Blogging for Babies, Breastfeeding and Mothers

I have not blogged since the end of July. I have missed you and your comments. Between a heavy client load and a nice, long vacation at Lake Winnipesaukee in NH, I stayed very busy. I hope everyone has had a great summer.

Many people ask me about let downs. The production and letting down of milk is a natural occurance in mammals, as all mammals survive on their mother's milk. This is of course central to breastfeeding. But what does it really mean for milk to let down?

• Breasts are mammary glands.
• Glands produce important substances, such as saliva, sweat, hormones, etc.
• The mammary glands contain numerous alveoli or cells, which produce milk.
• The sucking of the infant at the breast causes the secretion of oxytocin-a hormone- from the pituitary gland. This triggers the 'let down'.
• Oxytocin, in lactating mothers, acts on the alveoli to contract and squeeze or 'let down' the milk into the ducts, making the milk readily available to the baby.
• Mothers will have multiple 'let downs' during a feeding.
• Some mothers feel their 'let downs'; others do not.
• The size of the milk ducts seems to play a part in feeling the 'let down'- smaller ducts register the pressure of the milk; larger ducts may not.
• Various things can trigger a 'let down':
• skin to contact with your baby
• your baby sucking at the breast
• the scent of your baby
• your baby crying
• someone else's baby crying
• thinking about your baby
• laughing
• a back and neck massage
• breasts full of milk

Different mothers experience different 'let down' triggers. What triggered your 'let downs'?

For those of you that pumped part time or full time, share with us your tricks for stimulating a 'let down'.

Have a great Monday!

Debbie