During the first few days after the birth of your baby, your body will producecolostrum, a sort of "pre-milk" or "practice milk." For some women, colostrum is thick and yellowish. For others it is thin and watery.
Colostrum contains many protective properties, including antibacterial
and immune-system-boosting substances that are so important to your baby
and aren't found in infant formula. The flow of colostrum is very slow,
which allows your baby to learn how to nurse and also how to coordinate
sucking, breathing, and swallowing.
After about 3 to 4 days of nursing, your breasts will start to feel less
soft and more firm as your milk changes from colostrum to milk that
looks kind of like skim milk. Your milk will be transitional for the
first 10 to 14 days, after which it's considered to be mature milk.
During this time, the amount of milk your body produces will increase,
responding to your baby's nursing. Your milk supply is determined by the
stimulation your body receives. In other words, the more you
breastfeed, the more milk your body produces.
Mothers who deliver by Caesarean section (C-section) may find it takes
longer for their milk supply to increase. Sometimes, for no apparent
reason, a mother's milk may take longer than a few days to come in. This
is perfectly normal and is usually no cause for concern, but make sure
to let your doctor know. While babies don't need much more than some
colostrum for the first couple days, the doctor may need to make sure
the baby is getting enough to eat. It can help to breastfeed more
frequently, putting the baby to the breast every 2 to 3 hours.
If your milk still hasn't come in within 72 hours after the birth of your baby, you should talk to your doctor.
Don't be alarmed if your baby drops a little weight at first. Babies
should not lose more than 7% of their birth weight, stop losing by the
fourth day, begin gaining by the fifth day, and be back to birth weight
by no later than the fourteenth day.
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