When does breast milk appear after childbirth? The appearance of breast milk - how it happens and what affects it

The closer estimated date childbirth, the more expectant mothers begin to worry about the question: when will the milk come, how to feed the newborn so that he does not remain hungry. Many women, having listened to the stories of more experienced friends that after giving birth the baby will not have enough valuable fluid, begin to panic ahead of time. But feeding a child - natural process, which at in the right mood will proceed without problems.

Colostrum and milk: what and when to expect

Lactation is a physiological process whose purpose is to provide good nutrition child for a long time. Doctors around the world never cease to repeat that mother's milk is best option for newborns and children of the first year of life, so most women strive with all their might to maintain breastfeeding after the baby is born.

Today modern medicine is of the opinion that it is optimal to breastfeed the baby until three years: for the first six months, the baby eats only breast milk, then complementary foods are gradually introduced, but valuable liquid is not excluded from the daily diet.

Almost every woman is able to feed a baby with breast milk, because lactation is a physiological process

Timing of appearance of colostrum and milk depending on the number of births

With the onset of pregnancy, the body begins to prepare not only for bearing and giving birth to a fetus, but also for feeding it. From the fifth week, the placenta produces a special hormone - placental lactogen, which, together with prolactin, affects the mammary glands, preparing them for lactation. By the end of the first trimester, quite complex processes occur in the breasts, and in the fourth month, many expectant mothers begin to notice that a yellowish liquid is secreted from the nipples. This is colostrum, which appears in the mother in the first days after childbirth and is considered the most valuable for the newborn.

Many primiparous women fear that such a small amount of nutrition will not be enough for the baby. But experts are in a hurry to reassure mothers: a newborn’s stomach is very small, so a few drops are enough for him after birth. In addition, the composition of colostrum differs from mature milk: it is fattier and includes many nutrients and useful elements.

A few days after birth, colostrum is replaced by transitional and then mature milk.

Many expectant mothers worry that milk will not appear by the time the baby is born, because in most cases, babies are put to the breast immediately after birth. There is no need to worry about this, because the most valuable thing for a newborn in the first hours of life is colostrum, and it is already ready and waiting for the baby to take the nipple into his mouth and begin to actively obtain food.

This is interesting. Today, the majority of women in labor who have no contraindications to epidural anesthesia choose this method of pain relief when undergoing caesarean section. In this case, the baby is put to the breast immediately after extraction, and he receives valuable liquid. But when general anesthesia For the first day or two, feeding the baby is prohibited.

The timing of the appearance of milk also depends on the type of birth a woman has. In first-time mothers, only colostrum is released two to three days after the birth of the child, then it is replaced by the so-called transitional milk - this is a less thick, yellowish liquid. And only on the fifth or sixth day does it begin full lactation. But after the second and subsequent births, this process occurs much faster: milk comes in already on the third day.

Video: what is colostrum and when does milk come in?

How does a woman feel when milk comes in?

It is worth understanding that each organism is individual, and exact dates Even doctors cannot predict the appearance of milk in a young mother. But there are averages based on many years of experience, observations and statistics. One thing is absolutely certain - the influx of valuable fluid cannot be confused with anything. There are several signs by which a nursing woman will determine that she has begun lactation:

• the breast increases in size and becomes firm;
• appear painful sensations in the mammary glands;
• local temperature rises (the chest feels hot to the touch);
• Venous vessels are clearly visible through the skin;
• There may be so much milk that it spontaneously comes out of the nipples.
  

These signs are observed for several days. In first-time mothers, they are more clearly expressed and last longer. But after the second and subsequent births, the breasts react less painfully, because the body remembers the whole process and has already gone through lactation. Therefore, mothers of second and third babies most often do not experience strong pain, and breastfeeding is established much faster.

In the first days after birth, it is very important to frequently put the baby to the breast to stimulate milk production.

