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.