Give me your tips on over supply/engorgement

[isabel]

Keep in mind that I am very new at this (DS is 1 week), so this may not even be my problem.

DS has been coughing a short time after latching on my right side. This side always feels more full and firmer. He also struggles sometimes to latch well. I suspect the coughing is because the milk is coming out too fast and choking him. I've been hand expressing a bit before letting him latch in hopes of making it easier on him, but I'm not sure how well it's working. He rarely feeds for as long on that side, maybe because of these issues, which I'm sure is only compounding the problem.

Do you guys have any tips for dealing with this? Should I try pumping? Hand express more?

[momin2013]

That sounds like forceful letdown; check this info out: kellymom.com/bf/got-milk/supply-worries/fast-letdown/

[zarapipe]

I've used a nipple shield both times for my overactive letdown. It can hurt supply but it was never an issue for me bc I had an abundance of milk. It just slowed the flow until she got a little bigger and could handle it on her own.

[countthestars]

I had this problem at first as well (it got better as my supply evened out and she became better at nursing). Feeding her in the laid back position was super helpful for us. I also tried popping her off sometimes just as I letdown and then re-latching after the initial squirt, but that can be hard if you are both still learning good latch.

[Deleted]

My engorgement settled down after about 2 weeks, so I don't think this will be an issue much longer. Tuck a burp cloth into your bra, when letdown happens unlatch baby and let the milk spray into the cloth. Relatch when the flow slows down. I bet in just a few days baby will be able to handle the letdown without coughing.

[Deleted]

I would not pump. Pumping tells your body to make MORE milk, which is the exact opposite of what you want. If baby is latching even though the breast is hard, then don't go backwards and create a soft breast every time. Let baby do his thing! It sounds like you're fojbg great!