What to expect when breast milk comes

What to expect when breast milk comes

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.


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