The strong ejection reflex: what impact does it have on breastfeeding?

Sometimes, it's enough to hear your baby fussing to feel a burning heat invade your breasts. And no sooner has your little one taken the nipple in his mouth than he finds himself surprised, sometimes sprayed, and struggling to swallow. In the shower, milk shoots out as soon as the hot water starts flowing....
Normal, or not normal? Classic milk rush or... Or what, for that matter? What if it's what's known as the “strong ejection reflex” (or F.E.R. for short)? Here's how.

Strong ejection reflex, what are you?

The F.E.R. is a strong milk ejection reflex during breastfeeding. In other words, it's when milk comes in very fast and very strong (and sometimes in large quantities). R.E.F. can occur with different intensities, but also with different sensations for each mother. For example, there are often several milk ejections during the same feed, but it's common for only the first to be felt, as it's the most powerful.

And what does this mean in practical terms?
1. lack of comfort, during and outside breastfeeding

One of the most obvious aspects is getting your shirt soaked. When baby stops suckling, he or she may get a squirt of milk in the face. This can lead to nipple pain and mastitis. But R.E.F. doesn't stop with the end of the feed:

"Valentine, 42, 4 children. My breasts were so sensitive! I had to sleep on the bed with a towel to soak up all that milk if I didn't want to end my night in completely soaked sheets!"

2. Doubt and frustration

Because everything happens so quickly, breastfeeding can last as little as 3 minutes. Breastfeeding then becomes more about feeding and less about cuddling.

And then there's always Auntie Danielle's "good advice": "If a feed doesn't last 30 minutes, it's not effective". So young moms can find themselves bewildered when faced with short feeds. Remember: the only indicator that a child is drinking enough is a full diaper! (and weight gain, of course)

3. Colic

Strong ejection reflexes are the leading cause of colic in breastfed babies! This is due to the imbalance in the quantity of milk drunk at the beginning and end of the feed. This is because milk does not have exactly the same nutritional composition. Milk at the end of the feed is more nourishing and easier to digest. He may also swallow more air during the feed, which can cause a little discomfort.
Tip: don't hesitate to give him time to burp, by keeping him upright against you after feeding.

Source :

La Leche League France

R.E.F vs "pathological hyperlactation", two very different phenomena!
Hyperlactation is the production of too much milk, far more than is necessary for the baby's good health. A strong ejection reflex does not automatically mean "too much milk" - these are two different things! The strong let-down reflex does not depend on the volume of milk in the breast, but on the "flow"