When you start pumping, most pumps will begin in the “letdown phase” – which is lighter and quieter – for about two minutes.
On most pumps, the initial letdown cycle lasts two minutes. Pump for 6-7 minutes after that and then push the button to go through the letdown cycle again and pump for another 6-7 minutes. Check your flange size.
This contracting of the tissue will squeeze milk into your ducts. Let down typically takes two minutes to occur. When your milk lets down, you may feel a small amount of pain or tingling in your upper breasts. Many moms describe it as a “pins and needles” feeling.
Once your baby is about 2 months old, your body should have learned how much milk it needs to make. This is typically when you'll stop feeling the overactive letdown, or it will be less painful; however, some women will continue to experience a forceful letdown after 2 months.
In the early days of breastfeeding, your milk may let-down within a few seconds, or it could take a few minutes. If it's taking a little while to get the milk flowing, don't worry.
Hindmilk is released with every milk ejection (let-down). By the time feeding finishes on the first breast, the first milk from the second breast will contain more fat compared to the start of the feed on the first breast.
The let-down reflex generally occurs 2 or 3 times a feed. Most women only feel the first, if at all. This reflex is not always consistent, particularly early on, but after a few weeks of regular breastfeeding or expressing, it becomes an automatic response.
Even if you don't have a let-down response, you can still nurse your baby adequately and pump milk without any problems. But you may notice these elements of the let-down relex: A tingling sensation either before or during a feeding. A feeling of sudden fullness.
How long should a baby nurse to get hindmilk? After about 10 to 15 minutes of breastfeeding, the milk flow slows and transitions to the sweet and creamy hindmilk, which contains vitamins A and E, and has more fat and calories than foremilk.
Letdowns and how to boost milk supply
How many letdowns you should aim for depends on the length of your sessions – if you're pumping for 20 minutes, many women are able to get two; if you're pumping for 30, you might be able to get three.
Signs of a fast or forceful let-down
Pulling on the breast and nipples (babies can also do this when the flow of milk is too slow) Rapid swallowing of milk with stress cues e.g. fussing, frowning, crying, finger splaying. Short feeds if baby gets a lot of breast milk in a short time.
However, sometimes women find that they get more output by staying in letdown/massage mode for the entire pumping session, and they wonder whether or not this is okay. This is totally fine – whatever removes the most milk from your breasts is the right way for YOU to pump.
Many things can be the cause of a slow or inhibited let-down: anxiety, pain, embarrassment, stress, cold, excessive caffeine use, smoking, use of alcohol, or the use of some medications. Mothers who have had breast surgery may have nerve damage that can interfere with let-down.
Breastfeeding: The Let-Down Reflex
Let-down happens as milk is released into milk ducts in your breast. This usually happens when your baby sucks on your breast. You may even have a let-down when your baby or someone else's baby cries, or for no reason at all. Some women don't feel the let-down.
An overactive letdown—that gushing effect that occurs when the milk comes down very forcefully—can be a sign of too much milk. But it can also be a sign that you waited a bit too long between feeds, or that your baby's latch isn't great, potentially caused by a tongue-tie.
Do not store breast milk in the door of the refrigerator or freezer. This will help protect the breast milk from temperature changes from the door opening and closing. If you don't think you will use freshly expressed breast milk within 4 days, freeze it right away.
Because newborns' stomachs are so small, during the first week most full-term babies take no more than 1 to 2 ounces (30 to 60 mL) at feedings. After about four to five weeks, babies reach their peak feeding volume of about 3 to 4 ounces (90 to 120 mL) and peak daily milk intake of about 30 ounces per day (900 mL).
Plus, breastfeeding doesn't cost any money. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends breastfeeding up to 2 years or more. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that moms feed their babies only breastmilk for the first six months.
Does the haakaa only collect foremilk? No. Foremilk is thinner and less fatty than hindmilk, so it flows quickly and easily during any pumping session (manual or electric).
The increased caloric need for women who are breastfeeding is about 450 to 500 calories per day. Women who are not trying to lose weight following pregnancy should supplement the above DGA calories per day by 450 to 500 calories.