Breastfeeding question- let down pains

[annie11]

Hi all, posted this on the feeding boards but got no replies.

Baby is 7 weeks today and let down pains are still horrendous. Pretty sure it's not a latch problem or thrush, just painful let down!

Anyone know of any clever ways of making it better? Expressing is not much use as I'm out of the house a lot, and I can't predict when the pain is going to kick in.

No magic remedies here I'm afraid. My let down was often pretty painful too - swearing helped I found! Really though, if the pain lasts longer than 30secs I'd maybe get a feed observed...

Oh poor you! I'm not sure how much help I can be but wanted to reassure you that you are not alone!! With both my girls I had the most hideous let down pains but I don't know too many other people who did so maybe we are just lucky members of an elite group!
I did find that lying on my side with baby next to me lying on a pillow helped, or if I was out just leaning back as much as I could at the start of the feed. This was a suggestion from a bf counsellor I think based on reducing pull of gravity and it did help a bit. I used to grit my teeth and (very grimly) count to 10 and usually by then it was ok. It does ease with time as well.
Sorry, not much help but wanted to offer some support - bf is hard but if your baby is 7 weeks you are doing amazingly!!

Omg swearing is an amazing remedy!!!! Unfortunately I have a 2 year old that WILL repeat everything, especially swear words!

Leaning back/ lying down takes the edge off ever so slightly but hardly noticeable really. It's odd as I fed my little boy til he was 7 months and all I got was a "tingling sensation" you're supposed to have!

You can swear through gritted teeth so your two year old will only hear growling, or swear in a different language (Klingon?).
Mine stopped after a few weeks - can't remember how many, I'm sorry - but fewer than nine if that helps?

I had this and also had pretty spectacular oversupply and an enormously chubby baby. Don't know if it is in any way connected....

Also had oversupply and way too much fore milk so maybe there is a connection......?

Yep, I had massive oversupply too (but combined with tt baby, he was not chubby unfortunately) and I think it can lead to a stronger letdown. Poor thing used to get covered!

Another one here who had really bad pains, over supply and over active letdown.
I subscribed to the silent swearing, tooth gritting, nail digging in school of pain relief on the basis that if there was pain elsewhere I might not feel it!

It's has subsided for me now at 6 weeks but it is Dc3 and I had it with both others (as well as the resultant wind problems in each DC)

Some good advice I got was to feed lying on my back with baby on my tummy IYsWIM. Shouldn't do it too much as it can cause plugged ducts.

Hang on in there and good luck!

My HV suggested using a warm flannel (ie warm water, wrung out) and I've also heard on soaking a nappy in water and freezing it as an ice pack. I swore as not that organised but might help??

Thanks, will try! Sounds like ill just have to wait it out! Took all my composure before to not clutch at my boobs and sink down to my knees dramatically while in the queue in tesco!

I was thinking of starting a thread on this too! At the moment im gritting my teeth and counting as someone suggested. I was hoping it would get better soon (dd is 2.5w) but doesn't sound like it...

Aww fingers crossed for you SilverSixpence. It's only early days for you, it does settle quickly for most people. I'm actively contemplating muttering abuse in Russian, can teach you if you like! Russian is a very cathartic language for swearing :)

I also count, backwards for some reason, whilst deeply breathing out. Plus the odd bit of cursing!!