Breastfeeding consultants explain that milk production occurs on the principle of supply and demand: as much as the baby eats at one feeding, so much is produced for the next. The intervals between feeding the baby to the breast also have an impact. At first, there may be a lot of nutrient fluid or vice versa, because the body does not yet know a clear schedule for food intake for a newborn. On average, a month or two after birth, when mother and baby get to know each other and adjust to a certain regime, lactation improves. The breasts no longer fill up so much, they don’t hurt, because the milk arrives exactly as much as the son or daughter needs.

Causes of delayed or lack of milk after childbirth

There are situations when a woman experiences certain difficulties with breastfeeding. We are talking about the lack of milk after childbirth. First of all, you need to understand that the appearance of valuable liquid depends on several important factors:

• birth of a child at term or premature birth;
• delivery naturally or through surgery (caesarean section);
• emotional state of the mother. Some are categorically against feeding a baby naturally. They not only do not want to put the baby to the breast, but they are disgusted by the process itself. Severe stress also negatively affects milk production.

If everything is clear with natural childbirth, then there are questions about caesarean section. Very often, women worry that lactation will not improve after surgery. But in most cases, breastfeeding is possible. However, for each mother everything is individual: the fact is that a lot depends on what medicines used during and after surgery.

In women who gave birth to full-term babies via cesarean section, milk can come either on the fourth or fifth or on the sixth or seventh day after birth. This is considered normal and there is no need to panic. The main thing is to put the baby to the breast more often to stimulate the production of valuable fluid.

Breastfeeding is the best option for the baby, even if the birth was not natural

Emergency delivery is a lot of stress for the body. A woman needs more time to recover and rebuild. In such a situation, milk may come in a week or lactation may not begin at all. Everything here is individual, and even best doctors They don’t predict how the mother’s vital systems and organs will behave.

How to Develop Breast Milk After Childbirth

Some young mothers are faced with a situation where everything went well: a full-term baby, delivery on time and without complications, but the milk does not come or there is very little of it. This is most often observed in primiparous women. And the reason is what happens slight delay lactation. A nursing mother does not yet have the experience and relevant skills breastfeeding and makes very common mistakes:

• applies the baby incorrectly. The baby grasps only the nipple, therefore, during active sucking, liquid is not released from all channels, the breast is not completely emptied;
  

  This is fraught not only with the production of less milk, but also with the formation of stagnation in the mammary gland, which can lead to lactostasis and mastitis.

• feeds the baby irregularly. Consultants insist that in the first time after childbirth it is necessary to breastfeed a newborn as often as possible to stimulate lactation;
• nervous and in a state of emotional overstrain and stress. From good and positive attitude The success of breastfeeding largely depends on it.

Therefore, you should not immediately switch your baby to formula and give up. First of all, consult with a specialist who will give valuable recommendations regarding the establishment of lactation. Among the most common tips are the following:

Video: what to do when milk comes in after childbirth

Stages of lactation formation

After the baby is born and the placenta is removed, the hormone lactogen, which inhibited breastfeeding, disappears from the woman’s body. And oxytocin and prolactin take on the main role. The first stage of lactation begins, which includes several stages:

• release of colostrum from the mammary glands;
• formation of transitional milk. Begins 35–40 hours after birth (the amount of colostrum decreases, the young mother feels hot flashes);
• transition to mature nutrient fluid. Occurs approximately 10–14 days after the birth of the baby;
• adaptation of the body, establishment of breastfeeding. Lasts from 4 to 8 weeks. During this time, the mother gets used to the new role, the feeding schedule is adjusted, and the brain can control how much milk will be enough for full development crumbs.

If a woman experiences difficulties at the first stage of lactation, she should consult a doctor.

Two to three months after the baby is born, breastfeeding is completely normal. And this stage is called mature lactation. Doctors consider it a time when both mother and baby calmly get to know each other, enjoy every minute spent together, and the process of breastfeeding brings the closest people even closer together.

