Life after birth : Breastfeeding- how breasts produce milk

Types of milk:

For the first few days after birth, the breasts produce colostrum, which is creamy yellow in colour, rich in proteins and provides your baby with antibodies to protect against infections. Even if you are not planning to breastfeed, try to feed your baby for the first few days at least as these antibodies cannot be found in formula milk.

Around the fourth day after birth, your breasts start producing the normal breast milk. This may make your breasts feel very uncomfortable when the milk first comes in. Your breasts may be engorged and feel hard and swollen. From this time on, your breasts will start producing the more mature milk for your baby. When your baby starts a feed, the breasts produce foremilk which is watery and thirst-quenching. This is followed by the hindmilk which is rich in calories and more satisfying.

Supply and Demand:

Your breasts produce milk on the supply and demand principle which really means that your breasts will produce milk when your baby needs it. This delicate balance can be upset easily if you use formula along with your milk. For your breasts to produce enough milk for your baby, you must follow a purely breastmilk routine.