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- My milk didn’t come in.
- My baby was never satisfied.
- He nursed all the time.
- I couldn’t pump anything out.
- My baby wasn’t gaining enough weight.
- I stopped producing milk.
- My baby didn’t want to nurse anymore.
“My milk didn’t come in.”
First Days of Breastfeeding
A lot of new mothers think that their milk didn't come in during the first days of breastfeeding. From birth up until even seven days afterwards the breasts produce a substance called colostrum, which is all a baby needs for proper nutrition and fluid intake. It is present in only small amounts but is nutrient-dense, and is sufficient to fill a newborn’s stomach and meet his needs until the mature milk is available.
Mothers often think their babies are starving when they notice the infant wanting to nurse ‘all the time.’ This is normal, as the small size of the infant’s stomach can only hold a very small amount of colostrum at a time. This is also good, as the frequent stimulation of the breasts will cause them to begin producing the mature milk and also lay down prolactin receptors, which is necessary for establishing a good milk supply.
If the newborn is brought to the breast whenever he shows signs of wanting to nurse like rooting, licking his lips, sticking out his tongue, or making noises, the mother can rest assured that her milk will come in within a week’s time at most. If this time has passed, and the mature milk has not come in, it is possible that there is a medical issue that needs to be resolved, such as remainders of the placenta still present in the uterus. However, this is a very rare problem.
