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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

Original poster

Why does letdown HURT so fricking much?

18 replies

Indith · 23/04/2012 10:36

Idle question really, nothing that can be done but anyone know why?

I've always had a strong letdown and erm, very healthy supply. With dcs 1 and 2 I could feel the letdown strongly but with this one it bloody well hurts. It is toe curling, breath holding, eye stinging painful as it rolls from my armpit down and round my breast. Why the hell is that?

OP posts:
UnChartered · 23/04/2012 10:39

the pain you describe put me off bfing DD at all - my letdown was so strong bfing DS2 that i collected 1-2oz from the other breast as i fed him

sorry this has no use to you, but i can stroke your hair to try to take your mind off it?

Original poster
Indith · 23/04/2012 10:47

Odd isn't it. Bad enough when feeding but at least ds actually feeding seems to make it pass quicker, the random ltdowns during the day when not feeding are worse.

OP posts:
UnChartered · 23/04/2012 10:52

i can feel the tingling now!

you know you hear stories about women who have letdown in supermarkets at the merest hint of a crying baby?

that was me Blush

i used to squirt in the shower and bath, it was a nightmare trying to dry enough to get dressed at times Confused

Original poster
Indith · 23/04/2012 10:54

Yup, I'm with you.

OP posts:
hairylemon · 23/04/2012 11:27

Unchartered I also get it when out and about and hear a baby crying, or if Im out without DS2 and think about him I get it.

OP with regards to the letdown being very painful could you have thrush? I get it all the time a fair bit and its sometimes on the nipple itself and sometimes its deep in the breast and in the shoulder , sometimes its both yay Hmm

guendalina · 23/04/2012 11:28

Thank you so much for this thread! I thought it was just me getting annoyed with random strong tingling in my boobs between each feed (and of course during feeds)!
I hate it! Will it ever stop though?

Original poster
Indith · 23/04/2012 15:23

I don't think I have thrush, it doesn't match up symptoms really plus I've had the pain since the start, had a lesser version with the previous dcs and ds2 doesn't have any signs of it.

I just find it odd how some people don't feel letdown at all but for others it is painful.

OP posts:
notjustamummythankyou · 23/04/2012 15:32

Me too! And its more powerful this time round than with dc1.

I have powerful letdown too, especially my right side. No need for a pump there. And random let down is costing me a feckin fortune in breastpads.

Seriously though (just for a minute) its hard on dc2 - she coughs, splutters and hiccups away while she feeds. I try to take her off as letdown happens, but then she gets very cross with me. Can't win! Am hoping she'll cope better with the flow as she grows (only 8wo now)

Original poster
Indith · 23/04/2012 15:38

She should do. You can experiment a bit with positions though, leaning back can help. I find it best feeding sort of snuggled in a corner so if I'm feeding on the right I lean back and to the left and vice versa for the other side.

OP posts:
notjustamummythankyou · 23/04/2012 15:43

Yes, I read that somewhere indith. Also lying on my side seems to work, as she can just let the excess milk trickle out her mouth. Not good for the sheets, though, even when lying on a towel!

Wrigglebum · 23/04/2012 15:49

Totally agree, and no one tells you before either! So after all the 'if you're doing it right bf doesn't hurt' talks I thought I must be doing it wrong! I'd often unlatch poor DS and put him on again as it hurt so much.

Definitely going to try more laid back feeding with this one (CS in a week) but that might be hard out and about.

Original poster
Indith · 23/04/2012 15:49

Yes that works well too. You can replicate the same effect feeding in cradle by holding her higher up and tilted towards you too. Oddly neither of my boys has been bothered by it, they have just spluttered their way through but dd hated it and screamed at me, I could ONLY feed her on my side which restricted my leaving the house rather!

OP posts:
Original poster
Indith · 23/04/2012 15:50

Wriggle I always tell people in workshops that if it hurts at the start of the feed then count to 10, if it still hurts then try again but if it has settled down it is fine!

OP posts:
notjustamummythankyou · 23/04/2012 15:55

Strangely, my ds wasn't bothered either. He was bigger from birth though, so perhaps that helped.

Dd (dc2) seems to cope in cradle hold if I let her legs be lower than her head, iyswim.

Original poster
Indith · 23/04/2012 16:00

dd was my biggest baby!

OP posts:
patchesmcp · 23/04/2012 16:06

I found letdown hurt for the first few months but doesn't at all now (14 months on.) Not sure if that is because my boobs have got used to it or because I fed sooooooo much at first.

notjustamummythankyou · 23/04/2012 16:08

Well, that's my theory scuppered, indith!

Mampig · 23/04/2012 22:11

My letdown hasn't hurt for the last month, ds is nearly 10 mo. my random letdowns and leaks have stopped to, maybe 2 months ago (thankfully!) . I also had very forceful ones in the earlier months, so hope this is good newsSmile

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