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The liquid your breasts produce in the first few days after birth is called colostrum. It's thick and usually a golden yellow colour. It's a very concentrated food, so your baby will only need a small amount, about a teaspoonful, at each feed.
Your baby may want to feed quite often, perhaps every hour to begin with. They'll begin to have fewer, but longer feeds once your breasts start to produce more "mature" milk on day3/4 .
The more you breastfeed, the more your baby's sucking will stimulate your supply and the more milk you'll make.
Your baby's sucking causes muscles in your breasts to squeeze milk towards your nipples. This is called the let-down reflex.
Some women get a tingling feeling, which can be quite strong. Others feel nothing at all.
You'll see your baby respond when your milk lets down. Their quick sucks will change to deep rhythmic swallows as the milk begins to flow. Babies often pause after the initial quick sucks while they wait for more milk to be delivered.
Occasionally this let-down reflex can be so strong that your baby coughs and splutters. Your midwife, health visitor or breastfeeding supporter can help with this.
If your baby seems to be falling asleep before the deep swallowing stage of feeds, they may not be properly attached to the breast. Ask your midwife, health visitor or breastfeeding supporter to check your baby's positioning and attachment.
Sometimes you'll notice your milk letting down in response to your baby crying or when you have a warm bath or shower. This is normal.
In the first week, your baby may want to feed very often. It could be every hour in the first few days.
Feed your baby as often as they want and for as long as they want. They'll begin to have fewer, but longer feeds after a few days.
As a very rough guide, your baby should feed at least 8 to 12 times, or more, every 24 hours during the first few weeks.
It's fine to feed your baby whenever they are hungry, when your breasts feel full or if you just want to have a cuddle.
It's not possible to overfeed a breastfed baby.
When your baby is hungry they may:
It's best to try and feed your baby during these early feeding cues as a crying baby is difficult to feed.
Around 2 to 4 days after birth you may notice that your breasts become fuller. This is often referred to as your milk "coming in".
Your milk will vary according to your baby's needs. Each time your baby feeds, your body knows to make more milk for the next feed. The amount of milk you make will increase or decrease depending on how often your baby feeds.
Feed your baby as often as they want and for as long as they want. This is called responsive feeding. In other words, responding to your baby's needs. It's also known as on-demand or baby-led feeding.
In the beginning, it can feel like you're doing nothing but feeding. But gradually you and your baby will get into a pattern and the amount of milk you produce will settle down.
It's important to breastfeed at night between 7pm - 2am because this is when you produce more hormones (prolactin) to build up your milk supply.
EBM - Expressed Breast Milk
Some mums choose to express breast milk and feed by bottle to the baby.
You will need an electric pump to do this. You can only use that pump once your milk has come in on days 3/4. Before this you would need to hand express the colostrum approximately every 2 hrs to feed it to baby and to start off your milk supply.
Sometimes, breast milk may leak unexpectedly from your nipples.
Wearing breast pads will stop your clothes becoming wet with breast milk. Remember to change them frequently to prevent an infection.
Expressing some milk may also help. Only express enough to feel comfortable as you do not want to overstimulate your supply.
If your baby has not fed recently, you could offer them a feed as breastfeeding is also about you being comfortable.
Please reach us at clairehaynesuk@gmail.com if you cannot find an answer to your question.
I was inspired by an advert I saw on the TV about a Midnight mums group. I realised that this particular mum has lots of mummy friends in her circle of friends, who she asks for support with various issues. I realised that there are mums up and down the UK who do not have this sort of friendship support. So I decided to create a what's app group where mums can speak to other mums and support each other. I moderate this group as I come from an NHS background working for 7+ years as an infant feeding support worker, I also worked in the childcare sector as a Nursery Manager and childminder for 10+ yrs.
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