https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Mon, 13 Apr 2026 13:48:06 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/letting-down-when-pumpingpumping-noob-alert#post-1492941 Thu, 13 Mar 2014 20:03:51 +0000 Mrs Spoon 1492941@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I never really felt a letdown until my supply regulated around 10 weeks pp. Before that I had somewhat of an oversupply and would just gush the whole time I pumped until it stopped. I also never figured out the letdown button till months after starting to pump! </p> <p>then once I went back to work and my supply has doped slightly, I can feel it even more. I try to get two letdowns per session. Just like @avivoca said, it's like a tingly sensation in both nipples. It never hurt for me, but it is pretty trippy. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/letting-down-when-pumpingpumping-noob-alert#post-1491752 Thu, 13 Mar 2014 12:32:44 +0000 skipra 1491752@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Danizaur: When do you pump usually? If I pumped after breastfeeding I wouldn't necessarily let down and would only get a little milk. If I did it in place of breastfeeding then it was noticeable. I will admit I had no idea how pumping worked at first and it scared me so I pretty much avoided it. I did eventually get the hang of it but it just takes some time to figure out. Good luck :happy: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/letting-down-when-pumpingpumping-noob-alert#post-1491501 Thu, 13 Mar 2014 11:40:59 +0000 mizjl 1491501@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I EP and I've never felt a letdown - I just see it. :) In my overproducing days, I'd be so full by the time I need to pump and I start leaking as soon as I put on the flanges. My PISA automatically starts on letdown mode so I pretty much turn it off right away because I don't need to let down more. Haha.</p> <p>Some use the button to trigger more letdowns when the milk flows slower, but I personally don't ... I just keep getting them on my own maybe three or four times during a 30-minute pump session. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/letting-down-when-pumpingpumping-noob-alert#post-1488112 Tue, 11 Mar 2014 22:35:51 +0000 Mrs. High Heels 1488112@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Danizaur: I've never felt a letdown either, and I've gone through a year of breastfeeding two kids! I just press the button about 2 minutes after hooking up to the machine, and then again at the 15 minute mark. Haha, I still have no idea what I'm doing and always wondered this same question!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/letting-down-when-pumpingpumping-noob-alert#post-1488100 Tue, 11 Mar 2014 22:20:57 +0000 Mrs. Chipmunk 1488100@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@chitownro yeah - i've been meaning to do a post about it for some time - <a href="http://newborns.stanford.edu/Breastfeeding/MaxProduction.html" rel="nofollow">http://newborns.stanford.edu/Breastfeeding/MaxProduction.html</a></p> <p>if i massage while i pump i get more. this video goes so far as to suggest that you can get more AFTER you pump by hand expression, but i don't think my boobs are big enough to have any leftover after i pump! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/letting-down-when-pumpingpumping-noob-alert#post-1488089 Tue, 11 Mar 2014 22:13:54 +0000 ChitownRo 1488089@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Chipmunk: do you mean massaging my boobs while pumping? Yah, I do that if possible. But about 50% of the time I'm multi tasking </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/letting-down-when-pumpingpumping-noob-alert#post-1487992 Tue, 11 Mar 2014 21:23:42 +0000 avivoca 1487992@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>A letdown feels like incredible tingling pressure in my boob. The milk also starts coming faster. It was painful at first, but now it is less so. You are doing everything right! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/letting-down-when-pumpingpumping-noob-alert#post-1487921 Tue, 11 Mar 2014 20:43:11 +0000 regberadaisy 1487921@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Danizaur: I can feel my letdown when pumping. When that happened it wasn't a drip, drip, drip. It was a constant faster flow of milk. </p> <p>2oz each side was my typical output! Hopefully when you're more established your output will increase. </p> <p>Your pump has a letdown button?! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/letting-down-when-pumpingpumping-noob-alert#post-1487893 Tue, 11 Mar 2014 20:34:59 +0000 Beyond2 1487893@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I couldn't feel my letdown at all for the first three months or so! Don't feel bad :-) I used to just pump the whole time on the stronger setting and didn't bother with the short little letdown setting. