Aggressive breastfeeding

Shelley - posted on 10/14/2010

I had a similar problem, and it usually happened when I was in an atmosphere that I couldn't relax in. I had to go to a quiet private place (if it was available). Sit down and get comfortable, latch him on, then breathe in really deep and let that huge breath out. Voila! My breasts would immediately begin to tingle, and my milk would let down for him! It's a super simple thing, but I hope this helps :D

Amanda - posted on 07/21/2010

Try massaging your breast as he eats pushing on the ducts under your arm and kinda pushing forward to (for lack of term term) milk yourself. I noticed the pressure while nursing seems to make the flow better

Rachelle - posted on 04/26/2010

My baby does this quite often. When it happens she always burps really loud or has a bowel movement soon after. We have started giving her a teaspoon of gripe water every other feeding. It has helped a ton.

Nicole - posted on 02/12/2010

yes I have had that happen with both my babies. It was because my milk was coming too fast in the beginning. I had to pump a little at first. Then later my son did the same thing when the milk wasn't enough anymore. So I started him on food. Fixed him right up, he was 4 months though.

Faith - posted on 02/09/2010

my daughter did the same thing but my let down was to fast for her. that could be another problem when you pump does it let down hard and fast like when u squeeze a watter bottle if so than ast for a nipple sheild that will help cut down on the let down

Michelle - posted on 02/09/2010

hang in there!!!!! that happened with both of my sons. i remember more with my younger one, now almost 6 months.
it may have been some discomfort related to gas or the need to burp. usually when i would hold him upright and burp him, he would let out a big belch and then be able to continue on.
or, my ped said t it could be what's called the gastro-colic reflex. nothing to do with colic, by the way. when he is nursing and swallowing, it could be triggering this reflex in his colon that will make him squirm and fuss and even made my son cry at times.
with my second son also, my letdown is so fast that it nearly choked him when he was littler.
don't give up. it will get better!

Kyndra - posted on 02/08/2010

My son is 8 months and STILL does this. I have no idea why. It seems he does it more when he's distracted. But i think my letdown isnt fast enough sometimes. When i feel full and i can hear him swallowing alot he never does it.

Tanya - posted on 01/31/2010

I think it could be either a letdown that isn't fast enough for him, or he has just become VERY efficient, and you perhaps have oversupply.

Can you feel when you have a letdown? If so, that will probably make it easier to figure out what the problem is.

When my son was 8 weeks old, he would nurse for 5 minutes, then do exactly what you're describing. I, too, thought maybe I didn't have enough milk anymore. But then, I gave him a soother to try and calm him, and he was happy!

Turns out, I had oversupply and overactive letdown, and so, after nursing for 5 minutes, he was full, but hadn't satisfied his sucking needs yet. He wanted to comfort nurse, but was still getting mouthfuls of milk, and it was making him upset.

I didn't know it then, but there are ways to deal with oversupply and overactive letdown. You can do block nursing, where you nurse from only one breast for a span of 2-3 hours, then switch to the other breast for the next 2-3 hours. You can also nurse leaning back slightly, to slow down the flow.

Feeding on demand is the best way to feed. If he is doing this at the beginning of a feed, and you haven't had a letdown yet, I would try some massage, and maybe a warm, wet washcloth on your breast before he feeds, to help get the milk flowing a bit quicker.

Carla - posted on 01/20/2010

(I realize this is an old post and you probably have it totally figured out by now - but in case someone else looks this up later hopefully this is helpful to others...)
Yes, we had similar problems too, around the same time... It was super emotional for me and really discouraging. I called my local Le Leche League and told them what was happening and they were AMAZING. (And, thankfully, are quite used to new mom's crying on the phone - lol). I would suggest doing that too because they can be more specific in helping you and diagnosing what might be happening. One thing they assured me of though, is that it is extremely rare that you would not be producing enough milk - it almost never ever happens (even though many people think it's quite common.) So don't be worried about your production. Check out: http://www.llli.org/

Janice - posted on 01/20/2010

i find that if i drink a glass of water while i nurse, that i seem to let down faster. or something warm like tea helps too. i think the warmth helps me and my body relax and then let down happens easier.

Angela - posted on 01/19/2010

It could be that he is in need of more milk. My 3 1/2 month old did this periodically around the 7 to 8 wk mark and again at the 11 to 12 week mark. I feel it was that she was going through a growth spurt and required more milk. Babies are amazing little creatures.. yes it is painful when the pull off aggressively and scratch and claw at us but it is the babies way to tell our bodies.."hey.. I'm growing here... Give me more booby juice"... LOL:) Don't get too worried about it... unless of course he is having tummy issues after the feed as well. Then I would look a little further into it! Best of luck! And Cue feeding is the way to go... Feed him as often as he wants... the more he feeds the more your milk production increases...the less occurrence you should have!

April - posted on 01/14/2010

As far as I can figure its one of two things-- babies will sometimes smack the breast to encourage the release of milk - the 'let down effect', or it is possible he is suffering acid reflux. Its worthwhile having a doctor or a lactation consultant watch you feed him to see if either is the case. being 'in situ' (right there with you as it happens) may feel embarrassing to some, but it is a excellent way of figuring out what is really going on.

best of luck.

~April

Jamie - posted on 01/11/2010

My daughter did the same thing when she was younger. She is 5 1/2 months old and does just fine breastfeeding now. I understand how frustrating and disheartening it can be but it will pass. For my daughter I think she just needed sometime to figure things out. As they develop the world around them expands and it's almost like exploring new territory everyday. I was just patient with my daughter and tried to feed her in the same place if at all possible. That gave her a chance to fill her little belly in a familiar place where she wasn't so stimulated.

Michelle - posted on 01/08/2010

i would also think that your son is uncomfortable in some way. i would try all the different positions of holding him. there's a good chance he's having gas pain, which is often displayed in a way that appears like anger... when my children did this sort of thing i did not nurse them. i would wait until they calmed down and try again.

Suzanne - posted on 11/29/2009

I had the same problem with my son who's nearly 6months, he clwed away and made my breat bleed from scratching. We took him to a chiropractor after advice from a lactation consultant (I was and still am very scaptical about this) he latched on properly and fed properly after we'd had the two sessions. he is a very hungry boy who also doesn't like waiting for the let down, I find my massaging and getting the milk down first he feeds better... he is aboy so who knows..... good luck.

Kelly - posted on 11/14/2009

When my baby does that, I have learned that it usually means a clogged duct which I have been prone to unfortunately. I have learned not to panic when this happens. Ibuprofen, breast massage, a warm shower and sleeping close to my baby usually opens things up. It is REALLY important not to stress out about it because stress hormones contradict your letdown reflex. Often one breast puts out better than the other. Just keep nursing him. It is supply and demand so the more he nurses, the more you will make.

Taylor - posted on 10/29/2009

You know, my 10 week old does this every so often (maybe four times a week). I was wondering what was going on with her, but then I realized that after she would do it, she would have a large bowel movement. Maybe this is the case with your son?

Donna - posted on 10/02/2009

Thanks. I'm not feeding him on a schedule. Just responding to cues. Maybe I should think about a schedule and try more often...

Cheryl - posted on 10/01/2009

That's what it sounds like to me, that your let down isn't fast enough for him. Are you feeding him on schedule- maybe start alittle sooner so he's not as hungrey. Or massage and pump alittle first to help let down happen sooner before he latches on.



But I encourage you not to give up- he obviously is doing good and growing!! There are so many positive benefits. Just relax and try to worry too much, babies can sense that and it may cause more problems. Keep up the good work!!!