On what day does milk come in after childbirth?

Timing of breast milk renewal

Breast milk combines a large amount of nutrients from the mother's body.
In addition, this unique product contains specific antibodies that form the child’s immunity in the first year of life. Breastfeeding women should avoid congestion in the mammary glands, as this is equally harmful to the child’s and female body.

When does milk come in after feeding?

Until mature lactation is established, i.e. In the first three months of a child’s life, a woman may feel a rush of milk, experience sensations of fullness and burning in the chest, not only during feedings, but also between them. However, no matter how quickly the milk comes after feeding, since it turns out that milk is constantly in the mother’s breast, in response to sucking or expressing it begins to move into the nipple through the ducts.

But even if a woman does not feel her milk coming in between feedings, she should not worry about a lack of milk.

Not long ago, scientists found that breast milk contains a special protein - a lactation inhibitor, which regulates the functioning of the mammary glands. As soon as the breast begins to empty, the inhibitor starts the work of the alveoli, so milk does not arrive so much after some time after feeding, but begins to be produced in the process, and the breast is never completely emptied.

Sometimes mothers are worried that the baby is sucking on a breast that no longer has milk, is not getting enough, and they try to increase the interval between feedings, waiting for the breast to fill. But there is no point in tormenting the baby and waiting for how long after feeding the milk will come; it is much more important to put it to the breast more often. Moreover, in response to the needs of the child, the female body continuously produces milk.

Characteristics of breast milk

Full growth and development of a newborn baby occurs only if the body receives the required amount of nutrients. Mother's milk is an invaluable source of nutrition. The harmonious composition of this product provides:

quick and easy absorption;
supply of the required amount of vitamins and microelements;
formation of beneficial microflora in the lumen of the large intestine;
maintaining the body's defenses and developing resistance to infectious diseases;
intellectual and physical development of the newborn.

The mammary glands of the expectant mother begin to increase in size already in the last months of pregnancy. This is one of the components of preparing the female body for the birth of a child. An increase in breast volume occurs due to the proliferation of glandular tissue that produces milk.

After milk is formed in the glandular tissue, it flows through the milk ducts of the gland into the area of the nipple halo, where the excretory ducts are located. If the baby is correctly attached to the breast, then uniform stimulation of the nipple and emptying of the mammary glands through all ducts occurs.

When a baby performs mechanical stimulation of the nipple area, the female body activates the production of the hormone prolactin, which stimulates the lactation process. Thus, the more often stimulation occurs, the more milk will enter the mammary glands.

Appearance of milk

The day on which milk appears after childbirth depends on the characteristics of the female body, and on possible situations that affect the timing of its appearance. The way the birth took place may have an impact. The woman gave birth herself, or had a caesarean section. It also depends on whether the baby was born full-term or not. And of course, when milk appears after childbirth in primiparous or multiparous women also makes a difference.

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In the standard, it is generally accepted that the appearance of milk should be expected up to about five days.

For the first two or three days, colostrum appears, then transitional milk appears, and after that, milk appears.

Continuous milk is much yellower than usual, but in quantity it is not released much more than colostrum. Before milk comes in, the breasts must become enlarged, firm, and painful. Mostly this happens at night. It happens that the breast is so filled with milk that the baby cannot latch onto the nipple normally.

When milk appears after childbirth in multiparous women, the breasts do not hurt as much, they are no longer full, and the milk comes earlier. But the temperature in the chest area may increase, not much.

If a caesarean section had to be performed, but the baby was full-term, then milk should be produced at the same time as during spontaneous childbirth. And if a caesarean section occurred during a premature pregnancy, then this is a double blow to the body. And milk may appear only in a week. But unfortunately, there have been cases of milk loss completely.

Types of breast milk

The precursor to breast milk is colostrum. This product has a very fatty consistency and contains all the components necessary for a child. The production of colostrum may stop on the first day after birth, but, as a rule, this occurs 3 days after the birth of the baby.

