can't letdown

[melbb]

I am having problems letting down. Things were fine, but I think I got freaked out when DS went through his growth spurt. One evening he was frustrated at the breast and it stressed me, so it took me 2 hours to finally have a letdown. The growth spurt went flawlessly after that. But sometimes I have serious problems letting down. Often it is in the middle of the night, which means no sleep, or in the evenings. I have tried lots of the suggested tricks, picturing your baby, milk waterfalls, having a distraction like TV, listening to music, etc. I have tried to follow a routine to help condition my body to just do it. I have also tried warm compresses, nipple rolling, etc. But nothing really seems to work. I am so scared I am going to single handedly sabotage a perfectly good breastfeeding relationship. Please help. I know it is all in the mind, but I can't seem to stop worrying.

[LorenaAZ]

Is your baby wetting enough diapers and pooping enough, growing normally? If the answer is yes, then don't worry about your let downs.

[Angelorum]

Is it possible you are letting down and just not having the sensation? I've heard some women lose the let down sensation (and think they're supply is dwindling) after a few months.

[melbb]

He is only 3 weeks old. I have always felt my letdowns. And I can tell by his sucking that I am not letting down.

[smeep]

Chances are you're not feeling it as much/anymore (I rarely felt it). It's also quite possible that he's also more efficient at swallowing it and therefore has fewer big gulps. Or your let-down has become a bit slower, but may still be efficient. Check kellymom.com for the info on what constitutes 1 wet diaper (it's putting X tablespoons of water in a diaper) and if hees having 6+ a day, he's fine.

[crunchy_mommy]

Is your DS upset? If not, you may be letting down without feeling it... or he might be comfort sucking & not even trying to get milk!

One trick I've been doing lately is closing my eyes and imagining the tips of my nipples filling with milk. Then I imagine DS gulping it down... within seconds I get a letdown.

[AlishaB]

I never felt a let-down with either of my sons. Just as long as they are gaining, and voiding properly, I wouldnt be too concerned.
Also, by worrying about it, you may get stressed which can inhibit milk production. Have you tried nursing in a nice warm relaxing bath??

[melbb]

Thanks for the replies. He is upset when he isn't getting milk. I don't always feel anxious, and when I don't I feel the letdowns. I can tell by his sucking whether I am letting down. Anyway, I realized after going through this for almost a week that I have no control over it. I went to my OB thinking I have some sort of postpartum anxiety. And I am seeing a psychiatrist on Monday.

[Katie T]

I wish that would have crossed my mine when I was having issues w/ds.I completely understand how stressing it is even when you try not to think about it it was in the backk of my mind. Good luck we went on to have a great bfing experience.

[CozMama]

I know this is a bit late in responding but here I am almost a year after birth and I have times when I can't get my let down to trigger and my son is getting antsy. In those moments I have to close my eyes and force myself to focus on relaxing my shoulders so I drop them down and stretch my neck forward rolling from side to side. I know I am not letting down as fast because I am stressed and just doing reminds my body of what it is supposed to be doing.

[Carlyle]

For me, it really helps to drink a glass of water when I'm not letting down. I can almost feel the water going right to my breasts!

[mambera]

Regular breathing is supposed to enhance prolactin production. I find that slow, regular breaths will usually give me a letdown within 10-20 seconds.

[kriket]

Originally Posted by melbb

Anyway, I realized after going through this for almost a week that I have no control over it. I went to my OB thinking I have some sort of postpartum anxiety. And I am seeing a psychiatrist on Monday.

much love to you.