Improving Let-down When Nursing

Go to www.kellymom.com they really are helpful and specailize in breastfeeding issues. It's free.

My son is 13 1/2 months old and still nursing - he's just starting to get interested in solids. He co-sleeps at night so that he can nurse without it really waking me.

I have noticed three things cause my let down to hold off (usually it happens within 30 seconds of nursing - these times took up to 5 minutes) - I'm VERY, VERY tired (that's why I co-sleep and let him nurse while I can still rest/sleep), I'm dehydrated (I really have to remind myself to drink at least one glass of water for every time he nurses, plus more at meals for myself), or I'm stressed. Sometimes I don't even realize I'm stressed, until I consider the fact that I'm racing through thoughts instead of enjoying the nursing time.

You can definitely look at increasing supply with Fenugreek, and speaking with a La Leche League Leader as well.

Good luck - and be persistent!! Don't give up on nursing because you've encountered a small hurdle - I've pushed past so many I can't even count them anymore and I'm so glad I've kept going. :)

H., my son is 14 months old and I don't remember the last time I felt let down even though he goes through periods where he's mostly nursing (like when he's sick). I don't remember when I stopped feeling it. So, no let down doesn't necessarily mean she's not getting milk.

My mom's suggestion helped me. Every time I nursed, I had a glass of water. Once my daughter was latched on, I'd drink the water, imagining it flowing through and to my daughter. Relax, feel the water go down and picture it going to your breasts. Might sound a little strange but worth a try. I never had a problem (well, okay, one side did much better than the other), and it also kept me hydrated.

Fenugreek is a great herb to help "beef up" your milk supply, my lactation consultant recommended it and it might help right now when it seems like your supply might be slowing.

Are you tired? Stressed? I find that taking a few deep breaths and relaxing my body helps my milk let down. Sometimes I didn't realize I was tense.

If these things don't help, track down a lactation consultant, they can be a big help.

Good luck!

Let down happens for me when I'm relaxed, so when you are worried about the situation, I'm sure it is more difficult. First, remember that at 4.5 months your baby will be okay with a little less milk at night, and more during the day, so if your nighttime sessions are more for comfort that is okay.
Personally, I find that I don't have much milk at night until I've had a few hours sleep. (Tough to get when you have a baby! :-) You may want to try going to bed a little earlier to make sure you get some rest before that first feeding. Or you could try letting DH comfort her upon her first awakening and pushing the feeding back a couple of hours. Add in an extra feeding during daytime hours when things are going more smoothly for you.

And as everyone else said, drink plenty of water. I grab a drink in the bathroom when I get up for night feedings.

Make sure you are drinking enough water!!!

Are you eating anything in particular on a regular basis at night? Maybe taking some supplements or drinking some tea? Could anything have estrogen in it? ARe you taking an antibiotic at night? Something could be interferring with your milk production at night? Did you skip a feeding or two at night? Maybe your body has re-programmed itself to not produce at night.

I know with this child my let down is slow. My son may need to gnaw on the goods for a full minute or more before I will have a let down. Now that's frustrating. Especially if he's not feeling particularly patient. I don't believe I produce as much anymore either....though he's nursing even more often than before....both my girls had slowed down by now (he's almost 11 months old).

I had to start using a cream at night for a very tender, sore situation when intimate with my hubby. (trying to be delicate) Anyway the cream has estrogen and it can affect the breast milk production. Fortunately I only need to use a tiny amount, but it still has an affect.

I don't feel let downs all the time. As long as you breastfeed on demand and nurse as long as the baby wants to, you'll be fine.

www.kellymom.com is a great resource for breastfeeding.

I have my baby sleep with me so the night feedings are easy and don't really wake me.

You can try taking a supplement called More Milk Plus. It is sold at Whole Foods in capsule or tincture form. It has the ingredient Nettle, which is supposed to aid in improving letdown.

Could be she is going through a growth spurt at this time and is trying to up your supply. Try to continue with the nursing session, but switch to the other side and try again. Whenever my baby was going through a spurt and cluster feeding, I would continue to nurse, but alternate to the next side to see if that would trigger another letdown.

Also, when using any kind of nursing supplement, do not stop using it cold turkey. It could cause your supply to crash. So, if you do buy the MM+, wean yourself off it slowly over a period of time.

first of all you should find a la leche league group or a great lactation consultant. But you may be having let downs and not feel them. THat sensation isnt even present for some and it dwindles over time for the rest. Also make sure you arent drinking too much or possibly any caffeine/soda/etc. and plenty of water. Pumping is a whole other issue. Most women have trouble pumping. JUst because the like doesnt flow while pumping doesnt mean its not there. My daughter nurses well but I ma lucky to get an ounce while pumping. Also make sure you are relaxed too!

Don't think of it as BF let down. You're under too much stress which will stop the milk flow. Start training baby on the nipple that feels as close to your shape as possible and put a couple drops of your milk on it and hold him to your breast with the bottle nipple. You'll have to repeat this until her starts taking it so pump during the day to have some for him. Swithch him over to the bottle when you can so he doesn't begin to lose weight. The next child and your flow could be completely different. Mine was. I wasn't as nervous with my 2nd so everything was fine.