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/letting-down-when-pumpingpumping-noob-alert#post-1487798 Tue, 11 Mar 2014 20:01:48 +0000 cyan 1487798@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@danda: this. </p> <p>I never felt a let down in the first several weeks. I was just a constant drippy, leaky mess. I think I felt it stronger as time went on and my body adjusted? Maybe it was when my LO started going a bit longer between feeds? I very distinctly remember going, "oh! THIS is what people were talking about!", but I don't remember at what point I had that realization...</p> <p>At any rate, 2 oz from each side is great, so I wouldn't worry about it! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/letting-down-when-pumpingpumping-noob-alert#post-1487737 Tue, 11 Mar 2014 19:36:09 +0000 ShootingStar 1487737@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I never feel a letdown during pumping. The only time I feel it is when I'm nursing, then I'll feel it sometimes in the opposite boob. My pump also seems to be a little different from everyone else's - I have the medela freestyle and it does letdown mode for 2 minutes and then goes to regular pumping mode, which is slower. I can hit the letdown button once I see milk coming out, which automatically slows it to the normal speed. But if I dot hit the button it'll do it anyways.</p> <p>ETA: my LC said not feeling letdown was perfectly normal. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/letting-down-when-pumpingpumping-noob-alert#post-1487671 Tue, 11 Mar 2014 19:07:40 +0000 MrsH 1487671@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I've never had a let down. I just press the button every so often. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/letting-down-when-pumpingpumping-noob-alert#post-1487650 Tue, 11 Mar 2014 18:56:01 +0000 meganmp 1487650@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Danizaur: It took me forever to feel it! I had your exact same situation for quite a while. It changed eventually. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/letting-down-when-pumpingpumping-noob-alert#post-1487644 Tue, 11 Mar 2014 18:53:12 +0000 Mrs. Chipmunk 1487644@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@CHITOWNRO have you tried hands on pumping? it may go much quicker </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/letting-down-when-pumpingpumping-noob-alert#post-1487626 Tue, 11 Mar 2014 18:46:39 +0000 artsyfartsy 1487626@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@danda: That's what I'm wondering!! Maybe as I get more established in breastfeeding I'll finally start feeling let downs and solve this mystery. Lol </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/letting-down-when-pumpingpumping-noob-alert#post-1487606 Tue, 11 Mar 2014 18:31:35 +0000 danda 1487606@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>If you're already leaking, I think you may have had the let down before you started pumping(?) </p> <p>I go from a slow drip of next to nothing to a forceful stream of milk. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/letting-down-when-pumpingpumping-noob-alert#post-1487593 Tue, 11 Mar 2014 18:22:42 +0000 T.H.O.U. 1487593@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Danizaur: if you have a good supply you may not really "let down" and you may never feel it. I don't think I ever did. You are doing everything right! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/letting-down-when-pumpingpumping-noob-alert#post-1487562 Tue, 11 Mar 2014 18:02:14 +0000 cmomma17 1487562@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Danizaur: I can't call myself a noob anymore since I've been pumping for almost a year, however, I'm no expert! I never feel a let down while pumping though! Never have, never will! I let the two minutes go by just like you did. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/letting-down-when-pumpingpumping-noob-alert#post-1487556 Tue, 11 Mar 2014 17:58:00 +0000 lawbee11 1487556@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Danizaur: Let down can be a mental thing. The first time I pumped I just stared at the bottles waiting for my let down and I never did achieve one even though I pumped for 20 minutes. When I have a let down I get a tingling sensation in my boobs. The best and quickest way for it to happen is if I don't think about it. So in the beginning I'd set up the pump, turn it on and watch a tv show. I wasn't thinking about it so I'd have a let down in just a minute or two. So maybe try taking your mind off of it and see if that helps? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/letting-down-when-pumpingpumping-noob-alert#post-1487539 Tue, 11 Mar 2014 17:48:43 +0000 SleepyMonkey 1487539@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>i didn't feel a let down until maybe 2 months post partum? i was just leaky in the beginning. i think after your milk supply establishes itself, you'll start to feel it and then it is noticeable. from not dripping at all while pumping, to spraying out forcefully after you let down while pumping. i wouldn't worry too much about it right now. some women never feel a letdown, but their milk supply is fine. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/letting-down-when-pumpingpumping-noob-alert#post-1487533 Tue, 11 Mar 2014 17:46:05 +0000 artsyfartsy 1487533@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ChitownRo: Yeah it takes me a while too. Not good for going back to work. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/letting-down-when-pumpingpumping-noob-alert#post-1487521 Tue, 11 Mar 2014 17:34:52 +0000 ChitownRo 1487521@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Danizaur: it's nice to know someone else is in the same boat. one of my friends (with kids) visited this weekend and was shocked at how long it takes me to pump. i have a steady stream dripping for like 45 mins. ughhhhh. that's why i'm down to pumping 3-4 times per day. too much of a commitment </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/letting-down-when-pumpingpumping-noob-alert#post-1487509 Tue, 11 Mar 2014 17:27:50 +0000 artsyfartsy 1487509@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ChitownRo: this is how I am. It's just a continuous drip. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/letting-down-when-pumpingpumping-noob-alert#post-1487502 Tue, 11 Mar 2014 17:24:50 +0000 ChitownRo 1487502@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>um, i had never hit the button until now... and i EP. #fail. also, i can't tell when i have a letdown - no sensation and my milk is just a steady dripping stream. so slow. ugh. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/letting-down-when-pumpingpumping-noob-alert#post-1487491 Tue, 11 Mar 2014 17:17:52 +0000 artsyfartsy 1487491@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@PurplePeony: I don't think this is happening to me. My milk flow never seems to change. I can't see or feel any obvious change anyway. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/letting-down-when-pumpingpumping-noob-alert#post-1487490 Tue, 11 Mar 2014 17:17:42 +0000 Ash 1487490@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I never feel let down. But I can hear it squirting into the bottle so that's when I hit the button. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/letting-down-when-pumpingpumping-noob-alert#post-1487468 Tue, 11 Mar 2014 17:05:39 +0000 Mrs. Chipmunk 1487468@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>i didn't ever feel a let down, whether nursing or pumping, until about 4 months post partum </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/letting-down-when-pumpingpumping-noob-alert#post-1487467 Tue, 11 Mar 2014 17:03:55 +0000 PurplePeony 1487467@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Danizaur: when I start pumping, my milk leaks and drizzles out, but there comes a point where it really starts to squirt out in little streams. If that happens for you, it's probably your letdown and you can push the button at that point. I don't think it hurts anything if you just let the machine run, though -- I have a pretty quick letdown but have sometimes been distracted or had my hands full and didn't push the button, and it's never seemed to cause any problems. There are pumps out there with only one speed and they still seem to work for people! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/letting-down-when-pumpingpumping-noob-alert#post-1487466 Tue, 11 Mar 2014 17:03:39 +0000 HabesBabe 1487466@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It feels like an obvious tingly sensation to me, and my milk goes from, like, a garden hose to a fire hose after my letdown. But I've read that many women don't feel their letdown and it might take a few more days for your boobs to get used to the pump. I would make between 4-6 oz. per boob after a letdown. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/letting-down-when-pumpingpumping-noob-alert#post-1487460 Tue, 11 Mar 2014 17:02:43 +0000 mamimami 1487460@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Can you hear or see a change in pressure as the milk hits the back of the thing that connects to the back of the flange? I can feel letdown but I also have always noticed this. Anyway sounds like you are in an enviable position! It does also take the boobs awhile to figure out when to go into standby mode. </p>