At the stage mature lactation breast milk Exactly as much as the child needs is produced. The woman does not feel hot flashes, increased local temperature or excessive breast enlargement.

There are several signs of mature lactation:

• the breast is not hard to the touch, and it does not feel as heavy as in the first months;
• the pain and discomfort that many young mothers feel with the arrival of milk disappear;
• The mammary glands are not completely filled, because the liquid arrives gradually, in clear portions, which are enough for one feeding of the baby.

This stage lasts up to one and a half to two and a half years, until the baby and the mother’s body are ready to complete lactation.

Lactation crises: what they are and how to cope with them

When breastfeeding is established, milk is produced clearly and on time without unexpected hot flashes and other nuances. But every woman is individual, so many nursing mothers experience a sharp decrease in nutrient fluid in certain time. Such phenomena are called lactation crises.

Distinctive features of crises are the child’s anxiety, frequent and long feedings, feeling of insufficient milk in the breast.

There are several periods when a decrease in lactation is possible:

• two weeks after birth. Some people may lose valuable liquid altogether. At this time, the crisis is associated with stress and emotional overstrain. Difficult childbirth, health problems for the baby, fatigue (especially if the baby does not sleep at night and does not allow the mother to sleep), the appearance of cracks in the nipples and, as a result, a painful feeding process. Not all women are able to cope with so many difficulties, so they begin to experience problems with milk production;
• a month after delivery. Most often this is due to the fact that the body has begun to adapt to lactation and is learning to regulate and produce as much milk as the child needs, and no more;
• three and six months. The baby is growing and showing more attention to the world around him, shows character, strives to learn and see something new. The sleep and wakefulness patterns change, so the frequency of breastfeeding may decrease, and with it the production of nutrition for the baby.

What to do to overcome lactation crises

1. Very important psychological attitude. You need to be calm, tune in to success and a positive breastfeeding experience. Talk to your baby more often, calming him and yourself. The child feels the mother’s mood: if the woman is happy, joyful and balanced, the baby will feel the same way.
2. Get plenty of rest. Of course, getting a good night's sleep in the first months of your son or daughter's life is very difficult. But you can fall asleep during the day when the baby is sleeping.
3. Massage the mammary glands. Such actions stimulate blood circulation, which is useful for the movement of fluid through the milk ducts.
4. Follow the diet and drinking regime. Eat foods that increase lactation, and also drink more fluids.
5. Feed your baby on demand.
6. Increase the number of breastfeedings at night.

Video: what is a lactation crisis

Breastfeeding a child is the natural desire of most women. Experts insist that this valuable liquid contains everything essential vitamins, minerals and immunoglobulins, which are so necessary for the full development of the baby. There is no need to panic in advance and be afraid that problems may arise with lactation. Lactation consultants and gynecologists will definitely answer any questions that arise, and latching will bring pleasure to the young mother and baby.

Breast milk combines large number nutrients from the mother's body. In addition, this unique product includes specific antibodies that form the child’s immunity in the first year of life.

Breastfeeding women should avoid stagnation in the mammary glands, since it is equally harmful to children’s and women’s bodies.

Characteristics of breast milk

Full growth and development of a newborn baby occurs only if the body receives the required amount of nutrients. Mother's milk is an invaluable source of nutrition. The harmonious composition of this product provides:

• quick and easy absorption;
• supply of the required amount of vitamins and microelements;
• formation of beneficial microflora in the lumen of the large intestine;
• maintaining the body's defenses and developing resistance to infectious diseases;
• intellectual and physical development newborn

Mammary glands expectant mother begin to increase in size already by recent months pregnancy. This is one of the components of preparing the female body for the birth of a child. An increase in breast volume occurs due to the proliferation of glandular tissue that produces milk.

After milk is formed in the glandular tissue, it flows through the milk ducts of the gland to the area of ​​the nipple halo, where the excretory ducts are located. If the baby is correctly attached to the breast, then uniform stimulation of the nipple and emptying of the mammary glands through all ducts occurs.

