Overactive let down and reflux

[Anonymous]

I’m breastfeeding my 1 month old daughter, India, and I have an over active let down and over supply of breast milk. I’m worried that it is my milk that is either causing her reflux symptoms or making them worse. I had the same issues with my son (now 21 mths old) and in the end, after trying everything to make it work, he went on another nursing strike at 21 weeks old and we stopped breastfeeding. 🙁 I am currently pumping my let down off before I feed and am also block feeding but India still seems to take so much milk so fast. She is then full of wind and when she burps she then brings up acid and that’s when the uncomfortableness and crying starts. I’ve considered expressing and seeing how she copes with a bottle of my milk but it makes me feel sad that I won’t get to feed her. I just don’t know what to do for the best. My husband goes back to work next week and I do not know how I’m gonna manage my little refluxer and my toddler on my own.

We have just started her on Ranitidine with a promise of a PPi off the GP if it doesn’t work.

Anyone got any advice on breastfeeding a little refluxer with an Overactive let down?

[Anonymous]

My little boys did the same thing but I did not have overeactive letdown. Are you sure that is the problem? My experience with reflux babies is that they can act extremely hungry because they know that drinking will stop the burn. So when they latch on, they act desperate and do a lot of gulping. They do not eat long before they pull off and start crying. This is due to the acid or milk coming back up.

I have created a blog with our story in it, what we found to help, and alot of information about digestive problems.

http://help4acidreflux.wordpress.com/

The things we found to help the most were giving our children alkaline water which counteracted the acidity, and giving them a supplement or prbiotics and enzymes.

I wish the best in finding answers and relief for your little one!!

[hellbennt]

Yes! I don’t have the links handy… but look at http://www.kellymom.com

and use the search button on the upper right-hand corner of the page – use key word letdown and search all forums and search 6 MONTHS AND OLDER

I wouldn’t pump…just letdown into a washcloth.

and block feed, like you’re doing.

I also would NOT stop breastfeeding…but that’s ME. If you want to stop, then of course we’ll support you!

[hellbennt]

OAL

http://kellymom.com/bf/got-milk/supply-worries/fast-letdown/

The next 2 links- once you click, you’ll see they’re ‘loading’

if you’re impatient (like me!), click on the hyperlink ‘Impatient?’

http://web.archive.org/web/20091002072029/http://www.users.qwest.net/~fsdebra1/refluxoal.html

http://web.archive.org/web/20090216042347/http://lalecheleague.org.nz/articles/gaining_gulping_grimacing.htm

hellbennt2012-09-14 19:38:31

[Anonymous]

Hi – I’ve been experiencing the same with my little dude. He likes all the milk and wants to be FULL but the overeating and being too full really aggravates the reflux for him. I read the article on Kellymom called “too Much Milk” and followed some of that advice. I believe it has helped us, but it hasn’t entirely rid us of the reflux. But every little bit helps!

I have brought my oversupply way down to what he really needs to eat by NOT pumping – that just tells your body to make more milk. I latch him, let him get started and pull him off as soon as I feel the let down coming down all the way, before he chokes and gulps, then I catch it in a burp cloth, usually pulling up on my breast to expel some from the bottom side, and then use my thumb to massage the top of the breast and expel some from there as well into the burp cloth. I only feed on one side and try to be mindful about how much he’s eating, not letting his tummy get too full or bulgy. I also feed more often, every 2-2 1/2 hours. Burp frequently if you can. If the other breast feels engorged, try to just hand express to be a little more comfortable, but only pump if you are super engorged.

It has helped us out. BTW, probiotics are a great thing that help with the tummy bubbles – I started with bioGaia baby found in the US at Walgreens. It was a good start, but we eventually moved on to stronger probios. They might be enough for you to start with as you work on the oversupply.

[Anonymous]

Me! I’ve BF 3 babies now with a very over active letdown and oversupply. I wish I could offer more advice than you’re already doing but you’re on the right track. It is SO frustrating. I successfully BF my 2 boys for 15 months – and it DOES get much easier after 6 months, but even then, there are frustrating moments.

Re: block feeding. I actually had to go 6 hours per side with the block feeding (meaning I’d feed on right side for 6 hours before switching to the left). It took almost 2 months before my supply started to adjust, but it finally did. The frustrating thing is that if they go through a growth spurt and start eating more for a few days, my supply goes through the roof and I have to start all over again. But it doesn’t take as long to adjust at least.

Everything says not to pump before you feed because you signal to your body to make more milk that way. However, I will say, I absolutely had to do it sometimes. I am currently BF my 7 month old and i still have to pump a bit off sometimes if I’m really full of milk.

Also, I had to cut out all dairy, soy, wheat, citrus, chocolate, and eggs from my diet. And I mean ALL of it. Not sure if that would help you but it did us. Like I said – it really does get easier at 6 months if you make it that far, but it is TOUGH!! Good luck!!

[Anonymous]

Also, you can try sage tea or peppermint tea to help diminish supply but be careful – you can go too far in one direction.

[hellbennt]

pleaase! join in! tell your stories!

I can’t stop wanting to help others!

[Author]

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