Let-Down Reflex: The Key to Success in Breastfeeding

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Medical Video: How to Use Breast Pump Properly /Breastfeeding Tutorial

Maybe some of you rarely hear the term let-down reflex or even just heard this term. Let-down reflex is a natural reflex that occurs to the mother when breastfeeding her baby, and this is the key to the success of the mother when giving breast milk to the baby .. To find out more, you should see the following explanation.

What is that let-down reflex?

Let-down reflex is reflex that helps your milk come out more smoothly while breastfeeding, so if let-down reflex successfully occurs in the mother,Breast milk given to babies can meet the needs of babies. Let-down reflex occurs naturally if you breastfeed your baby properly. Some of you may not feel it, but don't worry, it doesn't mean let-down reflex You're not working.

Let-down reflex starting from the baby suction on the mother's breast. This baby suction then stimulates the nerves in the mother's nipples. These nerves then cause the hormone prolactin and oxytocin to be released into the mother's bloodstream. The prolactin hormone reacts to the milk-producing tissue in your breast. Meanwhile, the hormone oxytocin serves to push the small muscles around the milk-producing cells to contract. This contraction causes the breast to push the milk out (let-down).

How long let-down reflex working when nursing mothers vary between individuals, even different between the time of breastfeeding one another. However, usually let-down reflex works a few seconds to a few minutes while breastfeeding.

Let-down reflex not only triggered by baby sucking, but can also be triggered from contact with the baby, or only from your feelings. When you hear a baby crying, you will spontaneously feed your baby and the milk in your breast will automatically flow out.

So, let-down reflex help you push the milk out to be sucked by the baby. If let-down reflex You are not working properly, this can cause problems while breastfeeding. The milk that comes out of your breast will decrease in number, so the baby receives less milk. Over time the baby will refuse to suckle and can interfere with the baby's growth.

How to support let-down reflex when breastfeeding or pumping breast milk?

Let-down reflex can help smooth your milk production. Some ways you can do so let-down reflex works well when you are breastfeeding or pumping breast milk.

  • Calm yourself

When breastfeeding or pumping breast milk, you should be in a calm condition. Peace in yourself can help your body produce milk better. When you start breastfeeding or pumping milk, you can take a deep breath and slowly remove it. This can help you calm down. Some of you may need to drink warm water or while listening to music. Another thing you can do is to put a warm water compress on your breast a few minutes before you start breastfeeding your baby

  • Gently massage your breasts

Massage on your breasts, especially on the nipple can help let-down reflex. You can start massage from the top of the breast, then gently massage to your nipples. Elus nipples with your fingers slowly. Next, feed your baby.

  • Think about your baby

When breastfeeding or pumping breast milk, you should focus your mind on your baby. This helped let-down reflex work well. When you are pumping your milk, it's best to do it near your baby. Or, if you are pumping breast milk in the office or in a place far away from your baby, you can do it while looking at your baby's photo.

  • You need support from the people closest to you

Yes, you really need support from the people closest to you while breastfeeding, such as your husband, parents, mother-in-law, closest friends, and others. Great support makes you confident to be able to give milk to your baby. Your husband may be able to help by massaging your shoulder and making you more relaxed when you feel tired.

How to find out whetherlet-down reflex Do you work well?

Some mothers may feel sensations let-downwhile some other mothers have never felt a sensation let-down. However, this does not mean that let-down reflex You are not going well.

There are signs when let-down reflex You work well, namely:

  • The mother may feel cramps in the part of her uterus in the first weeks of breastfeeding.
  • You feel a tingling or heat sensation in your breast while breastfeeding.
  • Babies experience changes in the sucking pattern of the mother's nipples. From those that have been short sucking to longer and longer.
  • Your milk drips from the other breast that is not being sucked by the baby.
  • When breastfeeding, the mother feels more calm and relaxed, sometimes even the mother feels sleepy.
  • The mother feels very thirsty while breastfeeding.
  • Babies swallow more often, even baby sounds when they swallow until they are heard in the mother's ear when the baby is feeding.
  • Your baby is gaining weight every month.

Sometimes, you will feel itching in the breast, nausea, headache, or negative emotions when let-down reflex happen. This is the effect of releasing the hormone oxytocin by your body.

 

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Let-Down Reflex: The Key to Success in Breastfeeding
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