Breastmilk Letdown

Breastmilk Letdown refers to the action of your breastmilk being released from the glands, traveling down the ducts toward the nipple to be excreted for the baby to eat.

The sensation of let-down many describe as tingling. I describe it as what it feels like when your foot "falls asleep", a near painful tingling, only in your breast. This sensation occurs in approximately 1/2 of lactatin moms. Sensation is not necessary for the process to occur. The true indication of milk being released is audible swallowing. Yuu can hear the baby swallow.

Most frequently lactating moms have the sensation only at the beginning of breastfeeding and it usually lasts less than one minute. Sometimes it will occur if you miss a feeding, your bodies cue to empty your breasts. If you do not empty you are likely to leak.

All that being said, letdown sensation is a very "normal" part of lactation but NOT a mandatory sign that all is well.