Colostrum contains a minimal amount of water, so the volume of production of this product is significantly lower than breast milk. A nursing woman should not worry, since the amount of colostrum that comes from the mammary glands is quite enough for the baby.

The next stage is the appearance of breast milk. It is lower in calories and comes in significant quantities. During the first months, a newborn baby receives a large amount of antibodies through breast milk. Thanks to this, the baby’s body is completely safe.

Depending on the location, milk is divided into the following types:

Foremilk. Located on the inner surface of the mammary glands. The color of the foremilk is light, closer to transparent. This milk contains a large amount of carbohydrates and proteins.
Medium milk. It contains less protein, but more carbohydrates.
Hindmilk. Hind milk contains a large amount of fat, which causes its high density. Most babies eat foremilk and middle milk during feeding, leaving out portions of hindmilk. The distant location of the posterior portions makes it difficult to suck out such milk. If the baby eats only the front and middle portions, this will lead to rapid satiety for a short period of time.

It is recommended to place a newborn on the second breast only after the first breast has emptied.

How often is breast milk renewed?

A nursing mother should carefully monitor her diet during lactation. Some foods in the diet can cause health problems for the newborn. From the moment of eating food until its components enter breast milk, it takes from 2 to 9 hours. A young mother should monitor the baby's behavior.

Alarming symptoms include excessive restlessness, whims, crying, refusal to attach to the breast, bowel disorders and frequent regurgitation of food. If a child has one of the symptoms, the woman should analyze her diet over the last 24 hours.

all types of nuts, pumpkin and sunflower seeds;
legumes, cauliflower and white cabbage, broccoli (increase gas formation in the intestines);
caffeinated products;
whole milk products (provoke intestinal colic in a child);
spices, spicy foods, smoked foods (affect the taste of breast milk).

Breast milk is renewed after each feeding of the baby, provided that the baby has completely emptied the mammary gland. The more often the baby is applied to the breast, the faster the milk is renewed. If we are talking about changing the chemical composition of milk, then the concentration of substances in the blood is a guideline.

Before you start taking medications, you must read the attached instructions, which indicate the period for removing the substance from the body. If the mammary gland is not completely emptied, then the nursing mother experiences congestion, leading to the development of lactostasis and mastitis.

What to do to prevent milk from disappearing

There are situations when a nursing mother’s milk disappears. Sometimes, nothing can be done, it happens so unexpectedly. After all, there are unforeseen situations, accidents that lead to such an undesirable moment. But you can still try to avoid such trouble.

No stress.

Stress is one of the very first reasons for the disappearance of milk. Before you succumb to the “temptation” and get nervous again, you just need to think about your child, because his mother is his closest person at this stage.

The arrival of milk, tides

In this article we will try to understand what the formation of stable lactation after childbirth depends on, and how to avoid problems and complications with breastfeeding.

Let's start with the fact that the mammary gland is an organ of the endocrine system, one of the main functions of which is the production of milk for feeding the child. All processes occurring in the mammary gland after childbirth are subject to certain laws of lactation physiology.

The concept of “stable lactation” means that the process of milk production and consumption works in ri, i.e. milk arrives exactly as much as the baby needs: there is no excess milk and no shortage of milk. Regulation of this process occurs within 1-3 months after birth, provided that breastfeeding is properly organized.

The most “critical” period for the formation of lactation is the first 1-3 months. Most breastfeeding problems occur in nursing mothers during this period.

» In conditions of unstable lactation, any maternal error in feeding can result in either lactostasis, mastitis, or lack of milk.

The first drops of mother's milk

In an ideal situation, after birth, the baby should be put to the breast within an hour, preferably after 20-30 minutes, and allowed to nurse longer. First, one breast for about 20 minutes, and the other for about the same time. It is the prolonged first breastfeeding that will be the first step towards long-term and sustainable lactation. It has been established that within 6 hours after birth a newborn retains the highest sucking activity, so it is necessary that the baby be with the mother. It is better to agree on this in advance with the medical staff of the maternity hospital. Doctors who are competent in breastfeeding issues have nothing against mother and baby being together immediately after birth and frequent breastfeeding. Every woman needs help in putting her baby to the breast, no matter how big her baby is. Ask a midwife or nurse who is trained in latching to help. If there are none, you can seek help from lactation consultants. They will help you master breastfeeding techniques.

