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Author Topic: No letdown in the middle of the night  (Read 6011 times)

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Offline MGardner

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No letdown in the middle of the night
« on: August 07, 2006, 12:04:54 pm »
My DS is 4 months old. We are on 4 hour easy. During the night I have been feeding once. I've always noticed that it took a little longer for my letdown to happen in the middle of night. Usually took 1 minute, instead of 15-20 seconds. I just figured because I was half asleep. But last night he sucked and sucked for 20 minutes and I never had a letdown. I usually have a VERY strong letdown that I feel very intensely and when it happens my other breast that he isn't sucking on leaks like crazy. This did not happen. My breasts were so full and hard I know I had a lot of milk for him but for some reason it just wasn't letting down. I tried to relax as best as I could but as minutes were passing by it was getting harder to relax. I also found I was sweating like crazy the more time that went by. I finally gave up and gave a bottle (my DS does NOT like bottles). This happened about 5 nights ago as well. It was the first night in 4 months that I decided to take a night off and let my husband do the night feeding. I pumped during the night feeding and it took 8 minutes for the letdown, it finally happened and I pumped 5oz which is normal. I was worried but it didn't happen the next night so I just thought it was because I was using the pump during a feed that I never have before. I'm really really worried about this. I know the best thing I can do is relax and I was really trying to. I didn't do anything different, he woke up at the same time he usually does - between 3am-4:30am for the feeding and I hadn't fed since 7:30p. What can I do??? Why is this happening?
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Offline Samuel's mum

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Re: No letdown in the middle of the night
« Reply #1 on: August 07, 2006, 12:31:29 pm »
HUG
OK Quick question!
Are you absolutely confident you weren't getting a letdown and just not feeling it??

Most women over time stop feeling their letdown as their babies get older. It would also be usual for the other breast to stop leaking. It would also be normal for you then to feel the letdown differently once you had moved to pump.

I ask because:

Quote (selected)
But last night he sucked and sucked for 20 minutes and I never had a letdown.

In this situation most babies would not be prepared to suck contently if there was no letdown. They'd be going bananas.

You do sound anxious and as you say it's a vicious circle where it becomes harder to relax.

I know you've mentioned concerns about your supply before and you know what you are feeling is very normal. From what you've said before I can see how this might have affected your relaxation.
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It was the first night in 4 months that I decided to take a night off and let my husband do the night feeding.
Even when our brain says 'I can sleep and not do night feeds!' Our body doesn't always cooperate.

Have I given you the pumpingmoms.org tips before on getting letdown?
http://www.pumpingmoms.org/html/letdown_techniques.html
rubbing nipples (!) and visualisation?
« Last Edit: August 07, 2006, 12:47:43 pm by Samuel's mum »
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Offline MGardner

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Re: No letdown in the middle of the night
« Reply #2 on: August 07, 2006, 12:47:06 pm »
No, where do I find those tips? I do always try to breathe and watch my baby as he is feeding, I also close my eyes and think relaxing thoughts, but I know as minutes roll by it gets so hard as I find myself just watching the clock. During the first morning feed this morning I had a letdown within 10 seconds and it was very intense and other breast leaked. It seems like this only happens during the night - well it's only happened twice. I was very surprised that he kept sucking during the night, i kept expecting him to start screaming, so I am wondering if he was getting something but I have never NOT felt a letdown. The only other time was that night that I pumped and I know I didn't have milk until the letdown finally happened 8 minutes later. Could it be that one feeding I do not feel a letdown but every other feeding the letdown is so strong (painful)? I know that I am definitely anxious and feel stressed and this is probably a contributing factor, but it doesn't seem to affect the day feeds? I just don't want this to happen again. Usually I can feed and put him back down within 15 minutes never taking him out of his room. But last night I was up for an hour and had to bring him down to the kitchen to get a bottle ready.
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Offline Samuel's mum

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Re: No letdown in the middle of the night
« Reply #3 on: August 07, 2006, 12:52:03 pm »
I edited my post while you were writing. The link is now there.

It IS VERY NORMAL TO STOP FEELING A LETDOWN. Many many mothers stop feeling it completely  after the first few weeks/ months (like me). I bet you were having a let down. Feeling it comes and goes for many people.
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Offline MGardner

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Re: No letdown in the middle of the night
« Reply #4 on: August 07, 2006, 13:01:47 pm »
Ok! Instead of worrying about it, I will trust that he did get milk. Even though my letdown is painful at times it kind of makes me more confident that he is feeding, I never knew that one day it could just go away. I need to just trust that he is still feeding even if I don't feel it!
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Offline LyndaManus

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Re: No letdown in the middle of the night
« Reply #5 on: August 07, 2006, 16:28:06 pm »
I have actually never felt a let down, but I know it happens pretty quick.  I have not had this issue, but I have heard recommendations on heat helping with the let down.  Maybe place a warm wash cloth over your breast for a while before the feeding.  I think that is suppose to quicken the let down.  Good luck!
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