I have absolutely seen a mom suffering from anxiety who could not let down for her baby. At first nipple stimulation helped, but then she was stimulating them constantly.  She felt she let down better at our center, so she spent all day in the support group room for 2 weeks. I finally talked her into counseling and some Ativan, and it got better.

Breastfeeding is absolutely a "mind game" and a mom can psych herself out.  If she could stop listening for evidence of a let-down it would probably help her to have one, but it is easier said than done.  I do this with moms all the time who are pumping in a consultation.  I show her how to compress the breast while pumping to help remove more, and then I throw a blanket over her pump parts and shoulders while we go over the "plan". Sometimes when I whip the blanket off, we find another several ounces, and I mention to mom how not thinking about it can help.

Kathy Leeper, MD, IBCLC, FABM
Medical Director, Milkworks- a nonprofit breastfeeding center
5930 South 58th St, Suite W Lincoln, NE 68516
(402)423-6402, Fax:(402)423-6422,www.milkworks.org

Creating a healthier community by helping mothers breastfeed their babies...


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