Heads in the game for exclusively breastfeeding my baby but the milk isn’t coming in during that 1 hour after birth skin-to-skin contact moment? Fret not, colostrum will come in first, then your transitional milk and mature milk. Skin-to-skin contact and the baby’s suction can assist milk let-down more easily and effectively.

Your milk is there during mid-pregnancy

The pregnant body started to produce breast milk as early as 16 weeks during pregnancy, yet many of us did not know as we didn’t see any milk leakings. After you deliver your baby, it’s just a matter of time to let your colostrum flow out, baby’s suction and hand expression can help to send signals to the brain to let the milk come out.

When will it actually kick in?

Give it 2 to 3 days, sometimes it does get beyond 3 days especially if you’re a first-time mama. Your early-stage milk is called colostrum, which is often thick and yellowish compared to white, thin mature milk. Your body produces 3-4 days of colostrum followed by 2 weeks or so of transitional milk, then moves to produce mature milk. During the transitions, you might feel your breasts get tougher, firmer, or tighter. The colour and texture of breast milk might change as well. Note that human milk composition changes feeding by feeding that is to cater to baby’s needs, so if your milk’s colour looks different from pictures you Googled online, that is fine.

Colostrum – Transitional Milk – Mature Milk

The stage when you will feel a large increase in milk supply is when colostrum ends, transitional milk starts.

What is let-down reflex?

Let-down reflex or called milk ejection reflex is the process when your breasts get triggered and milk begins to flow out. Baby sucking your nipple is an ideal trigger for let-down reflex.

Signs of a let-down reflex might include:

Uterine cramping
Uterine cramps mean your uterus is contracting, which is not a bad thing as it lessens bleeding. Some might feel uncomfortable during the process, raise your concerns up to the nurse if it gets too painful.

Breasts feeling tight and full in a sudden

You can feel that breasts change easily as they become full fairly quickly.

Milk Leaking

Your breast pads become wet and heavy. If you don’t have breast pads sticking then you can probably see your clothes getting wet (so do others).

My Milk is Delayed!?

If your milk is delayed, you don’t see or feel any increase in milk, it’s hard to get milk out, seek help from health professionals right away to see if there are any ways to solve it.

There are many possible reasons for delayed milk:

Smoking
You’ve probably been smoking when you’re pregnant which made your body harder to have milk.

Stress

Stress can be keeping you from releasing milk.

C-section 

Obesity

Postpartum Bleeding 

You had breast surgery before.  

Breast Milk Laws of Supply and Demand

You’ve overcome so many obstacles to have that milk out, what do you need to do to secure the milk flow?

Remember the rule: breast milk supply depends on demand.

How to make your body feels the demand? Nursing your baby/ pumping out the milk frequently. Your body can sense empty milk ducts and will automatically increase the supply.