Advice about expressing

[becj86]

I found if I hand expressed til I got a letdown, then just squeezed my breast (rather than milking the areola), I'd get quite a bit of milk without stimulating the areola as much and that helped too.

^ This is about all I can suggest to stop the expressing from sending you into overdrive - I've only got my own experience to go on.

You could always donate to a milk bank if you're so inclined...

Are you expressing what you need from one side or both when expressing? Maybe you could 'block express' so you've always got on breast full and sending out 'stop making milk' messages.

At the moment, you're still pretty much on 'make milk all the time' mode but in the next month or two, you should move to a more supply/demand type production and that should help.

I know its hard. Hugs xx

[LotusPalm]

Hi - thought I'd post an update an a request for any ideas to help with our latch.

We went to our ENT appointment and the consultant was useless - LO not losing weight so won't help with lip tie, don't even know what to do with one. Took a cursory glance into his mouth and said no Tongue tie so away you go...

The expressing helped to regulate my supply I think, and when I started bf again I expressed both breasts until empty 1 he before feeding, fed him from both at that feed, picked a side and block fed 3 hourly. Advice from La Leche League. Poos are yellow in the morning, but get green throughout day as sully is still high in the am.

BUT his appetite had obviously increased as had his stomach capacity so feeding for longer, which is how I became aware that his latch actually hurts! Booked app with private lactation consultant and went Sunday just gone. And guess what? She diagnosed posterior Tongue tie and snipped immediately! Nursing not hugely different though - not as sore, and he's definitely sucking better but he's learnt a particular way of nursing and it's really hard to change his latch.

It's quite shallow and he still clicks. It's diffucult to get him to open his mouth wide and drop his Tongue, but things are much improved.

Anyone have any tips?

Still have a problem with his top lip not curling, but don't think we'll get anyone to do that as it requires a laser apparently...

[Fiver]

Grr to the ENT, but hooray for the LC!!  I can't believe the ENT didn't put a finger in to check for tongue tie.  Just appalling.

Best tip would be to try really really hard to get him positioned and attached properly to start with.  If not, take him off and try again.  Really go back to basics.  Nipple to nose so he has to tip his head back, which should hopefully then get him opening up wide.  There will come a point where he gets frustrated with the on-off, so you might just have to live with what you get then!!

Try googling "exaggerated latch" - that might help with some ideas as it's one way of getting more breast into his mouth to give him a chance.

Did the LC mention to you that sometimes posterior ties that have been divided will readhere?  Some Drs/LCs will give exercises to try to stop that from happening, but it's worth keeping an eye on.