Some babies sleep a lot in the first few hours of life. Others crave the breast non-stop. But all children have one thing in common: as soon as the milk comes in, they sleep sweetly and cosily. Most of them don't even swallow the last few sips from the breast. Sweet, sticky milk runs out of the sleeping baby's mouth. It's a beautiful sight, this saturated calm.
You could sleep now, finally eat in peace. You would now actually have a few quiet hours to yourself in which you could calm down.
If it wasn't for this plump and painful breast. So there it is, the milk letdown. It affects almost every breastfeeding woman between the third and fifth day after giving birth.
This is how you can recognise milk let-down:
Your breast is significantly larger than in the past few days. They feel swollen, warm and painful. Some mums have a slight fever. Sometimes you can even feel the lymph nodes under your armpits as thickened lumps. You may also have a slight fever. Your body temperature can rise to 38.4 degrees.
Where does milk letdown come from?
The enlarged lymph nodes show the cause. The onset of increased milk production leads to so-called lymphoedema. This is not a disease. It is part of the regulating physical process. Your baby cannot drink the amount of milk you produce. Your body must therefore break down this excess milk again. And this works via the lymphatic system. This doesn't work so well at the beginning of breastfeeding.
Your body will only know how much milk the baby needs after a few days. Then it will also be able to break down excess milk again. In a few hours, the milk flow reflex will also kick in. This not only helps the baby, as the milk then flows into the baby's mouth faster and with less sucking. It also helps you. Because then the milk drips out of the breast, which your lymphatic system cannot yet break down. Don't worry. The dripping from your breasts will also subside over the next few days and weeks. Just be patient.
This brings relief when milk comes in:
Because your body is not yet able to break down the milk well, it is important that you express your breast regularly. Your baby should feed every two to three hours. Of course, you can also empty your breast with a breast pump. And if you don't have a pump, you can use a Massage promote the flow of milk yourself. This relieves the pressure on your breast.
Before you breastfeed, pump or massage, you can stimulate the flow of milk with warm compresses. Cool compresses afterwards relieve swelling and reduce pain. This also inhibits excess milk production.
Rest in bed or on the sofa. Your body has a lot to do right now. Not only does it have to deal with the birth, it also has to adjust to the breastfeeding phase. This is exhausting for you. You deserve some rest.
