Over active letdown?

[Feedingnightmare]

Hi all. Apologies I've started yet another thread!!! Trying to get to the bottom of my Dad's horrendous wind and reflux issues.

I've been observing her feeds carefully the last week or so and this is what I've noticed:

• She really really doesn't like my left boob. I offer it to her anyway because my right has always been naturally bigger and I don't want to be even more lopsided

• When I start her on the left boob (and sometimes the right as well, but mostly left), after about 10-20 seconds she is gulping and gasping frantically, I can hear her swallowing so much air and then she will pull off screaming :(

• Today, when the crazy gulping started, I unlatched her. There was no milk spraying out. Just a bit dripping sort of...not really sure how to explain. But basically nothing to catch in a towel as many people advise.

• I switched boobs as I know she prefers the right, she was fine there and was also way more settled after the feed.

Please help me solve this mystery! Is it possible to have a fast letdown despite milk not spraying out in huge quantities? I'm so confused.

My DD's* sorry!

How old is she?

Mine are similar I think, pretty much exactly as you describe but she prefers the left, which she'll loving stroke rather than pummel with her fist. She's now 17 weeks and my second.

If I unlatch her it doesn't spurt out, but if I squeeze where the ducts are it really does, can literally aim across a room. I've think she's doing similar with her mouth and that's what's causing the dramatic gulping and spluttering. A lovely calm feed is such a treat, but often takes a couple of false starts with some spluttering along the way. She definitely seems a bit more resilient to it now we've got to know each other a bit more compares to newborn days.

It was similar with my first, although her favourite was the right and by 7 months only fed from the right which was fine - no lopsided issues, and actually my preference too.

I have this but the other way round. Have you tried different feeding positions? My first never had any issues but my second has to feed football hold for my right side as that seems a bit slower.

@Potplant19 She's 14 weeks and petite (9th centile). Been following her curve but I feel the reflux has gotten much worse in the last couple of weeks.

@Scramble1805 I have tried rugby on the left but no change really. I tried laid back but couldn't quite get the hang of it.

Oh sorry I missed the reflux and wind issues. DD1 had horrendous reflux, it was lockdown and I just assumed all babies were like that and bulk bought muslins this time round. DD2 very little reflux, despite doing everything the same. DD2 does have very tricky wind though that can totally derail things, so dealing with both sounds really tough. The reflux died down once she started solids. The wind I haven't found a solution yet.

DD2 also tracking 9th percentile. Sorry I totally missed the crux of your post!

Can you try side feeding? Lay baby tummy to tummy with you on their side with mouth just slightly lower than nipple so they tip their head back. It's a nice way to feed and I find if I lie ds on his left hand side he burps as he goes which means less winding after the feed?

I'd keep doing what you're doing and every time she starts to gulp take her off. You could also pump a bit before she feeds (only a little like 5 minutes and get the first let down over you) it would firstly let you see what your let downs are actually like and might let her start off with a more paced feed.

I have overactive let down and it doesn't always come with a spray unless ds is mid suck when I take him off. I just give him a few seconds every time he starts gulping and press with a muslin to slow things.

Is her latch good on the non-preferred side? If you think the latch isn't quite right I'd see your lactation consultant and check for posterior tongue tie and positioning tips.