Painful let down???

[ilovemyboyz]

Hey everyone...I just have a question. When i'm nursing and even when i'm not my boobs will get really tight feeling and feel like they are getting stabbed with knives...is that just fromthe let down?? It hurts soooo bad..I am also almost positive I have OALD so could that be the problem?? I will be nursing my son on one side and the other side gets that terrible pain I mentioned above...could there be something wrong???

[madelsmama]

That's the letdown, and it won't always be so painful. You probably still have a whole lotta milk, which tends to make my let downs more uncomfortable.

It's normal to have letdowns on both sides when nursing on one side, but leaking on the non-nursing side is another sign of OALD.

I just left you a note on your other thread--are you block nursing? How is baby behaving?

[kbearmytai]

Mine will do the same when let down is going on or approaching. I don't have it any other time and it's just for a short moment. I've heard the let down feeling described as a prickly feeling to a tingly feeling. When it does happen when you are not nursing is it close to your little one's feeding time?

[spanknjenn]

i have thats too! what is OALD? my breast im not feeding from usally leaks...

[Jessie81]

Over Active Let Down (OALD). I had that when DS was young. I cant even feel my let down anymore.

[PeacefulMom]

I used to get a burning sensation, it was so painful! I had oald big time. i would get letdowns all day whether nursing or not and have the pain with it every time. Block nursing saved me. I still always felt my letdowns but they got less painful for me. I block nursed more by session number than by time. I'd do 3 sometimes 4 on one side before switching. And if the other side got too full I'd manually express enough to feel comfortable. For a short time I had a day boob and a night boob even! I wouldn't recommend that though.

[ilovemyboyz]

That's the letdown, and it won't always be so painful. You probably still have a whole lotta milk, which tends to make my let downs more uncomfortable.

It's normal to have letdowns on both sides when nursing on one side, but leaking on the non-nursing side is another sign of OALD.

I just left you a note on your other thread--are you block nursing? How is baby behaving?


I am block nursing and he seems to be doing a little better!!

[ilovemyboyz]

Mine will do the same when let down is going on or approaching. I don't have it any other time and it's just for a short moment. I've heard the let down feeling described as a prickly feeling to a tingly feeling. When it does happen when you are not nursing is it close to your little one's feeding time?


It happens probably every hour or two...so yeah

[ilovemyboyz]

i have thats too! what is OALD? my breast im not feeding from usally leaks...


Overactive letdown

[ilovemyboyz]

I used to get a burning sensation, it was so painful! I had oald big time. i would get letdowns all day whether nursing or not and have the pain with it every time. Block nursing saved me. I still always felt my letdowns but they got less painful for me. I block nursed more by session number than by time. I'd do 3 sometimes 4 on one side before switching. And if the other side got too full I'd manually express enough to feel comfortable. For a short time I had a day boob and a night boob even! I wouldn't recommend that though.


yes, thats me too!!! so if i keep block nursing the pain should get a little better??

[StElmosFire]

I think from what I have read (on here of course) your body will eventually get used to babe's demands.

[yoyossupply]

Yes the block nursing should help. Your body should eventually adjust, I had painful letdowns too. Now I only feel them when she skips a nursing session and I am all filled up.

[spanknjenn]

ok sorry another stupid question.... what nis block feeding?

[DecemberBaby]

spanknjenn:

Block feeding is for people who think they have over supply to try and tame their milk. And when their milk is where they want it they stop the block feeding.

My LC had me block.... feed keep in mind there are variations to block feeding : from 7am-12pm feed on one side and pump for comfort on the other side - 12pm-5 pm feed on the other breast and pump for comfort - then from 5pm-10pm feed on the one you started with in the morning and pump for comfort ---- then at night whatever side you want. Then in the morning start with the breast you did not start with the day before.... Keep in mind this will decrease your milk so as soon as your symptoms are better you need to go back to regular breastfeeding.

ilovemyboyz:

Hang in there sister. I promise it will get better. I had the same thing and upon rare occasion I still do.

