Let down - i don't feel it!

[maldivemoment]

Help - I'm a new mum to a beautiful 5 week old baby boy. Breastfeeding every 2-3 hours but I'm worried he's not getting enough! I don't ever feel the 'let down' that people mention. What exactly does it feel like? Should I experience it by this stage? Will I ever? Also, should I have leaky boobs by this stage, 'cos I don't. Don't leak at all. Both these things make me wonder of baby is getting enough.

Thanks in advance

[thisisyesterday]

hiya

not everyone feels the letdown, so don't worry, not feeling it is no indication of anything sinister! ditto the leaking, a lot of mums never leak either

I am sure your little boy would let you know if he wasn't getting enough
as long as he is putting on weight, having plenty of wet and dirty nappies, and you're feeding on demand then i am certain you're both doing great

[Tambajam]

NEITHER of those things matter a jot. I had mega oversupply at the same time as not feeling the letdown. Lots of people have no leaking by 5 weeks or even before.

As thisisyesterday says your baby is the best way to judge supply - wet nappies (dirty nappies may happen less from around 5wks and some babies may poo as infrequently as once a week and still be fine), weight gain and contentment after a feed (usually).

[Longtalljosie]

I didn't feel letdown at your stage, I started feeling it about 8 weeks or so. And I hardly ever leak. My baby was born on the 75th centile and is now (11 weeks) on the 98th. Please don't worry. As letdown is a bit uncomfortable and leaking's a pain in the neck, you're just lucky!

[PrettyCandles]

I have never felt a letdown, nor did I get engorged when the milk came in. My breasts don't change size during pregnancy, nor when the milk comes in (the change in size always creeps up on me in the first few months of bfing after I have spent £££ on new bfing bras!). I leaked a bit with my first, but only during nightfeeds or first thing in the morning, barely leaked with no2, and didn't leak at all with no3.

I also worried whether I actually had milk, and ended up mix-feeding ds1 for just over 5 months. However I learned a lot from that bfing experience, got much better support and advice next time around, and ended up bfing dd, almost exclusively, for 2y. And I have just stopped bfing ds2 at 3y.

I think that the key to a good breastfeeding experience is support. Please don't worry about not feeling the sensations that everybody seems to be expected to feel - it doesn't necessarily mean anything. I've posted some links on your other thread, have a look and see if you can find some face-to-face help

[Alieight]

I have never felt a letdown, nor did I ever leak - even when DS suddenly slept for 6 hours at 4 weeks old, having been feeding pretty much every hour until then...

Ds would certainly have let me know if he wasn't getting enough

[dawntigga]

I rarely get let down and if I do it's not a great gush - in my experience it feels a bit like pins and needles. Don't worry though, let down, isn't necessary for successful bf'ing - I'm at 6 months now

SlightlyPuffedOutChestTiggaxx