Let down questions

I'm curious to know how others go about offering the second breast to their bubs and what happens with their let down. Here is what happens for me....

Offer DD first boob, I get let down in BOTH breasts (I can feel the burn) she happily feeds til she's finished, pulls off. The fun begins if I try & offer her the second boob immediately afterwards. Burb, change her bum & then attach her but it takes forever for the second boob to let down and for milk to start flowing. DD gets frustrated - buries head into boob, drags nipple up down & around the world, has a bit of a whinge, you get the picture. Sometimes it takes 10 minutes to get the milk flowing in the second breast. There have been occasions where I've just taken her off she's been getting so frustrated. It would be fine if I had nipples of steel but I don't and lets just say its not helping the tenderness I've still got from cracks and poor attachment early on :o

Usually if I leave her for another half hour THEN offer the second breast the second let down happens quickly and we're right but for my own selfish reasons I find that a bit irritating. DS is still wondering why I'm stuck to the lounge a lot these days LOL!

How does it work for you? Any suggestions?

I can understand your frustration! I'm a bit the opposite where I don't get a let down unless DD is feeding on that boob. If it's a bit slow she usually slaps me on the chest!

Have you tried hand expressing first before offering the other side? That might help you get a let down quicker, or a warm, damp flannel or cloth or just a heat pack even. Or if you're feeding near the kitchen, turn the tap on. I used to get a let down with DS whenever I turned a tap on at the sink to wash my hands!

Hi,

Feeding from one breast will stimulate the letdown in both breasts and when baby swaps it will be *there* for him. (although you might feel another letdown) Do you think it's possible that she just doesn't want the breast then? She's full and wants to go and do other things. Then a bit later on when she has more *room* she wants it (a bit the way I feel about desert) I wonder how it would go if you offered the second breast, but if she didn't want it if you just put it away and wait til she asks - might cut down on the frustration and time

I have only ever offered one boob to DS as this is what the nurses suggested, I had so much milk in the beginning!!! I get a let down like you, in both as he's feeding, and leave him on the same boob until he's done and just feed from the opposite one next time. He's growing well and has only ever taken the second one when he's REALLY hungry and he's emptied the first!

Are you sure she wants the second side?

For me I only let down once a feed & both sides let down at the same time. Once that happens milk is flowing & ready to go on both sides. If she has the second side I don't let down again, unless, as you said, its half hour or so later.

DD will fuss at the breast for me if she still has a belly ache. She won't usually stop feeding til she's well & truly full, which unless its cluster feeding, is only one side at each feed.

Infinity, you've already been given some great responses......but I just wanted to tell you how stoked I am to hear that you're breastfeeding your DD!!! What a road it must have been for you, I hope you're very proud of yourself :D

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Hi,

Feeding from one breast will stimulate the letdown in both breasts and when baby swaps it will be *there* for him. (although you might feel another letdown)

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That's what my logic tells me too Barb, however when I offer the second breast she doesn't start drinking properly until I feel another let down and the milk flows again IYKWIM? She doesn't start the rhythmic suck,s wallow pattern straight away as if the milk is already *there*. Its so confusing.

I guess its possible that she doesn't want the second breast, but she happily takes what is there when she gets going eventaully. We did get into a pattern where she'd happily have just the one boob and I wouldn't offer the second because it was all getting too frustrating. She's had a real fussy patch the last two days so I've been trying to offer the second in case she's still looking for more but maybe I'm on the wrong track.

Clover, thanks for your point about bellyache. DD has started fussing and crying in the middle of a feed (fully attached to the boob & milk flowing and she manages to cry) and I'm wondering if her tummy is the reason....she's had a couple of big poos and lots of wind so it might be the source of the unsettledness.

And Janie....thanks hun. Yep, we got there. Finally. It was a really tough, hard slog as you would know but we got there, which I am very proud of. Thanks to the support of DP and some great nurses & paeds we did it.

Started another thread about what I think might also be contributing https://www.bellybelly.com.au/forums...d.php?t=153053

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

I've never had any issues ... some nurse the other day called me the poster child for breastfeeding. Apparently most mums just give it up within 2 weeks.

That said, half the time Lump here doesn't want the second booby, he just wants to be put on the floor to play with stuff.