How Breastfeeding works

Breastfeeding is something that you and your baby will learn together.

Colostrum is made within your breast from 16 weeks of pregnancy and is the first milk that baby receives.

After the birth colostrum is there for your baby's first feeds whether your baby breast feeds or not.

Between days 3 and 5 after your baby's birth, your body responds to the growing needs of your baby by producing more breast milk and continues to meet the growing needs of your baby.

Your baby will feed little and often, and by responding to your baby's needs, you will produce more breast milk.

This is a guide to the size of your newborns baby's tummy. It is important to recognise this and not to overfeed. The small amount of Colostrum in the early days is all baby needs for his / her tummy.

StomachCapacity.PNG

Myth

It is normal for breastfeeding to hurt

Exploding the Myth:

Not true!

Though some tenderness during the first few days is not unusual, this should only last a few days and should never be so bad that the mother dreads breastfeeding. Any pain that is more than mild is abnormal and is almost always due to the baby latching incorrectly. Limiting feeding time does not prevent soreness.

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