You may say: “But in the first days after childbirth there is no milk in the breast!” And the child doesn’t even need it in the first days of life!

» A newborn baby is focused on only one colostrum. It’s not much, but it’s enough for the little one to live normally.

Supplemental feeding of a child in the first days of life is dangerous both for the baby and for the formation of stable lactation. Here are some tips for new mothers:

Learn how to properly attach your baby to the breast, this will allow you to avoid many problems and complications with the breast.
Attach your baby to your breast in response to every squeak and searching movements of the head.
Until the milk comes in, change the breast every feeding, or, if the baby suckles for a long time, transfer it to the other breast.
Feed your baby at night and put him in your bed for more frequent feedings.
Do not give your baby a pacifier; this spoils the quality of the baby's attachment to the breast and can lead to cracked nipples.
Do not pay attention to the baby’s weight loss; it does not depend on the feeding method at all. Better count the number of wet diapers. On one colostrum in the first 2-3 days, 2 wet diapers are enough. From 3 to 5 days - 4. Starting from the 6th day - there must be at least 6 wet diapers per day. If your baby “fits within these limits,” it means that his nutritional needs are fully satisfied.
If your baby still needs supplemental feeding, make sure that he is supplemented from a spoon, pipette or small cup, and not from a bottle, because this can lead to the baby refusing to breastfeed.

Feeding according to the schedule

After the birth of a child in a family, his older relatives - grandparents - strive not only to help the young mother, but also to share their valuable life experience. And since most of them raised their children in different conditions and realities, when after giving birth the mother had to go to work early, it was impossible to get an academic leave at the institute, or the views of the doctors were more radical - their main advice is that a regime is needed in the matter of feeding .

How it is done

The essence of feeding according to the regime is that a newborn baby is put to the breast strictly at certain intervals, the duration of feeding should be limited to 15-20 minutes. At first, it is advised to feed every two hours, gradually increasing the interval to three, and then to 4 hours.

The remaining milk in the breast must be expressed to avoid stagnation and also to stimulate additional milk production.

Advantages

The advantages of this type of feeding are that the mother can plan her time and seems to better understand that after a certain time the child needs to be fed again. And if for some reason he cries before the due date has expired, then there is another reason.

Flaws

This is not to say that the regimented feeding system is bad in itself. It just doesn't meet the needs and demands of real children.

For example, a newly born baby can absorb very little milk, but quickly, so after 40 minutes he may become hungry again. A mother who feeds according to a schedule will not feed him, but will begin, for example, to pump him, treat a sore tummy, or frantically perform other unnecessary operations, simultaneously tearing out her hair, since the child at this time will scream heart-rendingly from hunger. Consequently, the child becomes nervous and may not gain weight well.
Regular feeding will not speed up a woman’s recovery process after pregnancy and childbirth.
And finally, the mother, seeing that the child is crying, but at the same time refusing him to attach to the breast, especially at an early age, risks losing milk altogether. After all, the baby’s crying affects the mother so much that she becomes very nervous, her pulse quickens, and her breathing quickens. Constantly being in this state does not in any way contribute to a calm recovery after childbirth and can lead to nervous exhaustion.
Pumping also cannot be called a natural process; it leads to disruption in the mother-baby system and hyperlactation, and, as a consequence, to lactostasis and mastitis. In addition, getting up at night to also pump is a very dubious pleasure. Expecting that milk will come some time after pumping, the mother begins to get nervous, which creates unnecessary tension in the family.

Why schedule feeding is not recommended

A regimented feeding system is not recommended because:

Does not meet the child's real needs.
Does not contribute to establishing contact and establishing attachment between mother and baby.
Adversely affects milk supply.
Unnatural.

