Let Down Reflex – Breastfeeding Tips
A mother’s let down reflex simply refers to the process in which breast milk enters the milk ducts and nipple for a baby to breastfeed. If you have ever heard a baby cry, or even had the slightest stimulation around your breasts, and begun to leak breast milk, then chances are your let down reflex is perfectly tuned for optimal breastfeeding.
What happens when a mother breastfeeds is when a baby is put to breast, and begins to suck, the nerves in the nipple begin sending signals to the brain, resulting in the release of the hormone oxytocin.
Oxytocin then enters the bloodstream, and is carried to a mother’s breasts, where it it allows the muscles around the milk glands to squeeze them and send breast milk in to the breast ducts. This then allows for a baby to feed at the mother’s breast.
The let down reflex can happen several times during a baby’s feeding, and a mother may or may not feel it. Some signs a mother can look for when let down reflex is happening is when the baby starts sucking less and swallowing more, when the flow of milk is higher. This may cause tiny bits of milk to appear at the corner of the baby’s mouth.
Also, the unused breast during a feeding may start to leak due to let down reflex.
Let down reflex can occur at times other than feedings, including when a baby cries, or during sex. It’s the nerve signals to the brain that cause the oxytocin release…something that a mother cannot help. Padded bras and nursing pads can help absorb milk when out in public.
Let Down Reflex Cautions
Let down reflex can be slowed or reduced by:
- Too much caffeine or alcohol.
- Maternal medications – It is important to talk to your OB about any medications you are taking while breastfeeding.
- Breast surgery – Mothers who have had breast surgery may have damaged nerves that could impede the let down reflex, so it is important to watch your baby very closely to see how much milk they are getting, in addition to the frequency of wet diapers, which should be at around 5 or 6 a day. Consult with a physician about concerns in this area.
Updated: June 2011
