First Time Moms: Bringing in Your Breast Milk on Time
Bringing in Your Breast Milk on Time
- These recommendations apply to the first 2 weeks of life.
- When the baby is born, Mom's produce early breast milk, called colostrum.
- Perfect nutrition for a newborn.
- Clear fluid, which can be surprising to new Moms.
- Smaller amounts. Perfect for those tiny tummies!
- For first time Moms, the later "mature" breast milk will come in on days 3-5 of the baby's life.
- Usually sooner for Moms who have breastfed before.
- The mature milk is white colored, and there's a lot more of it.
- Adequate stimulation of both breasts is the key to bringing in the mature milk on time.
- Feed baby at least every 3 hours, or more often if she wants to.
- Wake your baby at 3 hours if she is still sleeping
- Feed on both breasts every time.
- At least 10 minutes on each side.
- No more than 20 minutes on either side.
- After 20 minutes of good feeding, the baby will have emptied that breast.
- If baby keeps feeding he will slip to the end of your nipple, causing pain, cracking, bleeding, etc.
- He may also lose extra weight trying to get food from an empty breast. Eating takes energy!
- If baby does not have a deep latch at your breast, the stimulation may not be enough.
- If you think this is the case, speak to a lactation consultant.
- Until the latch is better, pumping for 5 minutes after the feed is a good idea.
- Somebody (baby!) or something (breast pump!) should stimulate both breasts for at least 10 minutes with every feed.
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