When a baby performs mechanical stimulation of the nipple area, the female body activates the production of the hormone prolactin, which stimulates the lactation process. Thus, the more often stimulation occurs, the more milk will enter the mammary glands.

Types of breast milk

The precursor to breast milk is colostrum. This product has a very fatty consistency, and it contains all the components necessary for a child. Colostrum production may stop on the first day after birth, but, as a rule, this occurs 3 days after the birth of the baby.

Colostrum contains a minimal amount of water, so the volume of production of this product is significantly lower than breast milk. A nursing woman should not worry, since the amount of colostrum that comes from the mammary glands is quite enough for the baby.

The next stage is the appearance of breast milk. It is lower in calories and comes in significant quantities. During the first months, a newborn baby receives a large amount of antibodies through breast milk. Thanks to this, the baby’s body is completely safe.

Depending on the location, milk is divided into the following types:

• Foremilk. Located on inner surface mammary glands. Color foremilk- light, closer to transparent. This milk contains a large amount of carbohydrates and proteins.
• Medium milk. It contains fewer proteins, but more carbohydrates.
• Hindmilk. Hind milk contains a large amount of fat, which causes its high density. Most babies eat foremilk and middle milk during feeding, leaving out portions of hindmilk. The distant location of the posterior portions makes it difficult to suck out such milk. If the baby eats only the front and middle portions, this will lead to rapid satiety for a short period of time.

It is recommended to place a newborn on the second breast only after the first breast has emptied.

How often is breast milk renewed?

A nursing mother should carefully monitor her diet during lactation. Some foods in the diet can cause health problems for the newborn. From the moment of eating food until its components enter breast milk, it takes from 2 to 9 hours. A young mother should monitor the baby's behavior.

Alarming symptoms include excessive restlessness, whims, crying, refusal to attach to the breast, bowel disorders and frequent regurgitation food. If a child has one of the symptoms, the woman should analyze her diet over the last 24 hours.

Towards the appearance alarming symptoms leads to the consumption of such products:

• all types of nuts, pumpkin and sunflower seeds;
• legumes, cauliflower and white cabbage, broccoli (increase gas formation in the intestines);
• caffeinated products;
• products from whole milk(provoke intestinal colic in a child);
• spices, spicy foods, smoked foods (affect the taste of breast milk).

Breast milk is renewed after each feeding of the baby, provided that the baby has completely emptied the mammary gland. The more often the baby is applied to the breast, the faster the milk is renewed. When it comes to change chemical composition milk, the reference point is the concentration of substances in the blood.

I am glad to welcome you, dear readers! I think you ended up here for a reason; most likely, you will become a mother in the near future or are already holding a newborn in your arms and are trying to figure out what day your milk comes in after birth.

In the first case, everything is very clear: you are preparing for the very important point in your life. But in the second case, such a question arises because childbirth has already occurred, but for some reason there is no milk.

In fact, a young mother needs to find out in advance about what day her milk comes in after the baby is born, so as not to worry unnecessarily. Knowing when the baby's "food" arrives will help the parent stay calm and pay attention to herself and her baby. This is what I propose to talk about today.

I have one friend who, during my pregnancy, said that from the 15th week I could observe the release of white drops from the breast, they say: “milk is starting to come out.” I was surprised, but she assured me: “That’s what happened to me.” What a twist! Time passed, weeks and months passed - I gave birth. Naturally, during the gestation period no “white liquid” was released. But even immediately after giving birth, I did not see the long-awaited milk.

It's simple: after childbirth, milk does not appear immediately. However, immediately after the birth of the child, a young mother may notice a yellowish discharge - this is colostrum. In general, it is generally accepted that milk will begin to be produced no earlier than the third day after birth. But even if this does not happen, there is no need to start thinking about how to speed up the flow of milk, because each person’s body is individual.

Moreover, it is important to consider some factors that can affect milk production:

• full-term baby (born naturally or by caesarean section);
• the baby is premature (born independently or after cesarean section);
• medications the woman received during childbirth;
• first or subsequent births.

