Drowning the baby on breast - how can I stop?

[EmJohn]

I have a ebf 2.5 week old. It's only been 10 months since I stopped bf our 21 months old so milk came in very easily - 1 breast always fuller than the other. In the last 24 hours or so I noticed that my baby is drowning/choking/gagging on the fuller breast. He comes off with a cough and a shocked look after a min or two. He keeps doing this, and also re-position himself ie. incorrect latch-on which is really painful (my cracked nipple has not fully healed yet). Also, when he comes off, there's milk leaking everywhere which is annoying. Is there any way to reduce the milk flow? Or do I have to wait until my DS grows up to keep up with the flow?

Feeding semi-reclined can help (gravity slows down the 'fire-hose' effect and baby can move their head back if they need to) as can catching the first let down in a muslin/towel before latching baby back on.

Doubtful it's anything to do with not long stopping bfing as I've tandem nursed two different sets of DCs and not had this! It can be that the let down reflex is more effective for subsequent children but it hopefully will calm down and your DS will learn how to deal with it easier.

If it doesn't there is plenty of tips on dealing with forceful letdown/over supply here.

Hi, I had similar issues with daughter at first, she is three months now. I found feeding from the same breast for a couple of feeds helped calm down the over active supply. I would swap every other feed and kept that up until the supply was less strong.

DD would choke sometimes as you describe (still does sometimes if I'm honest , she is very patient with getting sprayed with milk!). How about expressing off a little at the start to make the first bit less forceful? Not a permanent solution because you don't want to increase supply, but may help for the odd feed.

As I was always told, it will settle down of its own accord eventually.