Breast milk is amazing for many reasons, one of which is that it changes over time to provide your little one with exactly what they need as they grow. Trust us when we say, it’s super cool.
How will your breast milk change?
The nutrition of your milk will change as your baby grows. Why exactly? Incredibly, it changes to keep up with Baby‘s needs as they grow. It also responds to offer immune benefits based on what’s around you and your family.
What should you expect immediately after birth?
The first few days after they are born, your milk will look unique.
This first breastmilk is called colostrum, and it’s rich in protein and antibodies to help nourish and protect your baby. It’s often called “liquid gold” because of its golden color and just how good it is for infants. Colostrum will help your baby’s new digestive system function properly, pass along immunity, and help them gain weight. You’ll only produce a little since your new baby’s tummy is so small at this point — quality, not quantity, is important here.
When can you expect to be producing milk?
After giving birth, this colostrum will gradually transition to what we often picture as breast milk. And since you’ll be producing a lot more milk than you were producing colostrum, it’s normal for your breasts to feel very full, swollen and overall different! .
At colostrum, you’ll produce transitional milk because your body is transitioning over to producing what’s called mature milk. The transitional milk will seem very creamy in texture and color. It will be high in fat, calories, and lactose, and it will also still have plenty of protective agents like antibodies. The amounts will be higher than the first few days of colostrum, but it takes about four weeks for your baby’s stomach to hold its maximum amount, and the supply gradually increases over that time.
By the time your little one is one to two weeks old, you will produce mature milk. Mature milk is still full of the good stuff your baby needs — including vitamins and minerals, protein, sugar, hormones, enzymes, and even protective antibodies if you or your baby gets sick — and this will continue to be the case as your little one gets older.
After a few weeks, you’ll feel less engorged as your body adjusts to your little ones needs. And as you continue to breastfeed your baby over the coming months or more, the composition of this milk will continue to change, providing the nutrients that Baby needs at that particular time.
The amount of breastmilk your baby drinks in 24 hours doesn’t typically increase after about 4-6 weeks of age. Breastmilk itself changes to meet their growing needs. Mind-blowing, we know! This can cause some confusion if you’re used to formula feeding or combination feeding. The formula amounts needed in 24 hours definitely increase as babies grow older because they need more of the nutrients it provides. Because formula itself can’t change, bottle sizes and 24-hour feeding amounts have to get bigger over time.
What if you want to learn more about how all of this works?
If you’re preparing to breastfeed, it’s always helpful to take a breastfeeding class to learn all the ins and outs, how to work through challenges, how to best take care of yourself and your baby, and how to get more comfortable with what to expect. If you’re having trouble of any sort, wondering what’s normal, or just have questions about how to best take care of yourself and your baby, you can reach out to your child’s healthcare provider or a lactation consultant. Just like your milk changes as your baby grows, it’s not uncommon for your breastfeeding experience to change over time too, and you deserve all the support you need on your breastfeeding journey.
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Sources
- Kelly Bonyata. “Frequently Asked Questions about Milk Production.” KellyMom. KellyMom.com, January 1 2018. Retrieved July 22. https://kellymom.com/bf/got-milk/basics/milkproduction-faq/.
- “Transitional Milk and Mature Milk.” healthychildren.org. American Academy of Pediatrics, November 2 2009. Retrieved July 22. https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/baby/breastfeeding/Pages/Transitional-Milk-and-Mature-Milk.aspx.
- “How will my milk change when I am breastfeeding through pregnancy?” KellyMom. KellyMom.com, January 2 2018. Retrieved July 22. https://kellymom.com/tandem-faq/16milkchanges/.