In each individual case, milk arrives differently. According to statistics, for most women in labor, the first “white drops” appear on the third or fourth day after the birth of the baby. And 3% of mothers do not produce milk at all.

2. How to distinguish colostrum from milk

Often, first-time mothers have a question about how to find out that milk has begun to be produced, and not colostrum. Moreover, some parents even think about what to do if the milk has a strange consistency. It is better to understand this issue long before giving birth.

In fact, it is quite simple to understand that it is milk and not colostrum that has arrived: it has white, quite liquid. It tastes sweeter than store-bought milk. Colostrum is more of a clear (yellowish) liquid.

Another criterion is the time frame. Immediately after birth, milk does not appear. Yes, a woman’s body is unique. Initially, it is colostrum that appears - it is “invented by nature” for “building immunity.” That is why immediately after the baby is born it is applied to the breast. The first drops of colostrum (and subsequent drops, of course, too) have a great effect on the baby’s body, “charging” his immune system.

3. When will the milk come in if the baby is full-term?

Women who give birth on time usually do not have problems with the appearance of milk. You should expect it already 3-4 days after birth little man. Until this moment, the baby will eat colostrum.

By the way, if the baby is full-term, it doesn’t matter how he was born: naturally or through surgery, the outcome will be the same. Therefore, expectant mothers should not worry about the fact that they have been prescribed, for example, a caesarean section.

However, do not forget that there are always exceptions to the rules. Sometimes even when a baby is born on time, milk comes only on the 7th day. Another important factor: the use of medications during childbirth. Often medical supplies may delay the appearance of milk.

4. When does milk come in if the baby is premature?

Sometimes, the baby is born prematurely. The reasons can be very different:

• severe stress;
• factors that threaten the life of the mother or child;
• chronic maternal illness;
• multiple pregnancy;
• placental abruption;
• and others.

Labor may begin prematurely, unexpectedly or as directed by a doctor. In such cases, women begin to think about whether their lactation will be established and whether they will be able to breastfeed their child in the future.

However, there is no need to panic ahead of time. Statistics “show” that even with premature pregnancy you will be able to feed your baby with your milk, there is only one question: after how many days?

Often, even colostrum can be “late” and not appear immediately after the baby is born. However, it comes. Of course, milk production also becomes somewhat distant. Usually, a young mother notices the first “white droplets” 7-8 days after birth.

5. Is there a difference between the first and subsequent births?

It would seem, why do women who have already given birth continue to be interested in milk production? They know how and under what circumstances both colostrum and milk are produced.

But there is nothing strange, a mother always wants to be the best for her children. That is why he makes sure that they receive " the best food"as early as possible.

You and I already know when milk appears in first-time mothers. So, in multiparous women it appears a little earlier.

6. What to do if there is no milk

It also happens that milk does not appear at all. Or rather, this is what the parents themselves think. Often, the mother’s breasts are not developed at all, which is why milk is not released, which means it seems that there is none.

In fact, lactation does not occur in only 3% of cases. In other cases, you just need to make some efforts so that the child can receive best nutrition in the world - mother's milk.

Now there are many ways to speed up milk production:

• breast massage;
• eating certain foods;
• various medications;
• and so on.

However, the most best way- putting the baby to the breast. It may seem to you that your baby is sucking on an empty breast (perhaps this is really so), but you don’t need to give up - continue to offer him food.

The human body contains the hormone prolactin, which affects milk production. Frequent application is the best way to “awaken” this hormone, due to which you will be able to see the long-awaited milk. Moreover, it is important to know that prolactin is best produced at night, so it is extremely important to offer the baby breastfeeding at night.

In any case, you can always consult a specialist on how to speed up the “arrival” of milk.

And know, if you are determined to breastfeed your baby, you will definitely succeed! The main thing is time.

