When a newborn baby begins to latch on the mother’s breast, nerve signals inside the breast activate. These nerve signals send a direct message to the brain for the activation of oxytocin and prolactin hormones that trigger the letdown reflex and release milk into the milk ducts. The let-down reflex or milk ejection reflex, is an automatic response that is generated in a woman’s body when a baby begins to breastfeed. A proper reflex is essential for an adequate supply of milk for the baby’s growth. Here is everything you need to know about the connection between letdown reflex and breastfeeding
Letdown reflex during breastfeeding feels different in each woman. Some women may experience a tingling sensation, while others may experience a warm sensation and a bit of prickling in the breast as the milk begins to let down. There are a lot of concerns associated with it, such as slow letdown, overactive letdown, and painful letdown reflex. Too little or too much reflex can cause problems for women. To help you understand the down reflex and breastfeeding, here’s how we have covered all the information. Let’s dive in.
In This Article
- What Is Let Down Reflex?
- How Does Let Down Reflex Occur?
- How Do I Know If My Let-Down Reflex Is Working Fine?
- How to Encourage Letdown Reflex?
- Slow Let Down Reflex and How to Deal With it?
- Overactive Let-down Reflex and How to Deal With It?
- Letdown Reflex Pain and How to Deal With It?
- FAQs
What Is Let Down Reflex?
The let-down reflex during breastfeeding is a natural phenomenon that triggers a neural signal to the brain for releasing prolactin and oxytocin— these hormones help to make milk and eject it out to the milk duct when the baby sucks the breast. Typically, it occurs every time a baby breastfeeds. However, in the beginning, this reflex takes place within a few minutes. By learning new breastfeeding techniques, the milk ejection reflex takes place within a few seconds and is very efficient. A short letdown reflex is necessary to breastfeed your baby adequately.
How Does Let Down Reflex Occur?
Typically, the let-down reflex is an automatic physiological response that happens in the body when a newborn baby begins to breastfeed. The nerves present in the nipples trigger neurological signals and send messages to the brain to produce prolactin and oxytocin hormones (1).
- Prolactin helps to produce breast milk.
- Oxytocin results in a letdown reflex so milk can flow towards the nipples.
When the baby sucks the breast, milk-producing cells begin to contract and compress the milk. As a result, milk pushes downward towards the nipples. The pushing of milk downward into the ducts is what we call the let-down reflex or milk-ejection reflex.
How Do I know If My Let-down Reflex is Working Fine?
Each woman experiences a letdown reflex in a different way. Many women remain doubtful about whether their letdown reflex is usually working or producing enough milk (2). To help you understand if your letdown reflex is working fine, here are a few signs you may notice.
- Your breast seems filled with milk.
- You may feel a tingling sensation around your breast or under your arms.
- You might feel thirsty.
- Milk begins to drip from either breast when the baby is feeding from one breast.
- You may experience cramps in the uterus, particularly during the initial days after delivery.
- Changes in the baby’s breast-sucking pattern when the let-down reflex occurs.
- Your baby is gaining weight and wetting around 6–10 diapers a day is an indication of a good letdown reflex.
Tiredness, pain, and stress can all affect the down reflex. In such conditions, it takes some time and good breastfeeding practice to make your letdown reflex consistent.
How To Encourage Let down Reflex?
Letdown reflexes may not be consistent during early breastfeeding days. Initially, the milk ejection reflex takes time as the baby is practicing such breastfeeding. To make it consistent, the mother should set a breastfeeding routine. This routine will help trigger signs in the brain for a fast letdown reflex. Generally, it takes around two weeks after delivery for the milk supply to become time-honored. After a few weeks of continuous breastfeeding, your milk-ejection reflex will become faster to feed the baby (3).
Additionally, try breastfeeding in a comfortable environment. Obviously, for mothers, it may not always be possible, mainly when someone sits around you. In such a situation, you can ask for some personal space to breastfeed your baby. This will help to avoid distraction while breastfeeding and allow you to stay focused on breathing and let down reflexes. During breastfeeding, you can also practice the tips listed below to encourage the letdown reflex.
- Shoulder drop so baby can easily reach the breast
- Breath slowly and steadily
- Put your legs or feet slightly upward
- Play some soothing music.
- Take a warm shower before breastfeeding.
Women can also encourage a letdown reflex with their hands.
- Give a good massage on the breasts with gentle hands.
- Press nipples between fingers
- Massage breasts near nipples with your fingers and hands.
These practices help trigger the milk ejection reflex or letdown reflex if you find your baby having difficulty in feeding.
Slow Let Down Reflex and How to Deal With It?
In some women, letdown reflexes work slowly and take longer than usual. Such conditions create issues in breastfeeding, and your baby may not be able to get fed properly (4). A couple of factors can contribute to the slow letdown reflex, including;
- Prolonged exposure to cold, anxiety, pain, and stress.
- Excessive consumption of alcohol and caffeine
- Regular smoking
- Extensive use of specific medication
- Women who have undergone breast surgery for any reason may experience nerve damage, resulting in a slow letdown reflex.
If you experience a slow letdown reflex for any reason listed below, here are a few tips that can help you deal with this condition.
- A gentle massage or warm compress near the breast
- Use the pump to eject milk faster. Pumping milk also helps deal with the problem of slow, letdown reflex.
- Eat a well-balanced or nutrition-rich meal
- Stay hydrated and keep yourself calm
- Avoid smoking or excessive consumption of alcohol or caffeine.
Overactive Let down Reflex and How to Deal With It?