The milk has arrived!

The first flush usually occurs 2-5 days after birth. Delayed milk arrival on days 6-10 occurs most often in women after complicated childbirth, when there was no first attachment to the breast, the baby was artificially fed in the first days of life and the breast “did not receive” a signal that milk was in demand.

The tide feels like a heaviness in the chest, the breast looks very dense and evenly filled, milk flows out easily. But this should not cause significant inconvenience to the mother. If the baby is nearby and there is an opportunity for frequent feedings, then the woman can easily do without pumping.

» When talking about frequent feedings, I mean feedings approximately once an hour during the daytime and 3-5 feedings at night.

It is in your interests to independently regulate the frequency of feedings according to mutual demand - when the baby shows a desire to suck and when your breast “demands” attachment. Just pick up your sleepy baby and put him to your breast. Remember to attach to the breast correctly, this will ensure a good flow of milk. With frequent and short-term attachments, the same breast is offered several times. If the sucking was prolonged (30-60 minutes), then give the other breast at the next feeding. If there is stronger filling in one breast, then apply to it first. There is no need to limit yourself to fluids. Recent studies prove that reducing fluid intake does not reduce hot flashes, but leads to a deterioration in the mother’s emotional state and depression.

In the case of a significant hot flash, when the chest “gets hot”, the chest bursts and begins to itch, you need to wait 24 hours from the start of the hot flash, continuing to frequently apply the baby to the breast, and change the breast, as described above.

“If after 24 hours there is no relief, the breasts have become swollen and painful to the touch, the temperature has risen, then you need to express once maximum, but no later than 9 o’clock in the evening and no earlier than 9 o’clock in the morning.

Then pump 2-3 times a day until you feel relief. This condition is called breast engorgement. With proper actions and proper latching of the baby to the breast, it goes away in 2-4 days, after which there is no need to pump.

If you start actively pumping immediately after the onset of a hot flash, a whole series of new hot flashes will occur, and as a result you can become a “pumping fanatic”.

Feeding on demand

Feeding a child on demand or free feeding is opposed to feeding according to a schedule. You can come across statements that feeding on demand is the latest recommendations from doctors and even the World Health Organization.

However, if you think about it a little, it will become obvious that the practice of free feeding, as the most natural and closest to the needs of the baby and the instincts of the mother, has been developed over centuries of experience in caring for babies.

How it is done

Feeding on demand involves the mother putting the baby to the breast as often as he asks, at any time of the day. In this case, the baby can stay next to his mother at the breast as long as he needs. Some children eat for a long time and can not let go of the nipple for up to 40 minutes, while others, on the contrary, quickly and actively get full, and rush to new discoveries.

It is logical that if a child cries because he is wet or hot, then this discomfort needs to be eliminated; putting him to the breast will not help. But to calm the baby down and put him to sleep, it’s difficult to find the best way. Almost all children eat longer at bedtime.

Benefits for the child

For a child, breastfeeding is not only food, but also a way to get in touch with his mother, feel safe, and satisfy the sucking reflex. The baby at his mother’s chest hears the beating of her heart - a noise familiar to him from the time of intrauterine life. Receiving not only food on demand, but also affection, warmth, and safety, the child develops harmoniously and grows faster, gains weight better, and sleeps well.

Feeding a newborn on demand helps him adapt to life as quickly as possible and improves his digestive system.

Benefits for mom

Breastfeeding on demand makes it easier for your baby to calm down. The breast helps put the baby to sleep - the mother is free for rest and household chores. The baby is calm - motherhood becomes real happiness.

