It may help to position the baby so that the back of the baby's throat is higher than the nipple. This way the milk has to "travel" uphill during a let-down, which slows the flow. This can be achieved by: A "laid-back" nursing position.
Gravity will help slow the forcefulness of the letdown. (This is also known as biological nursing.) Some women also use the side-lying position to help. Manually slow the flow of milk at the areola with your fingers.
Help baby deal with the fast milk flow
Some nursing positions to try: Cradle hold, but with mom leaning back (a recliner or lots of pillows helps) Football hold, but with mom leaning back. Baby sitting up and facing mom to nurse instead of lying down (good for nursing in public).
Stress is the No. 1 killer of breastmilk supply, especially in the first few weeks after delivery. Between lack of sleep and adjusting to the baby's schedule, rising levels of certain hormones such as cortisol can dramatically reduce your milk supply.
Try letting the fast flow subside
If the let-down is very fast, try taking baby off the breast for a moment or two until the flow slows a little. A container or towel can catch the milk and once the flow has slowed your baby may be better able to cope with the flow.
Gently compress the breast in order to block some milk ducts during letdown. Burp your baby frequently during a feeding in an upright position. Avoid bringing your baby's legs up to the stomach when burping. Hold your baby upright for 10-20 minutes after feeding.
Your breasts may leak when they become so full of milk that they overflow. (Leaking is common in women who have an overabundant milk supply). Or you might leak when your letdown reflex – which releases the milk – kicks in.
If you are significantly dehydrated, your body will slow down its breast milk production and your own health will be significantly impacted. Drinking the right amount of water each day is important for your own (and your little one's) health.
Your body is always making milk. That means there's no need to wait for the supply to “replenish” between feedings. In fact, waiting a long time between feeding your baby can actually reduce your milk supply. That's because your body does an amazing job of producing the right amount of milk to keep your baby happy.
Positioning and attachment
Babies often do better with semi upright or upright positions such as the 'laid back' or 'koala hold' positions. You may need to try different breastfeeding positions to see what works for you. When positioning your baby, be sure to get a deep attachment.
Signs of breast milk oversupply in your baby
He may come off the breast because the fast flow is a bit of a shock to him, and then cry because his feed has been interrupted. He'll probably take in large volumes of milk, along with lots of air, and might spit up a lot and need frequent burping as a result.
Milk sucked from your breasts flows faster at first and when you have a let-down reflex, while milk from a bottle flows at a constant rate.
Haakaa and your supply
Breastmilk works on supply and demand so like any pumping method, the Haakaa's suction does extract milk which may increase your supply. It's not the Haakaa – or any other pump – that directly causes an over supply, it's how you use it.
Signs and Symptoms of Overactive Letdown
You may notice milk spraying from your nipple once your baby unlatches. If your newborn chokes on the breast milk because of an overactive letdown, they may not want to latch back onto your nipple and can become frustrated and hungry.
Placing cold compresses on the engorged breasts before going to bed may also ease swelling and relieve discomfort. People may find the following beneficial: sleeping in a slightly reclined position on elevated pillows to take some pressure off the breasts. avoiding sleeping on the stomach.
However, if you are following the schedule and no milk is coming, keep going. This is an essential step in signaling to your body to create more milk. While some breastfeeding parents see a difference in just a day or two, you may find it takes several days or a week to see a significant increase in breast milk supply.
Limit caffeine when you're breastfeeding. Caffeine is a drug that's found in things like coffee, tea, soda, energy drinks, chocolate and some energy drinks and medicines. Too much caffeine in breast milk can make your baby fussy or have trouble sleeping.
Pumping more often can help stimulate breasts to produce more milk. Moms can try pumping both breasts for 15 minutes every two hours for 48-72 hours. Then moms can return to their normal pumping routine. Pumping for longer than 30 minutes may not be beneficial.
After that time of engorgement, or if you're more comfortable without a bra, there is no reason why you can't take it off whenever you want to for sleeping, or during the day. It's totally up to you and your comfort. If you usually go braless, you do not need to wear one during breastfeeding.
Wearing a breastfeeding or nursing bra at night is down to individual choice. If a sleep bra is used for light support at night and to keep breast pads in place, it should fit very loosely so as not to cut into any breast tissue and ideally be made of cotton.
It happens when your breasts are particularly full of milk or when something makes your body think that breastfeeding has happened, activating your “letdown reflex”. It can also be an emotional response – some women report their breasts leaking when they hear their baby crying.
Many women experience an uncontrolled let-down reflex when they hear a baby cry or think of their child—suddenly, milk will begin to flow even if their baby is not nursing. For the first few days after birth, it is harder to feel this let-down feeling since your milk has not yet come in.
An overactive letdown—that gushing effect that occurs when the milk comes down very forcefully—can be a sign of too much milk. But it can also be a sign that you waited a bit too long between feeds, or that your baby's latch isn't great, potentially caused by a tongue-tie.
If you've just started pumping, it's not always clear why sometimes you spray milk and sometimes you're not getting anything. Here's how letdown works: When you start pumping, most pumps will begin in the “letdown phase” – which is lighter and quieter – for about two minutes.