The lactation consultant kept saying the word "letdown." What is this and what does it mean?
The word “letdown” is used to explain when milk starts flowing out of your breast. When your baby first latches on, they are only getting the small amount of milk that is stored in the nipple. Baby's sucking stimulates two important hormones vital to breastfeeding, which trigger the milk to be released from the rest of the breast.
Prolactin is what makes breast milk, and oxytocin is what helps milk to flow out. Once you feel your milk let down, you will notice it starts flowing out faster and with more force. You may feel a tingling, burning, or pins-and-needles sensation, or you may feel nothing at all. Your baby swallowing more is your cue that your milk has let down.
Milk Flow
Some moms have a slow letdown, while others have a fast letdown. If your baby is frustrated by the flow of your letdown, there are things you can do to make them more comfortable.
Too Slow: Baby may unlatch several times at the beginning of the feeding (before the milk letdown) and fuss.
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- Stimulate letdown by hand expressing or pumping, and then latch baby. This way, they will receive a faster flow of milk immediately and not have to "work" to stimulate letdown on their own.
- Practice paced bottle-feeding anytime a bottle is given. This will teach baby that all feedings take time and encourage a baby, who is used to the fast flow of a bottle nipple, to be patient at the breast.
- During the feeding, use breast compressions to increase milk flow.
Too Fast: Baby may gulp, choke, cough, move their arms or appear overwhelmed.
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- Let your baby nurse until you feel your milk let down. Then, remove them from the breast and soak up the fast flow of milk with a burp cloth or rag. Hold pressure until the flow of milk slows (about one minute), and then re-latch baby.
- Use the laid-back breastfeeding position, as gravity slows the flow of milk.
- Burp often, and allow baby to take breaks as needed.
You may have multiple letdowns during a feeding. When there is milk let down from the breast baby is nursing on, it will let down on the other side at the same time. Your milk may even let down between feedings. You may be thinking of your baby, hear your baby or another baby cry, or it may be a clue that it's time to breastfeed. Wearing breast pads will prevent breast milk from getting on your clothing during letdown.
SOURCE: https://bit.ly/36MTBkU