Over active letdown?

Hiya, I am exclusively bf my 8 week old twin girls and I'm noticing during the day, they are getting really fussy while feeding, pulling off, kicking my cushions supporting my back which makes them come off even worse and I reckon I spend more time attaching them than they actually feed. It is worse if I tandem feed them and is better in the evenings. I have buckets of milk and I am just wondering if this is them reacting to an over active letdown. If this is the case, what do I do, express off a bit if milk to begin with so that they can latch on better, without getting drowned?

Thanks in advance
Melissa


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I find the same thing feeding DS 13weeks but am also feeding DD 20mths.

I find I have to feed her first because DS gets too much milk sometimes. Will be interested to see what advice you get but you could try expressing a touch. Your twins are still little so your milk may settle down soon.

Mel are they screaming, arching their backs and pulling away? It could be reflux, but maybe not.
Do they get wind easily? Maybe see a lactation consultant or a midwife who specialises in breastfeeding so that they can see what is happening and help.

Melissa what a wonderful job you are doing to be feeding both your girls!!! Fantastic!

Tell me, what else do you notice when they are pulling off? Do you spray everywhere if they detach? Is there milk leaking out of their mouths? What about poos - have you noticed any change in their poo?

Hi Melissa, could be. I have a forceful letdown also and rang the ABA a few times in the early days. Best advice they gave was to:
- hand express a little
- block feed off one side for a couple of feeds, if you can manage it
- position bubs so they're working against gravity eg. semi-reclining position (only as you start, then come back up gradually - helps avoid blockages); lying on your side or baby propped up a little. Suggest staying away from football hold.

Hopefully it settles down soon and/or your beautiful girls adjust. Mine loves it now, gets cranky when it slows down!

Both girls are bring treated for reflux with Zantac and it has stopped the pulling off and screaming along with the screaming after feeding which is a relief. When they are taking themselves off now, it does seem like they are frustrated and yes, there is often about 2 - 3 jets of milk that squirt the poor wee buggers in the face when they come off. Even after I stem the flow, they do have milk leaking out of their mouths. I tried expressing some milk off by hand before this feed and it does seem to have helped a bit - how much should I be taking off?

We have a la leche person locally who I've talked to about other feeding issues we have had so might give her a buzz. Thanks for your input, ladies :)


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Does sound like a forceful let down! Great that you have an LLL person - definitely give her a call. Buffy's suggestions are good too. You shouldn't need to express too much at the beginning, just enough to get that initial "whoooosh" of the letdown and then should be ok to attach.

Mel, that's cool. And yeah good on you for breastfeeding your girls! I hope everything settles down soon. :)

I used to recline back in the lounge chair or feed laying down. I am not sure how easy this would be with twins tho.

I had a lot of milk and a forceful let down. Expressing a little beforehand will help a little too

The reclining is definitely helping as us hand expressing before the initial letdown. I'm wondering as well, they are so used to getting drowned that when the flow slows, they get a bit cranky cos they actually have to do a bit for their milk . . . no instant gratification like at the beginning of the feed lol


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