Normal?

[stargirl1701]

DD2 is 4 weeks old. I have forceful letdown and oversupply making every feed a challenge. DD2 is very distressed.

I am pumping (1 ounce only) and block nursing. I am deploying nipple shields when things are very bad but she utterly hates them (DD1 preferred them!).

Last night/today she has just wanted fed. Constantly. I assume it's a growth spurt. My milk supply has gotten even crazier. When feeding this afternoon (mostly screaming with milk over her face) my other breast leaked so much it came through a breast pad, my bra and top, then ran down my abdomen and soaked my jeans.

Any idea how long this will go on? I'm struggling with it. I have a toddler to care for too.

I have been to all 3 local bf cafés and LLL meeting. I have phoned the LLL helpline. All have given the same advice.

One midwife (who knows my history) felt things may be crazy because I was unwell after the birth (admitted to hospital with uterine & bladder infections at 5 days post birth) and I now regaining my strength. I'm still on dihydrocodeine, diclofenic and paracetamol as well as iron tablets.

The latch is good. She feeds well overnight. Nappies are soaked and she poos 2/3 times a day (yellow). She is gaining weight at quite a rate. She generally sleeps well unless cluster feeding.

I nurse lying down at home as she copes better with this than sitting up. I struggle to recline for laid back nursing due to a bulging lumbar disc and lingering SPD symptoms (physio ongoing).

Any ideas as to when I will be able to feed my baby 'normally'?

Oh you poor thing! I had similar with DS2 at the start - saturating breast pads, leaking through my clothes etc and dreaded public feeds as we were also better off feeding lying down. DS would be so overwhelmed by the letdown being so forceful that he would pull off and scream while milk just went everywhere!

It did get better but gradually and I can't actually recall the point where things improved but at around four months I do remember realising I enjoyed feeds rather than 'enduring' them! I know that seems like a long time away at the moment though.

Dizzy, I can teach the other side of the room with my left! My right isn't so bad so I try to use that out and about.

I was feeling more positive until today but it's been a tough day. I keep thinking each feed is one closer to her coping/my supply reducing but it's so upsetting to watch her screaming. She's so tiny and just wants to suckle for comfort. Not happening!

My left was the main culprit too. It's so heartbreaking seeing them struggle like that, I do understand what you mean. It didn't help that DS had a constant blocked nose when he was newborn and seemed to panic (as I'm sure I would have if a sudden jet of milk hit me at the back of the throat!) but like your DD he was a lot better feeding at nighttime, probably because he was more relaxed and so was I.

All I can say is it gets easier. Just take one day at a time. Good luck!

How long are you block feeding for? Maybe you need to extend the time periods until your supply settles.

I am going for 4 hour blocks. I am aware that I risk mastitis going too long. I was hospitalised with blood poisoning from infective mastitis (left breast) with DD1. I was advised to avoid engorgement at all costs with DD2 due to possible damage from that incident.

She's hysterical tonight. Totally refusing to latch. The nipple shield just increases her distress.

I hate how hard this is.

You have probably already tried it, but if not, try expressing with a pump until you are almost 'empty' then let lo feed. The hind milk is usually slower than foremilk to letdown

I'm trying to balance the pumping - not too little but not too much. It doesn't really seem to make much difference. Even after 10 minutes of pumping from the left breast I can still reach over a metre. Flow is just too strong.

Good luck with this, I really hope you get some help/relief.

Well done getting this far with all the challenges you are facing

A bf counsellor suggested to me to allow the letdown to begin, then collect it in a muslin (or save it and freeze it) without hand expressing or pumping. Then once it has settled down allow baby to feed. That way you shouldn't be stimulating any extra milk production.

Hi, pigs. Thank you. It does work on the right but the flow from the left just doesn't lessen. Even after 4 solid hours of cluster feeding it can still go over a metre.

My body hurts all over from the crazy positions to try and slow the flow. It's like some kind of crazy bf yoga

I used breast shells like these. www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B000WHL2RQ?pc_redir=1410773072&robot_redir=1 . You put one on the other side while feeding and it collects all the milk that gets let down. I never quite dared save the milk to feed DC but it stopped it going all over me and everything else.

Kettle, I have them. D'oh! It never occurred to me to use them. I used them with DD1 to stop my clothes hurting my shredded nipples. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!

Hope it helps. Good luck!

I've had this, though I suspect less extremely than you (though did also manage to soak my jeans the odd few times). I can't remember exactly when it calmed down, although I do remember that with DS2, while it was more extreme, my supply did calm down more, more quickly. I think after a few weeks, I only had big issues if he'd skipped a feed with being out and about. So hopefully it'll get better soon, whatever you do.

I am hesitant to mention this, and it's not something I've tried, but if you feel the block feeding isn't working, you could discuss this alternative with a BFC/LLLL . I don't know if it'd be a concern in terms of risking mastitis? But might give you something else to consider and it sounds like it worked well for some mothers.

I think I might have mastitis tonight. Pain in left breast. Hard like engorgement. Feeding as much as I can.

LLL advice was block feeding too.

Yup. Mastitis. Now feeling cold and shivery.

FFS. I just can't catch a break. 3rd infection in 4 bloody weeks - uterus, bladder and now breast.

Awww just read this - hope your ok. Sounds like you are having a tough time. Not got much advice that you don't already have, just a virtual hug and hope thing improve for you soon

Thank you sunshine!

DD2 is happier Milk production in the left has slowed greatly!