Although most babies with breastfeeding difficulties have problems related to not getting enough milk, a few have the opposite problem— handling too much milk. For some women, the milk lets down (flows) so fast that the baby has trouble swallowing the amount of milk. If this is happening while you’re nursing, your baby may act fussy or choke and sputter at the breast, and he or she may be quite gassy.
If your baby acts fussy, chokes, or sputters a minute or two after beginning to feed, you may have a problem with over-active let-down.
The following tips may help prevent breastfeeding let-down problems:
- Use positions that allow your baby to better control the milk flow:
- Lie in a recliner to feed your baby.
- Lie down on your back to feed your baby.
- In a cradle position, hold your baby's head higher than your breast.
- Use a side-lying position to feed your baby.
- Pump or hand express a little milk before starting the feeding.
- Increase the frequency of nursing.
- Allow your baby to feed on one breast per feeding, and if your baby wants to nurse within 60 to 90 minutes, offer the same breast.
- Burp your baby frequently during each feeding.