[kbearmytai]

I think from what I have read (on here of course) your body will eventually get used to babe's demands.


Mine did. It now takes ds a couple of minutes being on them for the let down feeling to come, but when he is on a "strike" and somebody else is feeding him, I really feel it then.

[ima062002]

I had this the first time and I did not have over active anything LOL. It got a lot better after a few months. I can feel it again with my third, but not as pronounced but haven't felt it with my second (or maybe I was just too tired?) ...

[ilovemyboyz]

So it seems by what you are all saying it should get better!!! PRAISE THE LORD!! It is sooo painful! Thanks for all the comments....now I know im not abnormal! hahaha!

[RedheadbyChoice]

After nursing 4 kids so far, I can say that letdown is painful the first few weeks. Every.single.time.

It does get better. Trust us. :D

[Blondie]

I hope you feel no more pain and it gets easier as time goes by.

[Born_a_Diva]

My letdown is painful too! My non-feeding breast leaks during feedings...is that not supposed to happen?? So, I must have OALD. I asked one of the lac. specs here and they were absolutely no help...just told me to nurse lying down or apply pressure to the side of my breast which was absolutely no help! You ladies here are much more helpful!

[Amy_G_]

You don't necessarily have over active let down if you feel the tingly knife sensation and leak from the other side when breastfeeding. You may just have a very noticeable let down. If not nursing and you feel it you can cross your arms over your breasts and apply a bit of pressure and usually stem the feeling. If you are nursing on one side, the other side is just getting ready to nurse too. try holding the other side a bit, and make sure you have nursing pads in your bra. Usually the tingling will mellow out some after a few months of nursing.

As for block feeding, I would NOT recommend starting with 5 hour blocks, unless you have serious oversupply and overactive let down and are working with a LC.

Often the overactive let down is coupled with an oversupply issue, but for some nursing on one side for too long at a time--5 or 6 hours sends the signal to make a significant amount less milk, and then they dip into an under-supply problem.

You may find that just feeding on one side for each feeding is sufficient, and going to the next side at the next feeding works out really well for you and babe. I did that for 21 and 29 months with my boys.

if there is still a problem after several days nurse on one side for 2 feedings in a row. then go to the other side for the same number of feedings. maybe increase to 3 feedings in a row, or consider pumping and donating the excess to a milk bank. ;)

[ilovemyboyz]

I feed twice on one side if he eats close together but it seems like he is pulling my nipple after he eats for about 20 minutes. I still squirt milk everywhere when he unlatches but then he goes back on and nurses fine. SOmetimes he chokes a little but once we get the milk up then he's fine again. Do you guys thinnk I should go back to regular nursing like nurse every other side??

[StElmosFire]

I feed twice on one side if he eats close together but it seems like he is pulling my nipple after he eats for about 20 minutes. I still squirt milk everywhere when he unlatches but then he goes back on and nurses fine. SOmetimes he chokes a little but once we get the milk up then he's fine again. Do you guys thinnk I should go back to regular nursing like nurse every other side??

I still think you should block nurse or maybe pump that side to get the rest out but then if you empty the breast it will tell your brain to produce more resulting in a large supply of milk.
I have no clue. Maybe spin off and start a new thread with this question so the others will look at it again.

[RedheadbyChoice]

I feed twice on one side if he eats close together but it seems like he is pulling my nipple after he eats for about 20 minutes. I still squirt milk everywhere when he unlatches but then he goes back on and nurses fine. SOmetimes he chokes a little but once we get the milk up then he's fine again. Do you guys thinnk I should go back to regular nursing like nurse every other side??

Is babe less fussy using the block nursing? If so, then I'd not mess with it. :D

[larzyrog]

If your letdown hurts you so bad that is it hurt to feed. i would go see a lactation consult or call a breastfeeding hot line and maybe they can help you. good luck with the breastfeeding.