Easing a forcefull let-down

[nikichickee]

any suggestions besides pumping before feedings?

[mookie]

Pumping before the feeding will ease the let down, but you run the risk of your body thinking the baby needs more which will make the problem worse tomorrow. I have a very forcefull let-down... my husband jokes that I am water boarding our baby! I just make sure I have a cloth ready so if he needs to pull off, I just soak it up until he is ready to try again. This is my third baby and they have all adjusted to getting the mild down quickly, believe it or not.

[PKat]

Yup I don't pump either I learned with my oldest it just makes the problem that much worse. Like the PP said I keep a prefold handy (preemie size are great for this) and when she pulls off I use the prefold to catch and when that stops I latch her back on and she is much happier. She is starting to adjust though and I really only need to do this a few times a day now rather then with every nursing session.

[keen1981]

How old is baby? Pumping like taht could make your supply even more plentiful, so use caution.. Supply= demand

I would try offering 1 breast every 2/3 hours. That could help you supply even out and ease the letdown. MANY women do this with great outcomes!

[missbrit]

My LO is 3.5 months and holds her own pretty well now with my letdowns. I usually keep a burp cloth or blanket near to catch the flow if she pulls off. Keep up the determination and lovely art of breastfeeding

[mama~tutu~m's]

I have a "hardy" let down too! I keep a towel nearby like the other pp said, and also I sometimes try to start the feedings in a reclined position so gravity is working against the milk pouring into lo mouth. It helps sometimes.

[mrseum]

I definately wouldn't pump beforehand!! I've been dealing w/this, my lo gets ticked and he chokes sometimes. :/ If he's been having a bad day with it or popping off during the letdown, I'll catch it in a burp cloth. Some time I'll actually lay down, and hold him stomach to stomach, so he can nurse. It takes some getting used to for both, but it slows the flow down, so it's not so overwhelming, (sometimes) and sometimes he has to actually work for it. I also "block feed" nursing on one side for 3 hours, and then nursing on the other for 3 more. Though that hasn't seemed to help too much just yet.

[mamatutugirls]

my poor little one could not keep up with my let down until recently, he's almost 4 months now and has no problems. Just as pp said, I had to have a towel handy until it slowed down enough for him to eat. Oh my gosh his poor little face would be soaking.

[Lovefam6]

Originally Posted by mama~tutu~m's I have a "hardy" let down too! I keep a towel nearby like the other pp said, and also I sometimes try to start the feedings in a reclined position so gravity is working against the milk pouring into lo mouth. It helps sometimes.

That's what I always did too, but the milk still pours out, LOL. The babies adjust, but probably swallow a lil' more air, IMHO, b/c of it.

[For The Love Of Cloth]

One thing I did, in addition to the other suggestions, which are AWESOME! It helped me to allow the other boob to be free during feedings and leak in a towel during block feeding. This helped me prevent blocked ducts.