Baby coughing/choking during every feed

[jmrpinkie]

Baby is 3 weeks old. Generally well. And outside of feeding I haven’t experienced this. But the last couple days whilst she is breast feeding after a few minutes she’ll start coughing on the breast. I take her off and she continues coughing and it sounds like she’s struggling to catch her breath for a number of seconds. It’s so terrifying every time. Has this happened to anyone?

Hey @jmrpinkie - I asked my mate ai as it’s been a while for me. Top thing was…

Fast let-down / strong milk flow

• When milk lets down forcefully, babies can get more milk than they can coordinate swallowing.
• This often shows up as coughing, spluttering, pulling off the breast, gulping, or milk leaking from the mouth.
• It can happen even if feeds have been fine up to now, supply often ramps up around this stage.

Signs it points to fast let-down:

• Coughing happens a few minutes into the feed
• Baby comes off coughing but then settles
• You may notice spraying or dripping milk if she comes off suddenly
• Baby may seem frustrated or overwhelmed at the breast

Things that can help:

• Feeding in a laid-back or reclined position so gravity slows the flow
• Taking her off briefly when coughing starts and letting the flow settle
• Burping more frequently during feeds
• Feeding more often so breasts are less full

other things but not likely at this stage was tongue tie but that would have shown up earlier I think?

More helpful mummies will be along soon no doubt. Good luck. x

Both of mine would do this. Keep an eye on her suckle pattern. As soon as she comes slightly out of a regular suck and swallow pattern unlatch her, let her have a brief few seconds break, and then relatch. She's just spluttering and being hosed with milk.

Ok thanks guys. Jesus it was terrifying me. It’s not happened before a few days ago but I probably am feeding a bit less often so maybe my boobs are fuller. All really useful tips. I’ll try feeding lying back and yeah I think I’ll take her off more regularly.

I had read about pumping off the let down but slightly worried it will increase my supply but I’m probably overthinking.

Often fast let down and if you put pressure on one part of the breast firmly with your hand it slows the flow. Lying back often helps babies manage flow better but worth a check in with a lactation specialist to rule out oral function issues, there is such a high crossover beteeen the symptoms of high supply, fast let down and oral function issues it takes someone skilled to pick them apart.

Agree that lying back should help. Have a read of this in biological nursing and this on fast letdown

Just replying as I’m having the same issue, which started around 3/4 weeks too. She’s now 6 weeks and still no improvement. I find hand expressing before helps but also worried about over supply - I’ve asked on here if this will cause oversupply. Could you try a nipple shield? Again, not sure if this does more damage than good?

@TheDisillusionedAnarchist what do you mean by oral function issues?

Oral function issues= wide range of issues around how babies use their mouths and tongues to feed, including tongue ties often short posterior ones which are otherwise non issues, muscular tension often leading to short posterior ties, suck dysfunction, high palates, oversensitive gag. An IBCLC with a background in oral function issues or a tongue tie practitioner can usually take a look and begin to work out what is going on however its on the cutting edge of lactation practice with only limited evidence but is becoming a specialism in its own right.