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I have a ridiculously slow let down. Not all the time, but maybe 3 times a day. Especially during the night feeds when I am really tired. Sometimes baby can still be trying to start let down 3-5 mins later. Poor thing gets so frustrated, and me too! And if I even start to think about it in the slightest, it takes even longer.
Can I do anything about this? Is this a sign that I am not producing enough?
Hi,
It's not a sign that you don't have enough. The letdown reflex is one of those things that always, always works (sort of like the bladder let-down reflex - excuse the analogy) However, for some women, watching and waiting for it seems to delay it further. Try do distract yourself. This is a lot harder at night when you really just want to get back to sleep. But don't worry about it - your body is working fine, she'll just have to learn to be patient
Thanks for the reassurance Barb. Though I'm still having this issue today and so far I've had it with every feed. I just sat there for close to 10 mins before I let down. I know I shouldnt be clock watching and I'm trying to watch the tv as worrying doesnt help. FINALLY she got some but only gulped for about 30 seconds and then starts screaming for more. When I squeeze I get not even a drop. I am still on motilium, fenugreek, a truck load of water, feeding as often as possible for as long as possible, what else can I do?! Baby has been feeding like a nutter, last night I was up 6 times, and same thing lonnnngggg wait for the let down and then only feeding for 30 seconds. Could it be that my supply is drying up?
I am the breastfeeding forum drama queen at the moment!!
Hi,
Despite what people tell you, your milk doesn't/can't *just dry up*.
How often is your baby feeding in 24 hours? Both sides? What have her weightgains been like? (remember, from 3-6 mnths you are looking at a weightgain of around 70g-130 per week) Have you got your periods back yet? I have had other mums with a similar thing. Have a magazine beside your feeding chair. Or the laptop on belly belly. Try not to think about it.
I find mine's really, really slow at bedtime. It's not too bad at first, but then DD wants more and she can be sucking for 20-30 minutes and no more letdowns. Aside from not thinking about it, is there anything else that can help?
I think I may have panicked too soon, feeling foolish now. Probably my sleep deprivation making everything seem 100 times worse than it really is!
MadB - What do you do when she wants more and there is nothing?
Barb - She is feeding 9 - 10 times within 24 hours, sometimes a couple more or less. Both sides every time. Her weight gain last time was 400g within three weeks, so that was decent. I am thinking of visiting the CHN tomorrow morning for a weigh in, but debating whether to or not, for as you can see it doesnt take much to have my confidence knocked. Been through that before when she lost weight. I havent got my period back yet, thank goodness.
Great weight gain!
Well, eventually she jsut falls asleep. Then wakes up 30 mins later for another feed. Guess it all works out in the end :dunno:
Don't feel silly! You have to ask these questions to sort it out, and you're probably helpign lots of other mums reading this too.
My let down times vary with each feed, but I personally haven't timed them. I've even noticed lately that sometimes I don't feel my let down at all (even though for me its a very strong feeling)
My DD gets milk before letdown. As far as I know, there's always milk there, just that let down adds some pressure to get the flow happening a bit better. For DD it just means she doesn't have to work so hard anymore & can just lay back & relax :lol:
Your body will settle into feeding & sort itself out :)
ETA - my health nurse was just as interested in out put as she ever was in weight gains.
HI,
When you start to breastfeed, a nerve message goes to your brain and causes oxytocin to be released, this causes the alveoli to contract and the milk to be pushed down the ducts for your baby. Many women (about 30 % never, ever feel the letdown - but it is still working as their babies grow and thrive. Some people feel it forcefully when their babies are little and not later or vice versa, they don't feel it when baby is little but do feel it later. As you feed you have several letdowns, but most mums only feel the first letdown - most don't feel the other letdowns at all.
The letdown reflex is one of those bodily systems that always works. Largely, breastfeeding is a confidence trick, so the more you worry about it happening, the slower it can feel - like watching a kettle boil,
The breasts are never fully empty - there will always be a bit more there for your baby. And for babies it's not all about the milk, anyway, they are in it for the snuggle as well
Sometimes mums find that stimulating their own nipples before the baby hops on helps. For others, distraction works, or thinking loving thoughts about the baby. Try stroking his body or his cheek while he is feeding - calms him and calms you.
The old dairy farmers around here say "You can't run the cows to the dairy" - they don't milk as well when they have been stressed - and most farmers will want to keep strangers out of the dairy for the same reason.
If your breasts are relatively fuller most mothers tend to feel the letdown relatively more intensely. If you feed frequently then you may not feel it as forcefully, but it still works.
Isadora, I am glad things are back to normal - maybe this isn't the best week to get her weighed - you are doing a great job.
Thanks Barb. Definately not the best week for a weigh in lol. I have left it this wk. I will try think loving thoughts! :)
MadB - That happened to us the other day. No let, she fell asleep for 20 mins, woke up and fed fine. Maybe thats the little trick to it on days when I'm having difficulty.
Yep, I don't always feel the second letdown, but I notice her swallowing differently. It's just frustrating because she wants more than is there. But she just comes back for more later anyway, so she still gets it. It doesn't worry me, it's just inconvenient :lol:
Loving thoughts!
When I had problems with this, I sort of 'trained myself', to take a big drink of water and imagine the milk flowing and somehow that helped (and then I always had to have a drink bottle handy when I was feeding! :lol:) but it helped get through the phase, until it was second nature and I didn't think about it anymore.
And both my kids did learn to just wait for it too :D