An overactive letdown reflex, often referred to as a fast letdown reflex, can be difficult for babies who are trying to suck their breasts and swallow milk. Fast down causes sudden force and releases milk excessively. This overactive let-down reflex may force the baby to excess milk in one gush. Some babies may ingest air due to an overflow of milk, causing gassiness and discomfort to the babies. Moreover, an overactive let-down reflex also causes colicky symptoms (5).
Here are some more signs that show you have an overactive letdown reflex.
- The baby may get choked while breastfeeding.
- The baby may begin to cough while breastfeeding and after feeding
- Excessive squeaking and gulping
- Baby may push back breasts and nipples
- Babies make clicking sounds while breastfeeding
- Milk begins to drip from the mouth of your baby.
- The baby may start crying while breastfeeding due to an overflow of milk
- Too much spitting up and hiccoughs.
A sufficient flow of milk is essential for the newborn baby for proper nutrition. However, an oversupply of milk may cause difficulty in sucking milk from the breast. However, you do not need to worry or panic due to an overactive letdown reflex. The condition may resolve with time when babies sucking patterns change or they begin to learn to feed accurately.
In case the overactive letdown reflex does not get fixed with time, here are a few tips that will help you deal with a fast letdown reflex.
- Clampdown areola: By doing this, your baby will be able to swallow milk through the breast slowly and at a controlled rate.
- Breastfeed Laid Back: Biological nurturing while laid down on your back is an effective way to breastfeed your baby when you are experiencing overactive letdown.
- Warm Compresses or Massage: Give a gentle massage to the breast by using massage oil or cream in a circular motion. You can also try a warm compress on your breast.
- Pulling Back Technique: If you are feeling an overactive letdown reflex, you can pull back the baby and discontinue feeding. This technique helps to prevent the overflow of milk into your baby’s mouth.
- Nurse Frequently: Be sure to breastfeed your baby at least 10 times in 24 hours. Do not skip nursing, even at night.
- Express Milk: In case of an overactive letdown reflex, express out some amount of milk before you feed your baby. This helps to pass the first letdown reflex before your baby begins to suck milk.
Letdown Reflex Pain and How to Deal With It?
The letdown reflex is very painful for the woman and baby. It may cause swollen breasts, overabundant ejection of breast milk, thrust, and sore nipples. These are some of the common breastfeeding issues women experience due to the letdown reflex. Uterine contraction is another pain that may relate to the letdown reflex, particularly within the first week. The painful let-down reflex may lead to an unpleasant breastfeeding time and a low supply of breast milk. Here are a few tips to deal with let-down reflex pain.
- Treat breast engorgement, sore nipples, and overabundant breast milk ejection.
- Consult with a certified doctor if you experience thrush.
- Ask your healthcare provider if they can provide you with any pain relievers, such as ibuprofen and acetaminophen.
In a nutshell, during the early stages of breastfeeding, breast milk may be let down and may take a few minutes or even seconds. In case the letdown reflex takes a longer time to flow milk, you don’t need to panic. As time passes and your baby begins to breastfeed frequently or understands the sign of breastfeeding time, the letdown reflex becomes faster. However, before you understand it, you may begin to feel the sensation of milk ejection reflex from the thought of your baby or hearing their crying sound. Sometimes, there will be some issues with the let-down reflex, such as the slow or fast let-down reflex.
In such instances, you can follow the above-listed tips to initiate breastfeeding with a quick letdown. By following these practices, you may feel less pain, and you will be able to produce enough milk for your breastfeeding baby. If you have any concerns about the down reflex, consult with doctors or your healthcare experts. We hope this information helps you to learn about the letdown reflex and how you can initiate a good letdown reflex with easy tips. For more information, keep reading beingtheparents.com blogs about breastfeeding and newborn baby care.
FAQs
1. When Does Milk Let Down Start After Birth?
After colostrums, letdown may start within 3 to 5 days after the birth of a baby. However, some health conditions, such as stress, hypertension, and anxiety, may delay the letdown process. For instance, if a mother is experiencing any health condition, they may experience a late letdown reflex, generally after 7–14 days. It may delay up to 7–14 days if a mother is having any stressful or medical condition.
2. How Do You Initiate A Let Down Reflex?
If you are experiencing a late letdown reflex, gently massage your breasts to initiate a letdown reflex. Moreover, you can also press your nipples between your fingers in a circular motion to initiate the letdown reflex. Pumping breast milk is also helpful in starting a letdown reflex so the baby can have an adequate supply of milk. Frequent breastfeeding can also result in a faster letdown reflex, and it will improve with time.
3. What Is The Let Down Reflex When The Baby Cries?
The letdown reflex generally happens when milk is ejected out of milk ducts into the breast so the baby can swallow by sucking nipples. Some women may experience a letdown reflex when a baby cries for no reason at all. However, some women do not even experience letdown reflexes.
Reference
- The physiological basis of breastfeeding – [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK148970/]
- The let-down reflex and your milk flow – [https://www.breastfeeding.asn.au/resources/let-down-reflex-and-your-milk-flow]
- HOW TO LET-DOWN AND STRATEGIES FOR NEW MOTHERS TO BREAST PUMP AT WORK – [https://healthcare.utah.edu/the-scope/health-library/all/2019/01/how-let-down-and-strategies-new-mothers-breast-pump-work]
- Baby Friendly Manitoba: Information for Parents – [https://www.gov.mb.ca/health/bfm/reflex.html]
- Colic – [https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/colic/]
