Let down & increased supply causing discomfort?

[skidoodle]

My DD (12 weeks) has never had a textbook growth spurt feeding pattern. There haven't been days where she wants to sit and feed and feed all day long. But last week there were a few days where I would have said she was feeding very well.

Now I'm back to having an uncomfortable full feeling if it's been a while between feeds, or if she isn't bothered to feed from both sides. So I'm guessing what has happened is that she's stimulated extra milk production and now there is slightly too much and that it will settle down in a few days. Is this possible?

Anyway, the problem is that my full breasts and strong letdown seem to be combining to make feeding uncomfortable and we've had a horrible couple of days with her getting very upset during/after feeds. I haven't been sure if the feed is over due to her feeling sated, or if she's just full of wind.

Earlier today she got totally hysterical and I didn't know what was wrong with her. She seemed hungry but she wouldn't feed. I eventually managed to calm her down with a soother and then swapped it out for the boob. She had a HUGE feed. She must have been so hungry, the poor love.

Does this sound familiar to anyone? Is there anything I can do? Might it be something I'm eating or the milk tasting bad or could it be the letdown reflex?

This pattern has happened before but I didn't come up with a theory before :D

[VictorianSqualor]

I've posted similar recently, I'll try find the thread and lin it, but anyway from what I can remember I read up on kellymom and have been only feeding from one side per feed, and have been hand expressing a bit so let down doesn't choke DS.
He was extra windy, and it was exactly as you said.
The kellymom page is here
I'll try find my thread now.

[VictorianSqualor]

My thread
BTW, Since I posted that thread it's settled down an awful lot.

[skidoodle]

Thanks so much, that's really helpful.

I'm a little worried to do anything to reduce supply as the last time I had her weighed she had only gained 5oz in 2 weeks. The HV told me that was fine and that she was thriving, but it's not exactly monster truck weight gain, is it?

I'm definitely going to try leaning back to feed, and work on hand expressing a little before I feed her. For some reason I find hand expressing really hard to do.

This whole baby malarkey gives you son many things to worry about. It's a good thing they're so cute

[VictorianSqualor]

Well, it should calm down soon enough anyway, I know the body will regulate milk production as and when needed.
Well done for getting to this point