How do we make it from drops of colostrum all the way to abundant production around six weeks? Like launching a rocket, getting off the ground takes the most effort. Early, frequent, and effective colostrum removal in the beginning can help set you up for success. 

The amount of milk you make begins to grow in the first few days after giving birth. It is important to feed your baby on demand, but at least every 2 to 3 hours. By one week, babies are usually eating 0.5 to 1.5 ounces per feeding. This increases until they reach an average breast milk intake for healthy infants of 25 to 35 ounces per day from one month until six months.^1,2 

• Colostrum

Your first milk begins around 20 weeks of pregnancy. Your body is working to create a perfectly unique food for your baby. It is ready for your baby at birth and even in those first hours. The more frequently it is given, the faster your baby stabilizes and thrives. It boosts your baby’s immune system and helps create a healthy gut. Your hormones are so strong after having your baby that lots of breast stimulation in the first hours has a powerful impact on how fast you transition to abundant levels of milk.³

• Demand for Supply

Breastfeeding many times or using hand expression of colostrum in the first few days is shown to support full supply and fewer breastfeeding complications. Your body is constantly doing math. It counts how much you made, how much your baby ate, and how long ago that was. Then it begins ordering milk for the next few days. This means that the more your baby eats, the more we make. Learning to hand express properly and use a pump well is important to empty the breasts if you are separated from your baby or latching is not going well. Removing milk at least 8 to 12 times a day is important to create normal breast milk production during the first six weeks.⁴

• Letdown and Oxytocin

Between days 3 to 5 postpartum your breasts begin to make larger amounts of milk. Around this time you may feel a sensation called a “letdown”.  A spike in oxytocin happens as your body responds to your baby suckling at the breast and causes a rush of milk to flow for your baby. It can feel like an urgency, tingling, fullness, heaviness, or pressure. Many mothers do not feel it at all, so do not be worried if you do not notice anything. You can often tell a letdown is happening when you see your baby change from fast, soft suckling to big, deep drinking sucks and you hear swallows.⁵ 

• Prolactin and Night Time Breastfeeding

What If I Have Questions?

If you are interested in learning more, this Aeroflow class expands on some of the topics discussed above:

• The Ultimate Breastfeeding Prep

Want More Info?

For a directory of Aeroflow’s other Care Guides offering information on pregnancy, baby care, and more, browse our comprehensive list of titles:

References