Lately during my night feedings, I notice I am not getting a let down for my milk. My 8 month old son keeps sucking and sucking and then gets frustrated and starts to swirm and scream. Finally after 10 mins, I notice him swallowing fast so realize my letdown much have happened. Is there anything I can do to help the letdown? Any type of herb or food I eat/take that will help? I would hate to drag out a pump at 3am to get things going, and my son is old enough that he does have a powerful suck. I am in complete relaxation mode so I know it has nothing to do with stress... maybe sleep deprivation.
I had a similar experience last month. ( I think that mine was related to running and not enough sleep.) Anyway, I bought some fenugreek from a health food store and when I am overtired or exercise, I take it in capsule form and drink more water than usual and it has been fine
I know it sounds silly but I had some issues with that around 10 months and I literally would "envision" the let down happening and the milk flowing etc. It helped. Also make sure you nurse before all of his solid feedings so you don't start to lose your supply, I did that, oops.
The same happened with my 3 kids. It will get better, I noticed my litle guy has changed his suck to get things moven faster.
Be sure to keep your water intake up, especially in the evenings. Eating ice cream and oatmeal also has been known to boost supply.
N.,
It is probably relaxation more than anything, and you can be stressed about things and not realize it, and now, maybe you are stressed thinking that your let-down reflex won't work right. There used to be a nose spray that moms could use to help with the let down reflex. I honestly don't know if this is still available, but it helped me through a rough patch many years ago. You might want to ask your gyne/obstetrician.
Good luck to you and your little one!
Try a warm compress for 5-10 minutes. that's supposed to help. Also genly massaging your breasts from your armpits in toward your nipples and from your collar bone down to your nipples. That can be helpful also. Good Luck!
I've also noticed as my daughter gets older letdown is taking a bit longer each time. From day one the only thing I've found that helps is to close my eyes and take a couple of slow deep breaths (get REALLY relaxed) and it starts flowing.
drink a boat load of water when you start or a warm compress on your breast
