Let's Talk About Letdowns
Today we’re going to talk about letdown! When the KFP Community was polled, it was found that 59% of breastfeeding moms can feel their letdown, while 41% can not. A lot of people think that not feeling their letdown means their supply is low or that something is wrong. Nope! It’s very normal to not feel it and it’s also very normal to feel it!
WHAT IS A letdown?
A letdown is a fast flow of milk, or what I refer to as the “floodgates opening. When your baby starts their nursing session or you start your pumping session with those short quick sucks, it stimulates the nerves in the nipple. These nerves cause prolactin and oxytocin to rise. As those hormones rise, milk starts flowing fast! Prolactin stimulates the milk making tissue. Oxytocin causes the breast to “push out” or “let down” the milk. Letdown is all about hormones! During letdown, your milk will come out in more of a stream or spray.
WHAT DOES LETDOWN feel LIKE?
The feeling of letdown can range from woman to woman. Some women feel a slight tickle, some feel pins and needles, for some it is painful, and some don’t feel it at all. There are also women who get nauseous when their letdown happens. Some women can also feel an intense sadness or anxiety when they letdown, but these feelings typically go away once the flow slows. These intense emotional feelings are known as D-MER, which is worth looking into if this is something you are experiencing. It is more common than we may think and does not mean you’re doing anything “wrong”!
Many women think that if they can not feel their letdown, they don’t have a good supply. This isn’t true! Feeling your let down is hormonally charged. Some women feel it, some don't, and both are totally normal!
WHAT DOES IT look LIKE?
During letdown, the milk goes from slow drops to a steady stream or spray. When you’re pumping, you can see your milk go from drips and drops to a stream or spray in the flange. When nursing, it can be harder to notice this change. You can observe the change while nursing by watching your baby! When our milk lets down while nursing, you can hear your baby suck and swallow, and notice their chin dropping further down as they take those larger swallows of milk.
WHY DOES MY LETDOWN TAKE forever?
Sometimes it feels like letdowns take forever! And at times, baby can get frustrated when it’s not happening fast enough. This then stresses us out and can further impede that flow! Alongside that, sometimes we have a hard time responding to our pump because we aren’t with our baby. Here are some things that can help get letdown started whether you’re with or away from your baby!
GET THE milk flowing BY USING YOUR 5 SENSES
Senses can be a huge help in increasing oxytocin, which in turn helps milk flow, or letdown! First, being skin to skin (if able) has been researched to increase oxytocin and prolactin, which are those two important hormones in breastfeeding. This can be very helpful if you’re with your baby, even if they’re not a newborn! Another option is to look, smell, and listen. Study those features, smell their skin or hair, listen to the little grunts or sounds they make while they’re at the breast. For touch, you can use your hands to stroke their soft skin, their fluffy hair, their little shoulders.
Now, what if you’re away from baby at work or a trip? Truly, using senses can be extremely helpful in getting that milk to flow in this situation as well! Think about some of your favorite features of your baby. Is it their chubby little leg? Is it their soft hair? Is it their cheeks? Obviously we love ALL of them, but I feel that *really* focusing on one thing at a time can be helpful. Using these senses might mean looking at photos or videos of your baby. If possible, a FaceTime call can be even more helpful! Being able to see and hear your baby may help with the release of oxytocin to get that milk flowing. Scent is also powerful. Bring in baby’s recently used onesie or blanket— something that carried their scent. Place it nearby while you pump. Along with the scent; the sight, memories, and thoughts tied to that object itself may also be helpful!
Another option you can use whether you’re with your baby or not, to stimulate letdown, is massaging the breast, warmth, or hand expression!
If you have questions about an overactive or fast letdown check out my oversupply highlight.
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