https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 27 May 2026 06:24:57 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/nursing-in-public-with-over-active-letdown#post-1327278 Wed, 08 Jan 2014 03:47:02 +0000 Penny Lane 1327278@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>it definitely gets easier! baby will eventually figure out how to handle the flow, or your letdown may eventually slow down!</p> <p>here are the things I tried.<br /> - having LO sitting up on my lap, so gravity was helping him swallow<br /> - leaning back as much as I could, so gravity was hindering the letdown<br /> - tucking a thick burp cloth under my bra to catch any leaking out the mouth<br /> - having a bib on LO to protect his clothes<br /> - keeping one hand free, holding a cloth or just a breast pad, and being ready to cover up when he popped off choking. I also found that pushing down fairly hard on my boob after he came off slowed the flow down pretty quickly</p> <p>in the end for me, the mess wasn't as bad as staying home all the time ;) hopefully you find something that works!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/nursing-in-public-with-over-active-letdown#post-1327267 Wed, 08 Jan 2014 02:45:15 +0000 shopaholic 1327267@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>When I had this problem, I always kept a thick baby washcloth or a burp cloth handy. I could feel when it would approx. happen and when LO unlatched, I'd cover as fast as I could with the cloth until it slowed down. I had times I used handfuls of paper napkins, even cupping it and trying to absorb with the nursing cover if needed. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/nursing-in-public-with-over-active-letdown#post-1327239 Wed, 08 Jan 2014 01:40:23 +0000 lamariniere 1327239@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My letdown isn't quite as active as what you are describing but DD pulls off of the boob as soon as the milk starts flowing fast and it always sprays a bit. Now I'm prepared each time and immediately cover the nipple with a burp cloth and wait until the milk slows before having her latch on again. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/nursing-in-public-with-over-active-letdown#post-1327055 Tue, 07 Jan 2014 22:04:26 +0000 mrs.shinerbock 1327055@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have this problem and I pack an extra burp cloth to tuck under my boob and between her shoulder and chin while nursing. I also gave up on the nursing cover and use an A&amp;A blanket to cover up - it's bigger and easier to manage. I am going to try the hand expressing before nursing that a PP suggested. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/nursing-in-public-with-over-active-letdown#post-1326753 Tue, 07 Jan 2014 19:58:02 +0000 junebugmama 1326753@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Have you tried tilting back when nursing, slightly reclined. It may help her, since it will slow down the flow </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/nursing-in-public-with-over-active-letdown#post-1326730 Tue, 07 Jan 2014 19:45:51 +0000 daniellemybelle 1326730@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have no experience with this but could you hand express into a burp cloth in the bathroom or under a nursing cover first? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/nursing-in-public-with-over-active-letdown#post-1326495 Tue, 07 Jan 2014 17:56:14 +0000 Kemma 1326495@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Can you nurse LO so she's sitting up at all? Sometimes if you experiment with positions you can find one that works! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/nursing-in-public-with-over-active-letdown#post-1326494 Tue, 07 Jan 2014 17:55:52 +0000 mjane 1326494@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It will get better SOON (at least it did for me), but I second just covering yourself and the baby in burp cloths, and just resigning yourself to not changing til you get home. I promise that everyone else is paying less attention than you think they are (or at least that's what I always tell myself). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/nursing-in-public-with-over-active-letdown#post-1326274 Tue, 07 Jan 2014 16:38:59 +0000 Alivoo01 1326274@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>What about tucking a burp cloth under/over your boob and have your LO wear a bib to help catch some of the spraying to avoid outfit changes? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/nursing-in-public-with-over-active-letdown#post-1326229 Tue, 07 Jan 2014 16:22:52 +0000 jedeve 1326229@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Not with overactive let down specifically, but I do have to keep a hand near my boob to cover any nip slips because baby likes to pop on and off a lot. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/nursing-in-public-with-over-active-letdown#post-1326210 Tue, 07 Jan 2014 16:15:25 +0000 NurseMommy 1326210@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I also had the same problem, and it does get better, as @Mrs. Sketchbook said. However... There were times when I was out and I took a moment to go to the washroom and literally express into a toilet. Once I was so desperate, we were at a park with my ILs, and I went behind a bush to express. :shocked: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/nursing-in-public-with-over-active-letdown#post-1326193 Tue, 07 Jan 2014 16:08:48 +0000 Mrs. Sketchbook 1326193@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had the same problem and it does get better, but in the meantime, try nursing in a dressing room perhaps? This is TMI for sure but I took LO out when he was 6 weeks old and was just...what is the word? spraying? GOSH....into the floor just trying to get him latched on. This was in a bathroom and it was awful because I was worried about how sanitary it was, etc. Dressing rooms were better! Or the backseat of the car if that's an option. Once he started taking two naps a day, our outings really had to be on a tight schedule, and so was nursing, so that solved that problem for me1 </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/nursing-in-public-with-over-active-letdown#post-1326182 Tue, 07 Jan 2014 16:05:04 +0000 PurplePeony 1326182@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Wondering if any other mamas have dealt with this. I have a really hard, fast letdown, particularly on the left. Our nursing sessions almost always end up with both LO and me soaked in milk, since she isn't able to handle the speed and volume of milk during the first few minutes and will either pop off choking or will just open her mouth and let the milk dribble out. </p> <p>We can deal with all this okay when we're at home, but I'm starting to get frustrated because I feel like we can't go anywhere! I would generally have no qualms about NIP but when she pops off gagging, it's so obvious and she sounds like I'm trying to kill her...added to a potential clothing change for both of us afterward...I just don't know if I can/want to brave it. For now, I've been bringing a bottle of pumped milk and limiting outings to about 2 hours (feed her, run out the door, rush to eat or shop or whatever, rush home I time for the next feeding) but she's not super keen on taking a bottle when I'm around and this schedule is making me miserable.</p> <p>Does anyone have tips on dealing with this? Is there hope for it being less messy at some point? </p>