Trying To Get Away From Pumping

[@llli*splotchgc]

Baby and I are doing pretty well in the football hold now. My boppy is a savior when it comes to protecting the incision sites from his kicks. I do have a couple of issues I'm hoping to be advised on...

Rylan only nurses one side at any given time. If I burp him and put him back, he usually isn't interested. It's making the other breast feel a little engorged (and to be honest, the one he nurses on feels a bit engorged too. My supply has been kept too high, I guess.) How should I go about letting him regulate my milk supply without risking infection?

Also, Rylan is far more likely to spit up after breast feeding than he was with the bottle or spoon. This morning I swear he spit up enough that it must have been his stomach's entire contents. He's having to GULP when he feeds... I'm wondering if maybe it's overactive let down? What does one do for that? I've expressed into a cup (I never thought I could hand express as much milk as I do) and then re-latched, but I don't know if it's helping. It also makes him mad to be removed from food, but he ends up dripping in milk otherwise.

Thanks in advance for any further advice... you guys have been awesome. I think I would have given up if not for the support I've been getting. =)

[@llli*sarahekd]

Refresh my memory, but have you had problems with plugged ducts or mastitis before? If not, your supply should balance out depending on your son's demand. If you feel like he hasn't emptied the breast, maybe wait a bit longer than just burping and put him back. If his poops look fine, he's probably getting pretty of hind milk, though, which is the main thing I'd worry about.
The engorgement should level out after some time of 1 sided feeding. If you do end up with a plugged duct from it, you can start all feedings with the plugged side till the plug is cleared + warm compresses on the plug, etc.

I'm not sure about whether you have OALD or not. Gulping sounds like he's handling it ok-but is he ever sputtering or choking? Gulping may give him extra air in his belly and make him spit up, I'm not sure. Football hold is kind of encouraging fast flow, probably (one way to help with OALD is to put your baby on your stomach and let them nurse that way so they're sort of above your breast).

If you're actually *expressing* during a feed, you may be encouraging your supply even more. If the let-down is too forceful, you can just catch it in a towel and relatch. It won't need much encouragement to continue flowing with OALD. Of course, it sounds like your little guy *likes* to be dripping in milk... so he may be able to manage it ok. Personally, I just kept a fresh stack of towels/diapers/spit-up cloths handy for baby mopping. Just make sure to check the neck folds! I figure milk is probably good for his skin. I have been known to squirt some on a little cut or scrape!

In any case, it sounds like things are going much better for you! While you're working on establishing breastfeeding now that things are working, I'd make sure to avoid the bottle for a bit. That way if he is getting frustrated with your let-down, he won't figure out how much easier the bottle is!
I hope you continue to recover!