You can watch a video from a lactation consultant about whether you might not have milk after giving birth here:

On this note, I will say goodbye to you, but not for long. If this article was interesting to you, recommend reading it to your loved ones. And subscribe to my updates, I have something to tell. Bye bye!

Breast milk is the most valuable and beneficial natural product for a newborn. It contains not only required stock microelements, but also antibodies that protect the baby from harmful effects environment.

Many women, even before giving birth, wonder on what day the milk comes in and what to do if there is no milk, but the baby already needs to be fed? Milk production occurs individually for each woman in labor. This is a natural process established by nature. When can lactation be affected and how to speed up this process or increase the amount of milk produced?

When does milk normally come in after natural birth and cesarean section?

Colostrum begins to be produced in the mammary glands of the expectant mother during pregnancy, so after birth the baby has something to get enough of. What is the function of colostrum after childbirth? This yellowish thick liquid is very nutritious even in small quantities.

In first-time mothers, milk comes in several days later than in women who have already given birth. Usually it begins to be produced on the third day after natural birth. This process can take up to a week in case of caesarean section.

How does the milk come in and is it possible to alleviate the condition?

When milk arrives in the mammary glands, the young mother feels heat, distension and swelling of the breast - it hardens. Body temperature may increase. Experts recommend massaging the glands and pumping to relieve the condition. If this is not done, the milk may burn out and not be produced enough.

Pumping helps develop the nipple. It also helps to alleviate the condition frequent application the baby to the breast, but in the first days of life the baby does not need much food to be satisfied.

Why doesn't milk come in or is there little milk?

Women, especially first-time mothers, often panic if milk does not come in immediately after delivery. Why does this happen and how to cause the arrival of nutrient fluid after childbirth? The body of each woman in labor is individual, and lactation is established in different ways. If there is little milk or it has not arrived at all, you need to follow simple recommendations:

• apply the baby alternately to each breast quite often;
• ensure that the baby grasps the nipple correctly with his mouth;
• drink plenty of fluids;
• monitor your diet (food should be varied and rich in vitamins and minerals).

Sometimes they meet pathological causes lack of breast milk. These include:

• primary hypogalactia (problems with women's health and with the functionality of the mammary glands, hormonal imbalance or endocrine diseases);
• secondary hypogalactia (occurs due to complicated childbirth, surgery or serious illnesses women).

How to cause milk to come in?

As mentioned above, frequent feeding of the baby to the breast stimulates the lactation process. Night feedings are also very important, because it is at night that the hormone prolactin is produced in the female body, which is responsible for the full process of lactation.

Massage of the mammary glands and a warm shower have a beneficial effect on their condition. Blood circulation in the breast improves, which helps milk appear in the milk ducts. Drinking plenty of warm drinks throughout the day helps ensure timely milk supply.

Is it possible to increase the volume of milk?

A woman’s milk ducts produce as much milk as the baby needs for one feeding. As the baby grows, its needs increase, and mother's milk may not be enough.

Sometimes a woman experiences what is called lactation crisis when the nutrient fluid appears in insufficient volume. This condition is short-term and occurs during periods of the child’s most intensive growth. The body does not have time to adapt to meet the baby’s new needs.

The mother does not need to react sharply to this state of her body, and even more so there is no need to rush to transfer the baby to artificial feeding. Natural feeding in this case it will no longer be possible to restore. Eat effective ways, which help to quickly establish the process of milk arrival.

Pharmacy drugs

To stimulate the lactation process, you can use pharmaceutical products. Special herbal teas in the form of tea or decoction help female body restore normal milk production.

Vitamins for nursing mothers also help in this case. These are drugs such as:

• Vitrum Prenatal;
• Complimentary Mom;
• Femibion;
• Elevit Pronatal.

It is possible to use homeopathic remedies and biologically active additives, which are also sold in pharmacies. Enhance lactation:

• Apilak;
• Lactogone;
• Mlekoin et al.

What and how much to drink and eat?

