My milk just came through today and little one has been guzzling so quickly to the point that she is choking and then stopping her feed after 5-10 minutes.
I really want her to keep going to drain my breast but she just can't seem to do it.
Is this normal and has this happened to anyone else?
I'm just unsure what to do!! I don't want to be sitting constantly feeding her - not good for either of us!
It's ok hun, she will tell your boobies how much she needs. There's heaps right now though isn't there?! I don't think she will be able to drain off a full boob of new milk just yet
Can you lean back a little when you are feeding?
Well done on the milk production hun - did I miss your BA?
This is very normal when your milk first comes in. Just be patient and it will all settle down when your body and baby settle into a pattern. As Lulu said try laying back a bit while you are feeding.
I have had this with both of my girls. My letdown is very fast and almost choked them etc several times a feed. When my milk came in there was way too much then what was needed by my bubs. It did settle down after a few weeks although continued to occur but not the severity for many months. As bub gets bigger they handle a fast letdown better also. You can also lie down and have bub lie on your chest or lie sideways and have bub sort of sitting up so gravity is also not assisting to choke her also IYKWIM, We often do this with mummys who have a fast let down at work and the prems also and it does help to not choke them.
And as for feeding for short periods of 5-10mins then its probably because she is getting full quickly from a fast let down not from giving up because of choking. It can be abit challenging now trying not to drown her with your milk but once she grows into the supply or your supply decreases as your only producing what she requires then you shouldn't have any problems with maintaining a very healthy supply for her. Lots of milk is usually a good thing at this stage just takes some time to produce the needed amount not 5times the amount. And a woman who's milk comes out quick can get the same amount of milk in 5mins then a lady who's milk comes out slow and takes 30mins hence the time differenced in feeds from one baby/mother to another.
Firstly huge congratulations Sue on birthing a precious little girl and welcome earthside Miss Evie
:yeahthat: What the other girls have said about leaning back, I also found (since I was ridiculously awkward at feeding) and I dont know if this is recommended but I would encourage the let down before attaching DD. That way she didnt choke, but I only did sometimes and as I said because we just couldnt lie down. It will all settle down with time and Evie will get the hang of gobling all that wonderful mummy milk up.
Great work hun, keep up the great job and enjoy your precious little sweetpea x
Also the first milk she will get is the thirst quenching milk. Its the one that gives them explosive poo's if they get alot of this. Usually to start with unless you express some milk first she will get alot of thirst quenching milk until she can drink the majority of the milk in the breast at any one feed. The second milk that comes after the first bit is like the main meal and the last milk in the breast when its closest to empty is the desert the fatty-est milk of the three and the one that really piles on the pounds if they get to this part and have a good feed of desert. It will probably take alittle while for her to be able to drain one breast well a feed if you have a big supply and get to the fattiest milk. If you continue to feel full after she has fed then continue to feed her from one breast each feed not neccessarily offering both as thats when she will get lots of thirst quenching milk and miss out on her main meal and desert. But either way if you have a good supply she will pile on the pounds quickly. Sorry if you didn't want to know this or you already do just thought I would add it.
Wow, guys, thank you so much for all of that, I am relieved to hear that this is a common problem. I'll try the leaning back thing - that sounds good!! Little munchkin is such a hungry little thing too that she gulps and gulps - not realising at the moment that it's actual milk and not the colostrum!
I haven't had the chance to do my birth announcement yet, just got home yesterday - watch this space though, am sorting the house out and we are getting used to our little one then I'll spend some time here doing my birth story and BA!
Thanks again girls, I am so glad I have BB!!
Sue xxx
Baby taking my milk too fast and choking!
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