Let Down?

Hi All
Can you please let me know what let down is exactly?? And how do you know when it happens?
Thanks!
Carrie

 

Let down is when your milk starts flowing more rapidly. It's like 'priming the pump!' It takes a little bit of sucking on the baby's part to get it going. Some people don't feel it. Some people do.

 

Ditto Jackie. Letdown is also known as the "milk ejection reflex." For me, it feels like a buildup of pressure in the breasts, and a pins and needles sensation in the nipples. But it's also normal not to feel anything.

HTH

 

QUOTE(fuchsiagroan @ Apr 5 2008, 07:20 PM) [snapback]706841[/snapback]
For me, it feels like a buildup of pressure in the breasts, and a pins and needles sensation in the nipples.


Ditto! It was really strong in the beginning, almost painful.

 

BFing my twins, I never felt letdow, but now with my singleton, I kept wondering what that weird feeling was, and they the lightbulb went off that it was letdown. For me, it was an uncomfortable tingeling with a little itchiness...

You might notice when you are nursing that your babies will suck fast at first then start sucking longer and harder... the letdown is when they get the big draws of milk.

 

So, I guess I do not feel it either. Just want to make sure it is not something I need to know about. It won't make a difference to the babies when feeding/pumping?
Thanks again!

 

QUOTE(cb15 @ Apr 5 2008, 09:37 PM) [snapback]707025[/snapback]
So, I guess I do not feel it either. Just want to make sure it is not something I need to know about. It won't make a difference to the babies when feeding/pumping?
Thanks again!


I have a really strong letdown and sometimes if I am really full then whoever is feeding might choke a little so I will pump a little first then nurse.

 

QUOTE(cb15 @ Apr 5 2008, 07:37 PM) [snapback]707025[/snapback]
So, I guess I do not feel it either. Just want to make sure it is not something I need to know about. It won't make a difference to the babies when feeding/pumping?
Thanks again!


The letdown is noticeable when pumping even if you don't feel it, its when the milk goes from a trickle to spurting out in a stream. And no worries, if you don't feel it no biggie!!

 

I have never felt a letdown, but I can tell when it happens because the babies will start gulping like mad!

Reyna