What is a let-down reflex?
The let-down reflex refers to your body’s response to your baby’s sucking when your milk starts flowing spontaneously. It occurs after your baby has been sucking at the breast for a period of time. Depending on how full your breast is, it can happen quickly, but it can also take a few minutes to kick in. Depending on how quickly your milk flows, a young baby may not be able to keep up. My daughter had a phase around 3-4 months where she was unable to keep up with the flow of milk and would regularly unlatch. This was a bit impractical and messy, but as she got older, she did outgrow this. On the other hand, stress and other factors, such as alcohol or caffeine use, can inhibit the let-down reflex. If your let-down is too slow, it can be frustrating for your baby. It is important to be relaxed when you are breastfeeding in order to encourage proper let-down. Keep in mind that a bottle does not have a waiting period before the milk begins to flow freely. A baby that is nursed exclusively