Pros of on-demand feeding:

Preservation and improvement of lactation. Since milk is produced in response to your baby suckling at the breast, frequent latching will allow you to not worry about the lack of food for your baby.
Fast postpartum recovery. As mentioned above, after childbirth, the uterus shrinks to its pre-pregnancy size thanks to oxytocin, which is actively released into the blood during breastfeeding.
Mom's peace of mind - she always knows a way to calm the baby,
Naturalness and harmony. The breastfeeding process is thought out by nature, the mechanism has been worked out for centuries, so why complicate everything? The child is hungry - just feed him!
The mother-child connection is quickly established; the mother quickly learns to understand the baby and care for him. The mother does not need to worry about how quickly the milk comes in after feeding; the breast functions in accordance with the baby's needs.
There is no need to pump.
The risk of lactostasis mastitis is reduced. When breastfeeding on demand, there are no long breaks between feedings, which means milk does not stagnate in the breast.
When breastfeeding privately, a woman experiences lactational amenorrhea, which, although cannot be called a reliable means of contraception, still relieves some additional problems.

Why is it recommended?

Taking into account all the benefits for the health of the child and mother, free feeding is recommended today by doctors and the World Health Organization as the most natural and optimal for both parties.

Milk rivers

The second flush may begin 9-21 days after birth .
Looks the same as the first tide, often accompanied by a temperature rise of up to 38 degrees. “There is no need to worry, this is a physiological phenomenon - a change in the composition of milk occurs in the breast.

Transitional milk changes to mature milk. The mother's actions should be the same as during the first flush.

Before the onset of a period of stable lactation, small hot flashes may sometimes recur. The woman’s endocrine system is actively working to determine the amount of milk the baby needs. Natural mechanisms begin to work in ri.

What actions of the mother can interfere

this process?

Rare breastfeeding, once every 2-3 hours.
Supplementing with water and supplementing with formula.
Rare or no night feedings.
Limitation by the mother of the duration of sucking.
Frequent breast changes.
Incorrect attachment to the breast.
Uncomfortable position when feeding.
Use of pacifiers and pacifiers.
Regular pumping.

If a mother does not make these mistakes in feeding her baby, then, as a rule, she does not encounter problems and complications of breastfeeding.

Unity "mother-child".

“Breast passions” are left behind, the baby is snoring peacefully at his mother’s breast. Having established proper feedings from the very beginning, my mother managed to avoid problems. She knows about lactostasis and mastitis only from hearsay, and she is also not in danger of a lack of milk. The baby is gaining weight well, he is full and happy. Breast volume has returned to its previous norms, and between feedings the breasts hardly fill. But the milk has not decreased; it comes when the baby begins to suck. And in response to the “request”, he immediately receives a fresh portion of milk.

The baby also does not have any problems with latching - after all, he has never sucked a pacifier, and his mother taught him (and learned herself) how to attach correctly. At night the baby sleeps next to his mother. After all, she is the one who feeds him and warms him, comforts him and protects him. When asked to nurse at night, the baby receives the breast in the same way as during the day. During the day, the mother carries her child in her arms or in a sling without fear of “spoiling” the child.

Everyone is glad and happy. We'll be feeding for a long time!

08/26/06 Prugova Galina breastfeeding consultant Novosibirsk.

Feeding rules

After birth, the baby and mother become one. And the feeding process only strengthens this connection. From the first days of life, the baby is close to its mother, which greatly helps to establish the feeding process. In order for everything to go well, you need to do everything confidently, gradually, do not be afraid to ask questions to doctors, and adhere to some rules:

Putting the baby to the breast more often, or as they say, on demand, is a very well proven practice. Since milk does not arrive immediately, but for this it needs to go through some stages. Then, with the help of frequent attachment of the baby to the breast, this process will speed up.
Correctly putting your baby to the breast is an equally important process. If this is done incorrectly, cracked nipples and a lack of milk cannot be avoided.
Burping is simply vital for a child. After all, in any case, the baby takes in air during feeding, and then he needs to go somewhere. To do this, after feeding the baby, you need to slowly position him vertically and wait for him to burp.

Fit it to the chest correctly

Correctly applying the baby to the breast is a very important point. If this is not monitored, the baby will not be able to get enough milk, will catch air, and so on.

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At first, you need to get used to each feeding little by little, and then everything will go like clockwork. Feeding consists of several stages.

