OALD / foremilk-hindmilk imbalance

[tinytoes]

wow... I never knew this existed. I'm convinced I have it and it's the reason for TEddy's recent miserable-ness!
he's got greenish poops from time to time
he has lots of gas
i was told it was colic but he doesnt scream in pain, just has gas and greenish poops on occasions
his poops are watery or mucusy sometimes
since starting bfing I have developed one big boob and one smaller. on the big one he chokes and it sprays
we have lots of wet nappies
when he feeds laying down my bed ends up soaked
he feeds for shorter periods now. I thought he was just getting more efficient, but maybe that's not it...

I think I'm getting closer to working out why my little man ahsnt been happy!..does anyone know what the treament is?
Or if it'spossible to just have this on one side?
I'm annoyed I've reported many of these symptoms to my docs but no one mentioned it..

might have to go see a lactation specialist i suppose. Gosh..bfing is hard work sometimes!..

https://www.lactationconsultant.info/oald.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Overactive_let-down

https://en.allexperts.com/q/Breastfeeding-1764/oversupply.htm

 

[Whisper]

Wow that is really interesting! I hope you don't have it, it seems a really tough thing to fix but i guess at least you would have an answer.

Probably is worth while seeing a Lactation specialist.

Good luck hun.
x

 

[tinytoes]

going to see paediatrician this afternoon to ask her to rule out allergies before i go to a lactation expert.

gosh, why does nature make bfing so hard if we0re all meant to be doing it?

 

[sam's mum]

There are a couple of things you can do to help if you do have an overactive letdown. The easiest thing if you think he's getting too much foremilk and struggling with the flow during the letdown (and taking in too much air because of it) is to wait for the letdown when he starts feeding, take him off and allow it to spray into a towel/breast pad and then put him back on. Or if he'll get upset about being taken off, you can pump at the start and put him on after the fountains have died down. You can also position him so he's looking down on the breast, and gravity will help slow the flow down a bit!
There are some pictures and some more info here.

 

[tinytoes]

thanks for them. I'll have a read.
Saw paediatrician today who thinks Ted has bad reflux so we have some liquid for him to take plus some tablets I've got to crush up.
She's never heard of OALD and said I should give Ted the foremilk as its where all the nutrients are....gosh its so confusing.
I know she's not a lactation expert but I assume she knows what she's on about?
She said he will need to get used to the excessive flow...

Oh well, we'll see how he goes.
I do hope the medication will make him happier.
We had thought it was colic originally so I'd given up all sorts of foods just in case. Now we think it's reflux I'm delighted to announce I'm having some courgette with my dinner. How exotic! Havent had anything green in weeks.

 

[sam's mum]

Expressing the fountains into something doesn't mean that he won't get any foremilk. The hindmilk is the fattier stuff with all the calories - foremilk is more of a thirst quencher! But he'll still get both if you take him off when the flow is too much and put him back on. If you're worried that he's not getting enough hindmilk and if you don't already you can try using one side per feed, or if he's feeding quite often use the same side twice.

Hope it gets better for you both soon. Enjoy the courgette! x

P.S. He will learn to keep up with the faster flow - Sam used to choke and get facefuls of milk when it was too fast for him but he's fine with the gushing fountains at the start now...unless something distracts him, then he still gets covered in it

 

[Margerle]

I have oald.

Though once things equalize (like within the last 2 weeks for me - where you don't feel full anymore unless you go hours and hours between feeds) you should see loads of improvement in the oald.

Plus, baby gets really good at taking it all and we're done in no time flat