A Guide To Your New Family's First Weeks - Meriter Health Services

How Your Milk Changes
Your body makes colostrum for the first several days
after giving birth. Colostrum is low in volume but has a
high concentration of nutrients and is rich in infectionfighting
antibodies. For most healthy full-term babies
who are nursing well, colostrum provides all of the
nutrition and fluid they need in the first
few days.
Your breast milk will start coming in by day three or
four, and fully transition to mature milk by 10-14 days.
Your breasts will start to feel fuller and heavier, and
the milk supply becomes more plentiful. You may also
notice the following:
• Warmth or tingling in your breasts before or during
nursing.
• Leaking from one side while nursing on the other.
• Hearing your baby swallowing or gulping.
• Your baby will be content for longer periods
between feedings.
How Do I Know If My Baby Is Getting
Enough Milk
Milk production follows the principal of supply and
demand. The amount of milk you produce depends
on the amount of breastfeeding your baby does, and
how much milk she removes. The more your baby
breastfeeds, the more milk your body will make.
The opposite is also true. A mother whose baby
breastfeeds less frequently and instead sucks on a
pacifier or feeds by bottle will make less milk. During
the early weeks, it is important to try to nurse whenever
your baby is interested to develop a good milk supply.
It is normal for a baby to lose weight after birth due to
shedding excess fluids and passing meconium (the first
stool). A weight loss of 5-7% is considered normal.
After several days (when your milk comes in), your
baby should begin to gain weight, averaging about 6
ounces per week. Your baby should be at or above his
birth weight by 2 weeks of age. We will check your
baby’s weight while you are in the hospital and your
baby’s health care provider will continue to check it
after discharge.
Ways to tell if your baby is getting
enough milk.
• Your baby is eating 8 or more times in 24 hours
• You baby is wetting and stooling enough diapers
within 24 hours (see feeding log on page 65-69)
• Your baby is alert and active between feeds or
sleeping well (Not fussy or restless)
• Your breasts feel heavy and full before a feeding,
lighter and “empty” after a feeding
• Your baby has not lost more than 7% of the
birth weight in the first days after birth
• Your baby appears satisfied after a feeding.
• Your baby is back to birth weight by 2 weeks
Your Milk Supply
As long as your baby is nursing eight to 12 times per
day, is meeting the goals for wet and soiled diapers,
and is gaining weight well, your milk supply is fine.
Talk with your health care provider if your baby is
not meeting the goals for wet or stool diapers on
your feeding log, or you are concerned about how
your baby is growing.
Growth Spurts
Sometimes mothers think their milk supply has
decreased due to their baby wanting to nurse more
often than usual. This may occur during baby’s fussy
periods. Your baby may also want to feed more often
because he is going through a growth spurt. Growth
spurts commonly occur during the second to third
week, around six weeks and at three months. Feeding
routines for your baby—as far as frequency and length
of feedings—change over time. The fullness of your
breasts will vary, this is normal.
If you are concerned that your milk supply is low:
• Nurse more frequently. Nurse your baby every 1 1 ⁄2-2
hours. Try to switch sides so that you are feeding
from each breast twice during a feeding. Massage
your breast before and during a feeding.
• Reduce your stress and workload as much as
possible. Rest, relax, eat and drink well.
• Avoid bottles and supplements, unless
recommended by your health care provider. If
recommended, try offering supplements after
breastfeeding.
• Consider pumping 5-10 minutes after breastfeeding
to empty your breasts more fully, which will tell
your body to make more milk. (See pages 29-30 on
expressing your breast milk.)
• Eliminate the use of pacifiers. Allow your baby to
suckle at your breast whenever he wants to suck.
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