To begin with, mom should take the most comfortable position. Sitting in a chair, lying on the sofa, whatever is comfortable. The most important thing is that there must be support, under the arm and under the back.
Next, you need to bring the baby as close to you as possible. Accordingly, laying it on its side. Legs, arms, head, nothing should be loose, everything should be at the same level, otherwise there may be problems with swallowing.
No use of physical force. A child who wants to eat catches the nipple himself. He just needs to be guided and helped to do it.

Tactile senses are very important for a child. Therefore, the more touches, and the closer the contact, the greater the connection between mother and baby.

To pump or not

Feeding on demand has a very beneficial effect on what day after birth milk appears. Because the more often we adjust the baby, the faster the milk will appear. Often, a newborn can nurse every hour or every half hour. But it also happens, although not often, that a child eats only a couple of times a day.

When milk appears, the baby may ask to eat every hour and a half throughout the day. And several more times at night. It all depends on the fat content of the milk and the appetite of the newborn. Well, if the child, a sleepyhead, sleeps a lot, in this case he is fed even while he is sleeping. Without interrupting his sleep, he can have a decent lunch, this is a feature of children.

So, if feeding is done on demand, there is no need to express. Milk arrives in the same quantities as it is eaten, while constantly replenishing the supply. And if you express, there will be more of it, but the baby will not eat as much, and then you will need to express again. And in the end, it won't lead to anything good. Especially, you should not pump in the very first days after childbirth.

How long does it take for milk to come in after feeding?

How is milk produced in a woman's breast? How long must pass after the previous feeding of the baby for milk to appear in the woman’s body again? What does its quantity depend on? Why does a baby ask for breastfeeding so often at the beginning of life?

In this article you will find answers to all these questions and learn how to organize the feeding process so that the baby always receives the amount of milk he needs.

Sometimes during feeding you may have the feeling that your breasts are already completely empty, as if the milk in it has completely run out, but at the same time your baby is still hungry. Knowing that milk is constantly produced in the mammary glands (in the alveoli), you will not panic and take the breast from the baby, and then he will be able to calmly suck the amount of food he needs. A study was conducted on this matter, which found that children drink only 76% of the milk in their breasts per day.

On what day does milk come in after childbirth?

Quite often, new mothers ask themselves a question that directly relates to what day does breast milk arrive after childbirth. Let's try to answer it by understanding the nuances of such a process as lactation.

When does a woman who has given birth begin to produce milk?

It is very difficult to clearly name the time after how long (on what day) milk comes in after childbirth. The thing is that everything depends on the woman’s hormonal background and the concentration of such a hormone as prolactin. It is he who is responsible for the production of breast milk. If it is produced in insufficient quantities, then the mother will have practically no milk.

If, on average, we name the period when milk begins to be produced in the mammary glands, then it is usually 4-5 days from the moment of birth. Until this time, the woman notices colostrum discharge from the nipples, which has a transparent color or a yellowish tint. Its volume is small - usually up to 100 ml. However, it is so nutritious that it is quite enough for the baby. Therefore, mother should not worry that her baby is hungry.

In order to understand that breast milk has arrived after childbirth and a process such as lactation has begun, a woman only needs to carefully examine her breasts. Upon palpation, it is noticeable that the mammary glands have become denser, increased in size, and with light pressure on the nipple, a white liquid appears.

Can milk not come after childbirth?

This kind of question is often asked by women whose delivery was carried out by caesarean section. In such situations, milk production begins a little later - after about a week. Frequent feeding of the baby to the breast contributes to its early start.

In most cases, the explanation for why milk does not come after childbirth may be:

violation of the nursing mother's regimen;
poor nutrition;
late first breastfeeding;
hormonal deficiency.

How to induce lactation?
In most cases, young mothers do not know what to do to get milk after childbirth and often panic when trying to find artificial nutrition. Doctors do not recommend doing this and claim that almost every mother can breastfeed her baby.

