Nursing parents may experience a unique sensation when nursing their babies right at the beginning of the nursing session. This feeling is called the milk letdown or milk ejection reflex. Whether you can feel a letdown or not, both are normal. It can feel different for every nursing dyad. Some have a peaceful feeling, some describe a tingling sensation, and others even experience varying levels of physical or emotional discomfort.
According to The Art of Breastfeeding, “You can’t always tell when your milk has released. You might have several releases (milk ejections) in a feed or pumping session, but it’s common to feel only the first one or two—or none at all. If you watch your baby, you might see him start to suck more deeply when a new rush of milk releases.” (page 133). Do not worry if you don’t feel anything particular; this has no relevance for your milk supply.
A recent Facebook post on the La Leche League USA’s page asked parents to discuss what their letdowns felt like. Some of their descriptions are very expressive.:
Angeline S. wrote that letdown felt “almost like what I imagine TV static would feel like!”
For Chelsea T., “it felt like stinging or like when your foot has fallen asleep, and it’s all tingly when it wakes back up.”
Jen L. had a different experience nursing twins. “The oxytocin (from letdown) felt like warm water being poured over my head. Then it would just be my breasts, but yes, tingly!”
Ariel T. remarked that “it felt like soda, or a fizzy drink, was coming out of her breasts, rather than milk!”
What about when the sensation of your letdown is uncomfortable? “For some people, nursing (or expressing) is accompanied by a wave of strong negative feelings just before the milk releases. These sensations, thought to be caused by hormones, have been named dysphoric milk ejection reflex, or D-MER for short. There are strategies that can help, including deep breathing and relaxation, distraction, drinking something cold when your milk releases, vitamin supplements, and antidepressant medication.” (The Art of Breastfeeding, page 516)
La Leche League has some great further resources about D-MER. You can check them out below:
What is your experience? How does or did your breastmilk letdown feel? We’d love to hear from you. You can share your stories and breastfeeding experiences with New Beginnings by sending them to [email protected]
Supporting Breastfeeding Families–Today, Tomorrow, Always
Please consider donating to La Leche League USA.
Your gift helps support this blog and the website!
Donations of any amount are gratefully accepted. Thank you!
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Posted: April 7, 2026 by Yael Breimer
What Does Breastmilk Letdown Feel Like?
Nursing parents may experience a unique sensation when nursing their babies right at the beginning of the nursing session. This feeling is called the milk letdown or milk ejection reflex. Whether you can feel a letdown or not, both are normal. It can feel different for every nursing dyad. Some have a peaceful feeling, some describe a tingling sensation, and others even experience varying levels of physical or emotional discomfort.
A recent Facebook post on the La Leche League USA’s page asked parents to discuss what their letdowns felt like. Some of their descriptions are very expressive.:
Angeline S. wrote that letdown felt “almost like what I imagine TV static would feel like!”
For Chelsea T., “it felt like stinging or like when your foot has fallen asleep, and it’s all tingly when it wakes back up.”
Jen L. had a different experience nursing twins. “The oxytocin (from letdown) felt like warm water being poured over my head. Then it would just be my breasts, but yes, tingly!”
Ariel T. remarked that “it felt like soda, or a fizzy drink, was coming out of her breasts, rather than milk!”
What about when the sensation of your letdown is uncomfortable? “For some people, nursing (or expressing) is accompanied by a wave of strong negative feelings just before the milk releases. These sensations, thought to be caused by hormones, have been named dysphoric milk ejection reflex, or D-MER for short. There are strategies that can help, including deep breathing and relaxation, distraction, drinking something cold when your milk releases, vitamin supplements, and antidepressant medication.” (The Art of Breastfeeding, page 516)
La Leche League has some great further resources about D-MER. You can check them out below:
What is your experience? How does or did your breastmilk letdown feel? We’d love to hear from you. You can share your stories and breastfeeding experiences with New Beginnings by sending them to [email protected]
Supporting Breastfeeding Families–Today, Tomorrow, Always
Please consider donating to La Leche League USA.
Your gift helps support this blog and the website!
Donations of any amount are gratefully accepted. Thank you!
Follow us on:
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Category: Breastfeeding Aversion, Breastmilk Facts
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