Ask The Doctor
ERGObaby carrier > Ask The Doctor > Nursing > Letting down during breastfeedingLetting down during breastfeeding
Dear Dr. Markel,
I am really struggling with breastfeeding my daughter. She is 6
months old and I am still pretty much exclusively breastfeeding
her. Every time I feed her I have trouble letting down. Sometimes I
can't let down at all which leaves both of us frustrated. I
breastfed my son for 14 months and never had a problem. I think the
more it continues to happen the more anxiety I retain about
feeding her. I am not sure how to get back into a good rhythm with
my feedings.I have spoken with women from the La Leache League but
none of their suggestions have helped me to get back to an easy
going breastfeeding relationship with my daughter. I will take any
suggestions you have and look forward to hearing from you.
Thank you,
Kristin
Dear Kristin,
When breastfeeding your son, you did not have another child who needed
your attention. This is a different situation with your daughter. There
are more demands on your attention and your time. You have gotten into a
situation with your daughter, and in your own word you are “struggling”
and “frustrated” with increasing “anxiety”. We need to get you out of this
cycle of increasing despair. There might be other factors as well, in your
life that are causing anxiety and frustration, which need to be addressed.
Start again, with no demands on your or your time. This will require that you temporarily relinquish all of your responsibilities other that taking care of and feeding your daughter. You cannot be responsible for answering the phone, entertaining visitors, doing laundry or dishes. You can ask a mother’s helper, your husband, or the grandparents take care of your son.
Get into a relaxing situation and a relaxed frame of mind, by perhaps getting into a warm bath with the baby. Give yourself three or four days (the amount of time it takes with a newborn for a successful breastfeeding pattern to be established).
If you continue to have problems you can contact me via my website for a personal consultation.
Good luck.
-----
Dr. Susan Markel, MD, is a Board Certified Pediatrician, and Attachment Parenting Advisor. She is also the author of, "Ask The Doctor," in partnership with ERGObaby.
If you have additional questions, please feel free to visit her website at http://www.AttachmentParentingDoctor.com and request a private consultation.