Answering the question about what to do to get milk after childbirth, doctors recommend the following:

Place your baby on the breast frequently, every 2 hours.
Perform breast massage.
Drink more fluids, especially dairy products.
Eliminate salty and spicy foods from your diet.

In some cases, when the above recommendations do not bring the desired result, hormonal therapy using prolactin preparations may be prescribed.

A lactation inhibitor will control everything

Not long ago it was discovered that breast milk contains a certain protein called a “lactation inhibitor”; it performs a regulatory function in the formation of milk. When the mammary gland is full, the inhibitor sends a signal to the alveoli to stop working. And after the baby empties the breast, then this protein will not be in it either, and there will be no one to stop the production of milk, so the process of formation of food for the baby will begin in the alveoli again. Now it is clear why it is so important to give your baby the breast often and wait until he has completely emptied it.

Expressing: a necessity or an unnecessary intervention?

Many doctors believe that without pumping, a nursing mother will definitely lose milk, but this is not true. The process of pumping turns out to be completely unnecessary when breastfeeding on demand, during which the mother does not pay attention to how much time has passed since the last feeding, but satisfies the baby’s actual hunger. And therefore, milk comes exactly at the moment when the child needs it, and most importantly, in the right quantity. And because of pumping, this harmony between mother and baby is disrupted.

Which breast is milkier - small or large? Or is this a myth?

Often women with small breasts think that they will not have enough milk. But these worries are in vain, because many studies have already proven that breast size has no effect on milk quantity.

But some scientists express the opinion that in women with small breasts, less milk is stored in the mammary glands between feedings than in large breasts. But still, this amount is enough for the child if the mother often offers him the breast. It’s just that in this case, milk is produced exactly in the amount that the baby needs, and this is what properly organized breastfeeding consists of.

Another reason why women with small breasts must breastfeed often is that their alveoli fill faster than those of mothers with large breasts, and therefore the lactation inhibitor works faster in them.

How do breasts develop?

A person’s breasts begin to form during the period of intrauterine development, when his expectant mother is 4-7 weeks pregnant. Some time after this, the formed breast buds are transformed into milk ducts and alveoli. Then, immediately after birth, the baby develops a nipple. At this stage, breast development stops and continues again only when girls begin puberty (at about 10–12 years).

Active breast growth begins 2 years before the start of menstrual cycles. After this, the size of the mammary glands increases every month throughout the entire period of puberty, because it is at this time that the main stage of breast development occurs. But it turns out that the mammary glands continue to form up to 35 years of age, and it is believed that breasts cannot be called mature until the woman has given birth and nursed a child.

The alveoli are part of the glandular tissue; it is in them that milk is formed and stored. When your baby begins to breastfeed or while pumping, muscle cells in the alveoli push the milk into the ducts through which it arrives at the nipple.

Previously, scientists believed that milk was stored not only in the alveoli, but also directly in front of the nipple. But ultrasound revealed that after the baby stops sucking, the milk returns to the alveoli.

What changes occur in the breasts during pregnancy?

Under the influence of certain hormones during pregnancy, the female breast is rebuilt to fulfill its main purpose - feeding the child. Hormones such as estrogen, prolactin and progesterone play a major role in these changes.

In the first three months of pregnancy, the alveoli and ducts grow rapidly, causing breast enlargement. Also, expectant mothers note that the mammary glands become much more sensitive.

The importance of early application

Attachment to the breast as early as possible is of great importance for establishing lactation and the health of the child. Ideally, the first attachment occurs right in the delivery room, immediately after the baby is born. This can be done today even during caesarean section births, thanks to the use of epidural anesthesia.

Congenital reflexes allow the newborn to independently reach the mother's breast and find food. Unique in composition, rich in immune bodies, colostrum, entering the baby’s body, populates the sterile intestines with beneficial microflora, laying the foundation for the protection of his body.

Early breastfeeding plays an important role in establishing lactation, launching recovery mechanisms in the mother’s body, reduces the risk of postpartum hemorrhage, and has a beneficial effect on the emerging maternal instinct.