Does your baby…?
© Gag and seem to choke at the breast
© Fuss and pull off of the breast when nursing
© Spit up often or seem gassy
© Do you see fast streams of milk coming from your nipple when baby pulls off
A forceful let down is often accompanied with and oversupply of breast milk. Our goal is to adjust the milk supply and help baby deal with it. This process takes time to see results from any type of intervention made so be patient and stick with it…your doing great mom!
Adjust and reduce your milk supply
© One-sided feedings – if baby is gaining weight well, offering one-sided feeding is a great way to control the amount that he/she is taking in. What that will do is tell your brain that you don’t necessarily need the milk that is in the other breast at that time and your hormones will naturally regulate within a few days to reduce the amount made at that time. One the next feeding, alternate breasts.
© If baby finishes on one side, but still seems to want to nurse, put him/her back on the same side.
© Dealing with engorgement on the breast that you are not nursing on - one of the best ways to deal with that is actually putting a cold compress to the breast. What that does is it relives some of the pressure but also "shocks" the breast and slows blood and milk flow, therefore reducing production.
Helping baby deal with fast flow
© You will be continuing to feed baby while your adjusting your supply. Because it takes some time to see results, your baby may continue to be slightly overwhelmed.
© Try using some new positions. (Cradle hold with you leaning back, Elevated football hold, where baby is kind of sitting up facing you, & the lying down position with baby either next to you, tummy to tummy (you on side, she on side) OR tummy to tummy (you lying on your back, baby on his/her stomach on top
of you).
of you).
© Nurse more frequently or when baby is sleepy and/or relaxed – baby will suck more gently, therefore not removing milk as quickly.
Burp frequently.
