What to expect when breast milk comes
Many mothers plan to breastfeed their baby after birth. During
pregnancy, you may feel your breasts grow in anticipation of breastfeeding your
newborn. While you have breast milk to offer your baby right after birth, it
changes during the first few days.
When will my milk come?
When your baby is born, his stomach is the size of a cherry, so he eats
1 to 1.5 teaspoons at each feed. This makes your first milk thick and rich in
nutrients. This first milk is called colostrum. By the time your baby is a week
old, his stomach will be the size of an egg and he will eat about 45-60 ml at
each feed.
During the first few days after your baby is born, your milk will become
softer and lighter in color. It may seem that your baby constantly wants to be
on your chest, and there are several reasons for this:
Comfort. This big world is
scary and new for your baby. In the womb they listen to you all day and you are
the most comforting being. They want to be near you to feel safe. In addition,
suckling is a reflex at birth, and breastfeeding satisfies their need for this
movement.
Nutrition. Your baby's
stomach is so small that he needs to breastfeed more often to stay full. As
they get older, their breastfeeding sessions slow down, instead they eat every
few hours.
Your milk. Your baby wants
to suckle at the breast to stimulate the flow of milk. When your baby suckles,
he sends a signal to your body to produce more milk.
If you're concerned that your milk isn't coming in as quickly as you'd
expect, talk to your pediatrician or lactation consultant.
What does it feel like when my milk comes in?
Once you have milk, you will realize how different you feel when your
breasts are full of milk. At first, your breasts may feel too full and leaky.
This is normal as your body will know how much milk your baby needs.
At the same time, your breasts may not look fuller, but you are still
producing enough milk for your baby. All moms are different. Remember that
breast size is not an indication of how much milk you are producing.
When your baby starts suckling, he gets a few drops of milk. However,
their sucking patterns are quick and shallow, sending the message that your
body needs to excrete milk. When milk "goes down" during
breastfeeding, a tingling sensation may appear in the breast.
Color changes in breast milk
In most cases, breast milk will be white, yellow, or clear. However, the
foods you eat can affect the color of your breast milk. For example, a diet
rich in carrots and sweet potatoes can give your breast milk an orange tint. Or
a diet high in leafy vegetables can make your breast milk slightly green.
Slight color variations like these are not usually a cause for concern.
If your breast milk turns pink or red, there may be blood in it. It is
often caused by cracked nipples, but in rare cases, it may be due to mastitis,
papilloma, or breast cancer. Tell your doctor if the bleeding seems excessive,
has no clear cause, or if you are prone to any of these conditions.
Other recommendations for breastfeeding
Bonding with your child. Breastfeeding gives
you a great opportunity to bond with your baby, but bottle feeding can still be
beneficial. Offer bottled breast milk so dad, grandma, grandpa, siblings can
bond with your baby too. Your baby will feel closer to every member of your
family. This will ease the transition from being away from you if and when you
return to work.
Your baby’s stool. Once breastfeeding
is established, your baby's poop is usually yellow and ratty. He is soft and
untrained. If you are supplementing with formula, she may be darker and more
formed than if you were exclusively breastfeeding her. Your baby may poop several
times a day, but don't worry if he doesn't poop for 7-10 days. This is normal
for exclusively breastfed babies.
Pain during breastfeeding. Breastfeeding is
natural, but not always easy. You may feel pain while breastfeeding, but severe
pain and damage are signs that your baby has poor breastfeeding. You may
encounter:
- Severe pain when breastfeeding on one or both sides
- Damaged nipples
- Curvature of the nipples immediately after breastfeeding
- Your baby's milk engorgement or blockage of the milk ducts preventing milk from being transferred effectively
- Problems with too much or too little milk
Talk to a doctor or lactation consultant to make sure your baby is getting enough nutrients if you're worried about breastfeeding.