Ok - is it normal for your baby to exhale breastmilk through their nose?

[fettleandbabyfettle]

Probably a silly question, but 17-day-old DS gulps away at my breast very quickly - should be pleased after a painful start that my supply is obviously plentiful and he is able to gulp down his milk. But sometimes I think he drinks too quickly (or my milk squirts out too quickly) for himself and pulls away coughing as he is overwhelmed with milk.

Occasionally he then seems to have milk coming out of his nose - doesn't seem to bother him very much (cleaned out some snot earlier, so probably did him some good!!), but just don't ever remember DD doing this, but then she never drank quite so energetically!!

My DS did this - I was petrified as i thought it was a sign of something more serious but all the health professionals I spoke just smiled and said it was quite normal! I used to have to put a muslin cloth under his nose to catch the milk as sometimes it just pored out! He did stop eventually.

DS2 would be sick through his nose at the same time as being sick through his mouth, but he had reflux. IF it bothers you, there are things you can do to reduce the intensity of the initial let-down. I used to pop a cloth under the opposite side whilst feeding, to let off the overflow, so that it was never that full when DS2 got to it.

Know what you mean about cleaning out the snot though!

hey fettle ...I'm being a lentil weaver as I just bought a mooncup!

DD does this as well sometimes. I have a particularly forceful letdown and she can't keep up with the flow sometimes.

Milk is nothing. My DS was snuffling a lot and pawing at his nose when he was about 18 months old. He seemed really uncomfortable. Then he sneezed and a 2 inch long piece of spaghetti came out his nose [bleargh]

It sounds like the BF is going well apart from this though!

If you want to express a bit of milk to slow initial letdown, or like Laura says, let the other one leak try using a bottle top or one of those shields that catches the milk. That way you can start building up a freezer supply if you intend to give ebm in the future.

Waste not want not eh?

BTW the nose thing sounds OK if it doesn't bother the baby. Maybe it's that second baby syndrome - get some boob while you can - DD2 was quick drinker too. Mind you there isn't the time to sit feeding for an hour with a toddler on the loose is there?

Daisyboo,

Welcome to the Mooncup world! Mine was boiling away on the hob last night and just remembered to move it before the out-laws arrived to babysit.

BTW someone I know blew a baked bean out of his nose onto the table during a university interview.

Firstly - thank you for your responses - I figured it didn't mean there was anything wrong, just what a waste of milk!!

But now onto more important things, what is a Mooncup? I feel a very naive asking?!! Particularly as your PILs shouldn't see it?!

and spaghetti and baked beans - hope he just sticks with exhaling milk!!!

I agree Laundrylover - I'm glad he feeds quickly - certainly don't get the hours on end to feed as I did with DD and yes it is lot more tiring and different with a 3 year old running around - so much less stressful first time around, but funnily enough didnt' appreciate that at the time!!!

Thanks again
xxx

Morning fettle....Mooncup

...well, you did ask

there is a hooooge thread about them at the moment, go read and enjoy, LOL.