Breastmilk Letdown

Breastmilk Letdown refers to the action of your breastmilk being released from the glands, traveling down the ducts toward the nipple to be excreted for the baby to eat.

The sensation many describe as tingling. I describe it as what it feels like when your foot "falls asleep", a near painful tingling, only in your breast. This sensation occurs in approximately 1/2 of lactation moms. Sensation is not necessary for the process to occur. The true indication of milk being released is audible swallowing. You can hear the baby swallow.

Most frequently lactating moms have the sensation only at the beginning of breastfeeding and it usually lasts less than one minute. Sometimes it will occur if you miss a feeding, your bodies cue to empty your breasts. If you do not empty you are likely to leak.

All that being said, this sensation is a very "normal" part of lactation but NOT a mandatory sign that all is well.

The only true indicator of letdown is when you hear the baby gulping milk. If you do not hear the baby gulping by day 5-6, you should contact your local lactation consultant for an evaluation. OR if you are engorged and you cannot get your milk to letdown/come out, then again, contact your lactation consultant.

In rare cases, moms must take a medication to help them letdown. It can be given in injections or a nasal spray. Usually, this medication only needs to be taken for 2-3 days.

Want to learn more about breastfeeding in an easy to watch DVD? Here is a great one by a board certified lactation consultant.

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