Jul 11 2006
Let Down Reflects
I love and I hate let down reflects.
Well, let-down reflects, is a term in breastfeeding. It refers to the way our body responds to babies’ suckles, and have an instant producing a lot of milk. Milk can shoot out in streams into baby’s mouth, makes it less effort for baby to suckle (which is quite tiring I guess).
I hate let down reflects, because Isabel hates it. Whenever there is a let-down, Isabel would protest by: unlatching, crying, kicking her legs, arching her back, screaming… And the milk would just spray on her face – coz she unlatches during let-down!
This is the most messy moment for any moms. I hate it most when I breastfeed her in public, coz it could expose my breast, or wet my clothes at the ‘right’ spot.
But then, I also love let-down, especially when I am expressing. With let-down, it can double the yield amount, and time can be cut by half too!
For instance, without let-down (when stressed or too tired), I can only get 2oz in 30 min. With let-down (usually when tandem pumping), I can get 6 oz in 15 min! So, if you were me, will you love let-down? 
Oh, by “tandem pumping” (not sure such term exists or not), I refer to pumping one side of breast whilst direct feeding the other side. This requires some skill. I can only do the right one, as I use right hand. Tried the left side, very clumsy…
Agree with you, my girl also unlatch during let down, and it’s really messy and embarrassing bf in public. Once I was stared at by other bottle feeding mothers in a nursing room when I was nursing Justin. They looked at me like I’m a show! So pai seh…
But some times really hard to get letdown during pumping, if we can only have letdown at pumping and without it at nursing, won’t it be great?
shoppingmum: Wow, you have the same dream as I do! I also wish that I can have letdown at pumping, and without it at nursing!
You are right, sometimes so hard to get let down- when that happens, 1 hour pump also very little yield. 