Help! How can l help my daughter deal with fast flowing breast milk?

Question

She is 7 wks old and until recently we had gotten comfortable with b/f. Last wk, l added oatmeal to my diet, ate more salad and beans, l noticed that she started fussing so much on the breast and when l sqeezed it to know if there was any milk, it would come out in sprays. She latches on but almost immediately pulls off crying . Today she is crying so much and wouldn't even stay on the breast. She is also breaking out in rash on her forehead. l have tried different elevated feeding positions l read but nothing seems to help. This is becoming so very frustrating.Pls. help

Answer 1

it could be that your daughter is reacting to something that you're eating...not the amount comming out. The oatmeal would be the likely culprit. i would ask your pediatrician about it. (especially since you mentioned a rash).
Good luck, and please don't give up...breast feeding is the best! (and cheapest).
-MJ

Answer 2

Maybe trying to lay down and feed, but I don't really think she would have a problem with the fast flow. She sounds sick to me. A rash on the forehead, the fussing, watch for fever. Do you put Lamasil or anything on your nipples to soothe yourself? If so, maybe the taste is bothering her. It is also said that your breastmilk will change 'flavors' with what you eat. The same way the waters inside you have a taste that matches the food you eat. Maybe she doesn't like oatmeal! My little brother was born with a tooth a kept teething consistantly until they all cam in. She could be grumpy because I tooth is trying to come in. She could be uncomfortable because of the rash.....just breathe and pray. The calmer you are, the calmer she will be.

Answer 3

Try leaning back, like slouching in your seat just make sure you have some surport in your lower back. This position is surpose to slow the flow of the milk or try to express some milk just not to much just a little to take the edge off the flow and the rash is normal around this age its the change in your milk and your hormones and you baby developes so does your milk, it goes away in a few weeks just keep it clean by washing with sobelene and rubbing some in after each nappy change. Or maybe it is something you ate give her a day and see what happens tomorrow.good luck

Answer 4

Your OB/GYN or Peds office should be able to set you up with a lactation consultant. I've been breastfeeding for 7mo and sometimes I still go to see her with questions. I would think your milk is flowing at the same rate that it has been for the last few weeks. The fact that it comes out in sprays is normal. Try pumping and a bottle and see how she does if she won't stay on long enough. I wouldn't think its your diet. She has been tasting all your foods for 7 weeks now. Try burping her during her feedings. It may also be that the milk isn't coming out fast enough for her (as crazy as it may seem)
Try this website for what signs mean what for b/f babies
http://www.pamf.org/children/newborns/feeding/understanding.html

http://www.kellymom.com/bf/concerns/baby/fussy-while-nursing.html

Ps. Some other moms mentioned let down...it took me a long time to figure out what that felt like and it really only felt it while pumping (I could see it too) It feels like a tingle, slight burning feeling..not painful at all, just a little strange maybe.

Answer 5

Lay on your back, put your daughter on top of you upside down & hold her head well, so that she sucks your milk up. Before breastfeed, you can press out your milk, so that it's getting less & doesn't flow too fast.
Feed her only on ONE breast LONGER and stop in beetween to burb!
Drink a bit of sage/ peppermint tea! (Be carefull, not too much! Otherwise you will have no more milk)
Make sure that your daughter nose isn't closed (because of cold)! Sometimes without you notice one/ both of her nose is closed. That's why it's hardly for her to drink & breath at the same time. If so, put some drops of saline water to flush!
It happened to my son, I didn't realize that his nose was closed & he couldn't caught the speed of fast flowing breast milk; he couldn't drink & he cried.

Answer 6

Try lying on your back, this may slow the flow down a bit. She is crying from frustration. Her sucking will bring the milk to the surface. Beans may not be a good thing to eat, giving the baby "wind" pains.

Answer 7

Oatmeal does increase milk supply, so you might try cutting back if there seems to be too much. Keep going, though, she'll eventually get used to it. You can also try pulling her off when you feel let-down. When it seems to subside, you can put her back on and let her finish. I had the same problem with forceful let-down, and my baby would gag and choke. It gets better with time.

Answer 8

i had to experiment with different positions. you should try having her in a more cradled sitting up position. or with my son, i put his head on a pillow where his head was more elevated and he was lying flat on his back, then he would eat better. also, i noticed that one breast did it more than the other so i would start him on the slower side then if he wanted the other side go to it and pump the rest out and save it. good luck. breastfeeding does get easier each day that passes!

Answer 9

hey sweety this is ol mamma and i breastfed my first child for six months and the other girls are right it might be the food youre eatin' but at the same time if it is the milk flow you can slow it down a little by exspressin' some of it before you feed her. good luck

Answer 10

Jammer and Swiss both gave great advice about laying on your back. My daughter would get so mad because of my strong let-down, and laying on my back really helped A LOT!

Congrats on the baby and on choosing to breastfeed!