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| |    Breastfeeding: How The Body Supplies Milk by Laura Jana, M.D., F.A.A.P. reviewed by Laura Jana, M.D., F.A.A.P. During the second half of pregnancy, a mother's breasts begin to prepare for the task of making breast milk. They typically enlarge, and you may notice prominent blood vessels because there is increased blood flow to the breasts. At this point, the breasts begin to make colostrum, a thin, milk-like substance. During the first week: Colostrum A nursing mother's breasts continue to produce colostrum after her baby is born. This substance provides the baby sufficient nutrition for several days until his mother's milk "comes in". The fact that colostrum is very concentrated and does not provide a large fluid volume is nature's way of insuring that your baby will continue to be thirsty and nurse enough to stimulate the breasts to make more milk. When your milk "comes in" When nursing mothers describe their milk "coming in", they are referring to a process which occurs usually within the first 3-5 days after delivery and involves a change from the breasts producing colostrum to producing a full volume of milk. By nursing frequently, a newborn signals his mother's body to undergo this change. Many mothers wonder how they will know when their milk is in; In many cases, the change in breast fullness alone is not subtle and can occur in as little time as from one hour to the next. You may find that your breasts leak milk, and your baby will show visible signs of getting more milk (such as gulping and dribbling more), have more wet diapers, have more frequent bowel movements, and start to go longer periods of time between nursing. How your baby gets milk As your baby latches on and begins to nurse, he stimulates nerves that then send a signal to your brain. Your brain releases a hormone (called prolactin) that tells your breasts to continue making milk. As your baby begins to nurse, another hormone is released (called oxytocin) that tells your breasts to let the milk flow from your breast. This signal is referred to as the "let-down reflex. "For some women, the let-down reflex is associated with a tingling sensation in the breasts and dripping of milk from the breasts. In the week or so after delivery, the let-down reflex can even cause cramping of the uterus, since oxytocin is also the hormone that signals the uterus to contract. For other women, the let-down reflex causes a very significant flow of breast milk without any associated sensations. Many factors can trigger the let-down reflex, such as a crying baby, nursing from the other breast, and even just thinking about your baby. At the same time, factors such as stress, fatigue and dehydration can all interfere with milk production or let-down. Milk supply changes over time As your baby grows, she will continue to "tell" your body how much milk to make by increasing the frequency or duration of her nursing. Your body will learn to quickly respond to her needs and continually change both the volume and type of milk it makes. You don't need to drink milk to make milk While it is true that that calcium is an important part of your nutritional needs and staying well hydrated is one way to make sure your body makes enough breast milk, you do not have to drink milk to make milk. In fact, the proteins in cow's milk do pass into the milk you make, and your infant may be sensitive to them. If your baby is fussier than you think he should be, one thing to try is stopping your own intake of cow's milk. How do you get the calcium and vitamin D you need? Calcium-fortified orange juice provides the same amount of calcium as milk. Chewable over-the-counter antacid tablets are another good source of calcium, as are certain leafy vegetables. A daily multiple vitamin can provide enough vitamin D to keep your bones healthy.
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