Newborn gulping air while feeding...

[Glup]

I know this is why babies need winding after a feed, but whilst breast feeding my newborn she is also gulping down unusual quantities of air so that she is, unsurprisingly, in a lot of pain. Any ideas? I suspect I need to change the way she is sucking but have no idea how to do that. I'd be grateful for any advice!

P.s. she is not my first baby.

Do you have a fast let down? If so, can you express briefly to get past that initial gush before latching her on?

YY to expressing a bit off first if its due to fast let down. Also try feeding with you very reclined and her on top. Kellymom has lots of useful stuff on this and associated problems.

Has she been checked for tongue tie by someone who knows what they are looking for?

this is helpful

Yes tongue tie would be my first and immediate reaction.

Took me 12 painful weeks to find a decent lactation consultant to sort it after weeks of agony. I dismissed it at first until kind people on MN pointed it out.

I was going to mention tongue tie but mawbroon beat me to it!

Have you checked with the midwives/HV if baby is latched on properly?

An incorrect latch would mean baby doesn't get a proper hold of the breast in her mouth thus increasing the amount of air in her mouth.

Does she make a clicking noise, by any chance?

This is a sign that the latch isn't working right and that baby is gulping in too much air.

If you are thinking it might be this I would visit www.kellysmom.com it's really good for advice. It gives links to demonstrations too how to latch the best way.

I find holding baby just below the neck and across my lap helps, with her head tucked inwards towards my breast and the rest of her body straight across my stomach.
*-------
=========
That kind of position. * being babies head ^ being boob and = being the stomach/lower chest.

I hope baby is otherwise happy. :)

Yes, ds1 had undiagnosed tongue tie. I remember once my mum saw his distended belly in the bath and said oh look, he's so full of milk, his belly is tight as a drum. Except it wasn't full of milk, it was full of air and I had no idea

Wow. Thanks so much. I suspect that fast letdown might be the issue (as the milk also comes out of her nose when feeding), but I'll look into everything suggested.

Thanks