Drinking plenty of fluids and nutritious food directly affect the lactation process. You can strengthen it if you use:

• rosehip tea;
• tea with condensed milk;
• carrots with sour cream;
• nuts;
• flax seeds;
• lettuce leaves;
• sesame.

The body of a nursing mother should receive required quantity liquids - from 2 to 3 liters per day. Pomegranate or carrot juice, as well as herbs brewed with boiling water (melissa, anise, yarrow, nettle, dill, fennel) enhance lactation well.

Massage, shower, pumping

Massaging the breasts from the base to the nipples helps improve blood supply to the mammary gland tissue. Movements should be soft, circular or stroking, directed from top to bottom. As a result of the massage, the milk ducts expand and milk moves through them faster.

Taking a shower also stimulates milk production because the water jet massages the breasts, and the sound of the water affects the brain and promotes the production of prolactin. You can pump while taking a shower, or you can massage the mammary glands under water, then come to the child and let him eat.

Frequent correct attachment of the baby to the breast

If the baby is often put to the breast, irritation of the nipples occurs and the production of hormones (prolactin and oxytocin), which are responsible for the timely flow of milk, increases. You need to ensure that the baby grasps not only the nipple, but also the areola around it.

Correct breastfeeding promotes complete liberation milk ducts from milk and protects the mammary glands from stagnation. Stagnation of milk in the ducts can cause inflammation and mastitis.

Whoever wants, will achieve: interesting facts about lactation

If there is not enough milk, you can improve its production simple steps. Lactation will be restored if:

• spend more time with the child, have skin-to-skin contact with him;
• sleep with the baby (the biorhythms of the mother and baby coincide, the baby receives the breast faster, and the mother’s body begins to produce the next portion of the nutritional mixture even when the baby moves);
• wear woolen clothes (wool acts on muscle fibers and relaxes them, while warming them and relieving spasms);
• feed the baby to the sound of water (you can buy a small tabletop waterfall or simply open the tap, this promotes the production of hormones necessary for the lactation process);
• walk more often fresh air and feed the baby there;
• use an aroma lamp ( oil will do lemon, mint or lavender);
• the woman’s psychological mood will be favorable (fears and worries negatively affect milk production).

Your baby is born! Over the course of 9 months, the physiology of the mother’s body changed, ensuring the development of the fetus.

And even now, when the baby exists outside the mother’s womb, nature has taken care to provide him with adequate nutrition.

Women who have given birth begin lactation - the process of producing breast milk. Compound human milk changes depending on the age of the child, maintaining his health and strengthening his immune system. This is the best food for a baby, with which no store-bought baby formula can compare in physiological value.

Preparation for lactation begins during pregnancy. Many women notice changes in breast tissue even in the first months of expecting a baby.

And closer to childbirth, almost everyone’s breasts are ready: they increase in volume, the nipples become coarser, but at the same time their sensitivity increases. This is important, since it is the stimulation of the nipples that gives the signal after childbirth to activate milk production.

Preparatory stage

IN last weeks During pregnancy, some women may notice clear or yellowish discharge from their nipples. They should not be squeezed out additionally, as this may provoke contractions. In addition, there is a risk of infection. If there is discharge from the breasts, you need to use special bra pads or sterile gauze pads.

The presence (or absence) of discharge from the breast does not mean at all whether you will have a lot or little milk.

Physiological preparation of the breast (mammogenesis) will end with the birth of the child and the next stage will begin - lactogenesis - the process of milk production.

Lactation

After childbirth, the production of pregnancy hormones stops. But the production of prolactin begins - a special hormone that ensures milk production and regulates its quantity.

The brain receives a signal to produce prolactin when the nipples are stimulated. Therefore, there is a practice of placing a newborn on mother's breast immediately after birth.

But even if for some reason related to the health of the mother or baby, the first attachment does not take place, the milk will still come. In addition to nipple stimulation, there are other physiological mechanisms that activate its production.

