Let-Down?

[nkenward]

Hi all,

Thanks for your advice in my last thread (constant feeds), I actually got an earlier appointment today for a lactation consultant, so we are now latching a lot better which now I know he is getting the milk properly. She also said that sometimes if there are frequent feeds - it could be a growth spurt, wind etc. However, as long as the number of feeds during the day range for 6 to 10, then you are ok. If you are stretching more than this everyday, then it probably needs to be re-addressed. But I supposedly have adequate milk supply. Its just a matter of practice makes perfect. I just have to be a bit more patient.


Anyway I keep hearing the words 'let down' could someone explain to me what this means - I forgot to ask the consultant. I have no idea what she was talking about.

Thanks.

[draught]

Natalie
So glad to hear that you got in early to see the consultant - the reassurance is a great thing.

I am not an expert like some on the forum but will tell you what I understand it to mean.

"Let down" is not what dodgy boyfriends have done in the past - it is when your milk "let's down" from the ducts where it is sitting. When the baby attaches that sends the signal to send milk down to the nipple. Sometimes you will feel a tingling or a stinging sensation in the breast that you aren't feeding from - that is the "let down" happening. (you can also let down when out in public and you hear a baby cry, but that is a whole other topic!) Basically letting down means that milk starts to come from your nipples instead of being stored in the breast.

Does that make sense?

[petster]

I have NEVER felt the let-down... How weird is that? My DD is 7 months old and I'm still giving her 4 bf's a day...

Cheers!

[drewid]

Yeah I've never felt it either. I'm also not a 'leaker' so maybe the two are somehow entwined? Bub certainly isn't having any trouble getting it out tho! :D

I have boxes and boxes of breast pads in the bathroom that I've never had to use.... What a waste of $$$!

[petster]

Maybe you're onto something Nicole!! I have never been a leaker either... My cupboards are also filled with breastpads I never used!! LOL!!

Cheers!

[Kassiasmum]

Hi there,
I am still bfing by dd who is 19months and I never feel a let down now, and did ot used to feel too many when she was younger. When I did feel them, it was like electricity shooting down my boob, if that makes any sense, I didn't know what it was until someone said they had the same feeling. Maybe you guys are on to something re the leaking cause I hardly ever leaked either and as for expressing, well I was lucky to get 40mls per day.

Tracey

[mummycloud]

I never felt a let down till my third baby. It's werid, I get this tingeling sensation in the OPPOSITE breast to the one I'm feeding on :confused: but when it happens I can hear bubs swallowing full on and he sucks his little cheeks in...LOL


Maybe I should lend the Barbie on my avatar some breast pads...she's having major let down issues...LOL

[Maggiesmum]

It's so good to hear I'm not wierd!! My sister has a really strong let down feeling and I have never felt one - she goes on about it a bit :p I leaked for the first month and a half and then stopped I actually got a little worried thinking my supply was low. I'm taking my two full boxes of pads (I got them on special!)to my next mum's group as some of them are still driping all over the place!!

[draught]

You could be onto something - I had strong let down and leaked a lot!
My let down was/is normally in the opposite breast to the one baby is feeding on - and it is, as everyone says, really hard to describe!

[zenifa]

I never made the connection until now, but I feel the let down quite strongly in both breasts, regardless of which is bering used in a feed and I'm a leaker too!!
If anyone needs a home for unwanted breastpads, send them my way - I've got reusables and disposables and I go through them like nappies!! Z :o

[nemosmum]

I was a strong "let down" girl......all I would have to do was think about my DS or see a picture of him and my milk would be on its way!

I was a big leaker too, it really is a strange feeling(the "Let Down" I mean) coz at the time it felt wierd but then after a while it was great to know my body was so intuned to DS's needs and even thinking about him made my body automatically respond :D

[Funkychicken]

During my first pregnancy, I literally ran colostrum from 20 wks onwards and used washable breast pads. During labour I ended up soaked through because I was pouring out milk-interesting that my son was a huge feeder. I believe my body was priming itself to cope with such a huge feeder and went into milk production overdrive.I was going through a box of Pigeon breast pads a week for about 4-5 mths afterwards, having to change breastpads up to 4 times a day!
My second pregnancy I only leaked a small amount for the last few weeks and my daughter was actually a light feeder. HHmmmm!
This current pregnancy is somewhere inbetween. I started leaking about 30 wks and have found I now (at 32wks) need to use washable breast pads to avoid small wet patches. The letdown feeling is quite strong at times-but not uncomfortable.
When i was early in this pregnancy (about 8-10 wks) I would feel a tingling without leaking at the sight of other mums breastfeeding.
Sal-counting down in single weeks now!

[xkwzit]

Hi All
I have always had a strong let down (very fine jets of milk going for metres :D ) and it would feel like someone was piching my nipples really hard on both sides :eek: . I was also v leaky. But some women never feel a letdown (although everyone has them). Because I was such a leaker, I could collect like 15 - 20 mls of BM from the breast I wasn't feeding on, it would just gush out on letdown.

Cheers

[Aprilsmum]

Ditto xkwzit - This is such an interesting thread. I never knew that some people don't feel the letdown. My DD is nearly 6mths and I still leak - but only first thing in the morning.