Please help, 4wo DS clamping down through feeds and I am in agony.

[SchroSawMargeryDaw]

I think I have an oversupply - strong let down problem and DS has started clamping down through feeds and it's agony and he is obviously not latching very well because of it.

Is there any way to fix latch problems so far in? I have tried keeping taking him off and putting him back on, I have tried block feeding and I have tried expressing enough out before each feed to try and slow the flow and nothing is working.

Bumping for the sake of my nipples!

Ouchee! Have you tried lying down feeding (side to side) or lying back against pillows so your milk has to work against gravity?

I do it lying down on my side but he still chomps and chokes. I have tried lying on my back but it just doesn't work, I can't do it and he hates it.

Gah!

Has he been checked for tongue tie (by an expert, not just gp or hv or mw)? Mine did this as a symptom of her tongue tie combined with my abundant supply...

Yy to checking tongue tie if you haven't already.

Have you tried nipple shields? I think they are frowned upon because they have a detrimental effect on supply, but doesn't sound like that is an issue for you!

Could you get RL breastfeeding support from LLL or a BF counsellor?

I'm so sorry you're in pain OP. Horrible.

i find that holding the end of my boob just before the nipple helps until the boob is a bit less full and my flow slows down a bit, i have to do this 90% of feeds now but it works for both of us, though i appreciate we all have different shaped boobs and this may not work for other ladies, i hold it like a lobster claw (cringe ) on the area outside my areola

YYY to checking for tongue tie. Tongue tie can present as oversupply due to baby being unable to cope due to restriction, when in fact supply is fine/low.

He does have a TT, a very posterior one, MW said it wasn't a problem as he could get his tongue out enough?

Definitely still have problems with oversupply and let down though, if I pull away (or if he does) then I actually cover him in milk, it takes a good minute at least to slow down.

Igirisu I will give that a try, thanks. :)

AndI I can't seem to use nipple shields properly, I have no idea what I am doing wrong with them.

He is definitely getting enough milk and put on 1lb in the last week, it's just the pain that's the problem now and the gas and sore tummy.

Well, I'd say if you have pain and he's struggling with your supply, then the tt is a problem! Is there a specialist you can go to? If you're in London I can recommend a good place. It's private, and it cost me £100 to get my dd snipped, but well worth it. Especially as GP refused to give me a referral to the hospital tt clinic!

I'm in Glasgow. :( I have a really lovely HV though and I have phoned her and she's coming tomorrow to check the latch. Hopefully that will help!

Oh, that boils my piss. Not you, op, but this horrendous misconception by hcp's that if they can stick their tongue out everything is ok.

It is NOT ok. A posterior tie is just as likely to cause feeding issues as a 'typical' anterior tie. Google analytical armadillo and tongue ties - IMO it needs snipped, and I bet you see a massive difference in terms of pain and baby's gas.

Also, whilst you have an oversupply ATM, that will even put, and because DS is not effectively milking the breast due to the tie, you can end up with an under supply.

I'm sure when I had dd revised by John at cote royd, he said integrated dental in Edinburgh now do revisions.

Thank you so much! I'm going to have a look at that now and read up before HV comes tomorrow.

Thank you again!

Agree with Bunty. My DD's tongue tie was ignored because she was gaining weight like your DS Schro. I hadn't realised how uncomfortable it was so probably not a severe case, but SO much more comfy once it was snipped!
Good luck for tomorrow.

I just looked it up and found pages on posterior ties and how to spot them, I done 2 of the things (running finger along gum) and his tongue did twist and then pressed on the frenulum and his tongue did come down and stick to the bottom!

I guess that's the problem then?

Thank you so much btw, I could actually hug you all!

You're welcome :) let us know how it goes. Stick to your guns and don't be fobbed off!

Let us know how you get on. Dd had submucosal posterior tie snipped at 3 months, it did take another 3 weeks to relearn the latch and overcome the wind problems. Just wish someone had listened to me and instead got told there was no tie and I believed them! I was ready to give up at that point until I paid for a private lactation consultant who performed divisions. I was actually really happy when she confirmed there was a TT. Dd latches on so comfortably now. I'm just upset that she suffered months of wind pain unnecessarily as the problem could have been resolved sooner. However she does have reflux and at least I wasn't fobbed off with regards to that!

You were right! TT is being snipped next Tuesday!

Is it horrible to watch?

Fantastic!

It really isn't that bad. They'll swaddle him tightly, and then do the snip. There will probably be a few tears (his and yours!), but they'll ask you to put him to the breast immediately afterward, which will calm him, breastmilk has antibacterial properties, and loving, soothing milk! It also starts the tongue working right away.

Good luck!

Thank you so much again for helping me! :o

I am really so grateful for the advice.

Yay! Glad it's getting sorted. It's not that bad. Tiny bit if blood and some crying but not awful. I left the room when DD had her tie divided [wimp].

*of

I was busy getting my breast out to feed immediately, the next thing I know dd is being handed to me and she fell asleep after her feed. Just a tiny amount of blood and fine for the rest of the day.

That's making me feel a bit better. :) I made the mistake of looking at some videos of them being snipped. :(

Have a look at the aftercare stretching exercises. The experts are advising to stretch the site until it heals to avoid reattachment. Some LCs are saying that feeding itself is enough, but even with regular feeding, posterior ties especially are prone to reattachment.

There are instructions in the booklet titled Breastfeeding should be fun and enjoyable

And a video