a lot better in the last month. Before that I just did my best with a muslin when in public.

[daisyandbabybootoo]

lol baggiebird at the poor man next to you.

I have quite a fast let down as well, and find that keeping hold of my boob with one hand and bubs head with the other until she slows down a bit helps. I was reclining slightly as well, but it didn't make much of a difference and I got a blocked duct at the weekend, so be careful with that one.

I've also tried rugby ball position which did work as she didn't pull off at all or choke, but that's not really practical for out and about!

i hope it settles down soon for you.

[Pannacotta]

Its amazing how far milk can travel isn't it?!
I remember reading on here about someone who managed to spray a man sitting near her in Starbucks in a similar sitution!
Not sure I could cope with that so am keeping a low breastfeeing profile at the mo...

[BaggieBird]

I know its hard but I'd try not to worry. If he pulls off pop a breast pad onto the nipple so it doesn't squirt.
For what its worth the man said 'don't worry love, I've been soaked in worse'. I've never laughed so much, my friend was mortified!

[determination]

Panna,

Have you tried lying back on cushions with baby on top, so gravity slows the flow down?

[Pannacotta]

No I havent as have heard a few tales of blocked ducts from doing that, also you cant really do that in your local Starbucks and thats when the let down would be a problem! Not too worried about milk spraying at home.

[liath]

ds is 12 weeks now and he copes with the let down well enough now to BF in public. Fast let-down also means nice quick feeds though he can still gulp air. Night feeds are still the best as it doesn't seem as bad lying down but overall it's a lot better than a month ago .

One advantage - ds has conjunctivitis so I am treating it with breast milk by whipping him off the boob then aiming the spray of milk at his sticky eye then popping him back on again LOL !!

[Pannacotta]

Am wondering if this will also mean fewer breastpads too (ie once let down eases up a bit).
COuld have bought shares in Tommee Tippee breastpads!
Gald to hear the fast let down has been put to good use Liath