Colostrum also has a slightly laxative effect that helps a newborn clear his gastrointestinal tract of meconium — the stool that accumulated in his bowel while he was in the womb. Getting rid of this black tarry stool soon after birth reduces the risk of jaundice. Your baby's tummy is tiny, so he'll take just a tiny amount of milk at first — about a teaspoon of colostrum each time he nurses. But a little colostrum goes a long way. You may not feel as if you're producing much and your breasts won't feel full yet , but each drop is packed with nutritional and protective components.
During the next few days, your milk will transition from colostrum to mature milk though some colostrum will continue to show up in your milk for a few weeks. You'll move into the next phase of milk production within two to four days of delivering your baby. Second-time moms may find that their milk surge comes earlier than it did the first time around. Once you deliver your placenta, the estrogen and progesterone levels in your body suddenly drop.
At the same time, the level of prolactin rises — this signals your body to make milk. As your body moves through the stages of lactation, it pumps extra blood into the alveoli, making your breasts firm and full.
Swollen blood vessels and extra swelling in the breast tissue itself, combined with an abundance of milk and IV fluid given during labor , may make your breasts temporarily painful and engorged , but your baby will be nursing frequently in the first weeks, which will help relieve the discomfort. For your milk to flow from your breasts, it must be "let down" or released from the internal alveoli.
Here's how it happens: Your baby's sucking stimulates the pituitary gland to release oxytocin and prolactin into your bloodstream. The same thing can happen when you merely think of your baby nursing or hear his cries.
When the milk reaches your breast, oxytocin causes the cells around the milk-filled alveoli to contract and squeeze. The nourishing liquid then flows into the ducts.
When your baby suckles, he compresses the nipple and areola, creating negative pressure. That — along with the internal rush of milk from the "letdown" reflex — delivers the milk into his mouth. As your milk flow increases, the contraction of the milk-filled alveoli may create a tingling, stinging, burning, or prickling sensation in your breasts. Your milk may drip or even spray during letdown. If this happens at an inconvenient time, try crossing your arms in front of your breasts, applying gentle pressure to stop the flow.
Nursing pads can also be placed inside your bra to help absorb the milk. You may feel calm, satisfied, and joyful as you nurse. No wonder some people call oxytocin the hormone of love! You also may feel sleepy and thirsty. These are signs that your baby is stimulating the breast. By the way, you may also feel some cramps in your uterus as your newborn feeds in the days after birth. This means that oxytocin is helping to shrink your uterus back to its pre-pregnancy size.
This same hormone caused your uterus to contract during labor. Core Curriculum for Lactation Consultant Practice 3rd ed. Mohrbacher N.
Hale Pub L P; ; 63, , , Riordan J, Wambach K. Breastfeeding and Human Lactation 4th ed. Jones and Bartlett Publishers; ; , , What is Normal? Your breastfeeding journey. Share this content. The first day: Your breast milk production at birth Your baby should be ready to begin feeding from birth. The first few days: Your breast milk coming in During this phase of breast milk production, your body is waiting for the levels of the pregnancy hormone progesterone to drop which start to fall after you deliver the placenta , and milk-producing hormones, including prolactin, insulin and hydrocortisone, to kick into gear.
Your breast milk production beyond six weeks After the first month, the prolactin surges after feeding start to decline, your milk is mature and your body has become really efficient at producing as much milk as your baby needs. Is your breast milk supply normal? What are the benefits of breastfeeding for mums? Infographic — Responsible soother use. Ebook — Soother guide for parents. What is transitional milk?
Breast milk bottles The Medela breast milk bottles are a perfect complement to your breastfeeding experience. Breastfeeding for professionals Healthcare Company. NHS Choices. Pediatr Res. DOI: Nutritional Neuroscience. Hormonal and local control of mammary branching morphogenesis. Differentiation 74 7 Geneva: World Health Organization; When it comes to content, our aim is simple: every parent should have access to information they can trust. All of our articles have been thoroughly researched and are based on the latest evidence from reputable and robust sources.
We create our articles with NCT antenatal teachers, postnatal leaders and breastfeeding counsellors, as well as academics and representatives from relevant organisations and charities. Read more about our editorial review process. About breastmilk and breastfeeding.
Read time 9 minutes. Email Post Tweet Post. How do my breasts produce milk? Mammary glands These glands are in your breasts and produce breastmilk. Alveoli These are small clusters of sacs that develop when you are pregnant and produce your breastmilk Sternlicht et al, Ductules These are small channels carrying milk from the alveoli to the milk ducts. Milk ducts These are the network of channels delivering milk from the alveoli and ductules to your baby. When will I start making milk?
What is colostrum? The let-down reflex When your baby starts sucking at your breast, this releases the hormone oxytocin, causing the tiny muscle cells around the alveoli to contract and squeeze out breastmilk. Breastfeeding frequency Mums start producing mature milk as soon as their baby is born. Changes in your breast milk The fat content of your milk gradually increases as the milk is removed.
Support to help you breastfeed It can take time for you and your baby to get the hang of breastfeeding. This page was last reviewed in January
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