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Let down is the release of milk into milk ducts in your breast. It usually happens when your baby sucks. You may even experience let down when your baby or someone else's baby cries, or for no reason at all. Some women don't feel the let-down. Others may feel a tingling sensation.
Jan 26, 2023 · The letdown reflex triggers the release of milk by a hormone called oxytocin which is vital to milk production. Oxytocin is the love hormone associated with feelings of calm, connection, and contentment. Oxytocin also stimulates the milk making hormone prolactin.
The letdown reflex is actually another name for the oxytocin reflex, and describes the response from the body that causes breast milk to flow from the milk ducts. [1] Oxytocin begins working when a lactating person is expecting to feed as well as when a baby is suckling on the breast.
- Overview
- What is the let-down reflex?
- What is a normal let-down reflex?
- Which actions can prompt let-down?
- How can you improve your let-down reflex?
- What is the takeaway?
What are some benefits of breastfeeding?
Breastfeeding not only creates a bond between you and your baby, it also provides your baby with nutrients that promote healthy growth.
Breast milk has antibodies that strengthen your baby’s immune system, protecting them from infections and diseases.
Breastfeeding also has long-term benefits. For example, breastfed babies are less likely to be obese or develop type 2 diabetes later in life.
Between sore nipples, latching issues, and problems with milk flow, breastfeeding can be tricky. The let-down reflex, however, can make breastfeeding easier for both you and your baby.
“Let-down” is the release of milk from the breast. It’s a normal reflex that occurs when nerves in your breasts are stimulated, usually as a result of your baby sucking. This sets in motion a chain of events, and hormones are released into your bloodstream.
Let-down, or the availability of milk, is different for every mother. Some women let down within seconds of their baby beginning to suck, but it takes others several minutes to let down. Therefore, you shouldn’t compare your reflex with another mother’s reflex.
Knowing what to expect during let-down can help you determine whether your reflex is normal.
Some breastfeeding mothers can feel their milk flow from their ducts to their nipples, but others don’t. You may notice different sensations in or around your breasts, such as:
•a tingling sensation, which feels like pins and needles
•a feeling of fullness
•milk leaking from your other breast
Let-down is a normal reflex when your baby sucks on your breasts, but it can also take place before your baby latches on. You may notice your milk let down when you hear your baby cry or if you’re overdue for a feeding.
Additionally, touching your breasts or using a breast pump can prompt let-down. This is called “expressing.”
Let-down comes easily and naturally for some breastfeeding mothers, but others have trouble getting their milk to flow.
If you have trouble with let-down — whether you’re feeding or expressing — there are several things you can do to help the process:
•sip on a warm beverage
•listen to soothing, calm music
•take a warm shower before feeding
•hold your baby close to your body
It’s important to remember that let-down is different for every person. You may have a physical response and feel tingling or fullness around the breasts every time milk is ready to flow, or you may feel nothing.
If you have concerns about your let-down reflex, talk to your doctor. Also, let your doctor know if you’re having pain during let-down. A painful let-down reflex isn’t unusual, and the pain typically goes away once you adjust to breastfeeding.
If pain doesn’t improve, it can be a sign of:
•a clogged milk duct
•a breast infection
•a strained muscle from giving birth
The let-down reflex, or milk ejection reflex, is what makes breastmilk flow. It's an important part of breastfeeding and what happens when your baby suckles. When your baby sucks at your breast, tiny nerves are stimulated.
The let-down reflex is a physiological process that occurs in breastfeeding mothers, characterized by the release of milk from the mammary glands in response to suckling by an infant.
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Feb 26, 2024 · The breastfeeding let-down reflex, aka oxytocin reflex or milk-ejection reflex, occurs when a surge of the hormone oxytocin triggers the milk ducts to contract and release milk for baby, says Jacque Ordner, IBCLC, BSN, RN, a lactation consultant, registered nurse and medical advisor at Motif Medical. This typically happens because of “nipple ...
