We’ve mentioned the law of supply and demand of human milk, the more you expressed out now the more you will produce in the future. Therefore, the secret of stable milk supply depends on how often you express the milk from your ducts. Once your body senses empty milk ducts it will automatically refill to meet your baby’s demand.

Many of us are wondering, so how does breast milk production really works?

When does it start?

We’ve mentioned in previous articles that your body started to produce breast milk way earlier than you might have thought: when you’re halfway through your pregnancy journey. You might feel that your nipples got more sensitive and there’s a visible growth of your breast size or perhaps feel them get heavier. That’s all because your milk ducts are filled with breast milk when you’re still pregnant carrying a little one in your bumpie.

*This is the reason why you need to wear a bra that can support your every stage of breast change. Or else you will need to buy a pair of new bras when your breast grows bigger day by day. (How many bras do you plan to buy then?)

How does it all start?

How does your body know it should be producing? Hormonal cues. Hormones will tell your body is time to produce and supply no matter if you “want” to breastfeed your bub or not. This process of milk secretion is called “lactogenesis”.

After delivering your baby, how does your body know it needs to increase the supply of human milk? Still the hormones driving the supply. That’s when you feel the milk coming in (fullness in breasts) 2 or 3 days after birth (it might take a bit longer for a first-time mum).

What’s next?

Hormones are no longer the primary factors driving your milk supply, but the frequency of you removing milk out from your breasts does. If you have frequent nursing sessions per day, then you will produce more milk in the future. If you don’t remove the milk then your breasts will stop producing milk for your baby.

Your body produces faster when it senses empty breasts, and produce slower when the breasts are near full. And then we’re back to the loop, more milk out = more milk in, less milk out = less milk in. If you don’t plan to breastfeed your baby, then simply just decrease the frequency of nursing your body will automatically lower the milk supply.

If you are a breastfeeding mum slash working mum, you will need to negotiate with your employer about the pumping breaks you will be needing to ensure sufficient milk supply. Also where you will be storing your milk! Get everything planned out before getting back to the workforce.

Factors inhibiting human milk let-down

So your milk in the milk ducts doesn’t come out as smooth as it should be. Here’s a quick check of why that might happen:

• Smoking/ tobacco
• Alcohol
• Medications
• Breasts surgery

For further information please read this article or seek help from a lactation consultant.