In the first days, colostrum is released from the breast. It is thicker than milk and contains a lot of fat to meet the newborn's energy needs. If your baby does not have the strength to suckle thick colostrum, you can help him manual expression. It is important that colostrum does not stagnate and does not cause lactostasis in the future.

How long does it take for milk to come in after childbirth?

Usually by 3-5 days colostrum changes its structure. It becomes more liquid and its quantity increases. This is the so-called “transition milk”. By continuing to put your baby to the breast as required, you will thereby stimulate milk production and be able to control its quantity.

Full milk comes in 5-7 days, but this process can take one and a half to two weeks, this is also the norm.

Most often, a woman notices the arrival of milk the next morning, waking up in a wet nightgown. This is due to the fact that the production of many hormones is activated by the brain at night, during the rest period. In addition, during sleep and relaxation, blood supply to the breast improves, the tone of the vascular walls and milk ducts decreases, so milk comes in easier.

Does a woman feel a rush of milk?

Regarding physical sensations, then in many ways they are very subjective, this is a very individual topic. Some people complain of pain and tingling in the chest, while others feel nagging pain from the back and armpits.

Additional sensations include increased thirst or even relaxation of the stomach. This is how the effect of hormones manifests itself; they cannot affect only the breasts, they affect the entire body.

Objectively, during the period of high tide, the breasts become larger and heavier, milk “leaks” from the nipples. The first abundant flow of milk may be accompanied by a rise in temperature or chills. But if this only happened the first time and does not happen again, then most likely there is no cause for concern.

It's important to remember that female breast not store-bought containers, milk is not stored in the gland itself, its production occurs depending on the needs of the child. Moreover, by about 3 months, when lactation reaches maturity, a woman may no longer feel the flow of milk.

“Empty breasts” scare many young mothers. But in fact, this is normal for “mature lactation”: sufficient milk production occurs during feeding and corresponds to the baby’s regimen. Therefore, heaviness and breast enlargement may not be observed.

Reasons for lack of milk and methods of maintaining lactation

• Milk production is determined by many factors, including hereditary and age-related factors.
• Some chronic illnesses of the mother and medications she takes may prevent lactation from occurring (it is important to discuss this with your doctor in advance). This is especially true for endocrine and vascular disorders.
• Diseases of the mammary glands, a history of operations on them or inflammatory processes when feeding older children, they can be a serious obstacle to lactation.
• Stress and fatigue of a new mother can also affect milk supply.

If the baby is not full term or was born with any pathology, this is worry for the mother. But it is these children who especially need breast milk. When a baby is born prematurely, the body receives a signal about this and mother’s milk contains the elements necessary for the rapid maturation of the baby’s organs. These vital components will not be present even in donor milk.

What to do to get milk after childbirth?

If there are no absolute contraindications to breastfeeding ( infectious diseases mothers, breast surgery, etc.), but the milk did not come on time, breast massage, warm compresses, herbal remedies help.

But the most important incentive is the frequent attachment of the baby to the breast. Manual nipple stimulation and the use of a breast pump to increase milk production are also possible.

Compresses help dilate blood vessels and milk ducts. Milk arrives freely, and the glandular tissue becomes more pliable and easily changes volume and shape, accepting the incoming milk.

Breast massage also helps to free the ducts, warms the breasts, improves blood circulation, and prevents stagnation and inflammation.

Herbs have a vascular and mild sedative effect, some of them also affect hormonal background. Fennel, dill, anise, and cumin promote lactation well. And hawthorn tincture will not only help with milk production, but also relieve the child of possible dyspepsia. But if the mother (for example, during a cold) decided to be treated with sage, then it is important to remember that this plant limits the secretion of milk!

The importance of breastfeeding is difficult to overestimate. Compound mother's milk changes to meet the needs of the child at each age stage. Therefore, establishing lactation and maintaining it worries every woman. In most cases, a competent approach allows you to establish milk production in sufficient quantities.