Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding – the early weeks
How your milk changes
The first milk is called colostrum. This special milk is yellow in colour, thick and sticky. It may be low in volume but it is high in concentrated nutrition for your newborn.
Colostrum has a laxative effect on baby, helping him or her pass the early stools and helping to prevent jaundice.
The more you feed your baby, the more milk you will make (supply = demand).
Days after birth | Type of milk | How it looks |
Birth to day 2 or 3 | Colostrum | Thick, yellow in colour, small amount |
Days 3 to 5 | Transitional milk | Mixture of colostrum and mature milk more plentiful |
Days 5 to 7 | Mature milk begins | Thinner, whitish, plentiful |
When does milk ‘come in’?
You may find that your breasts become larger and feel heavy, warmer and uncomfortable when your milk ‘comes in’; usually about two to four days after your baby is born.
Your milk will then increase in volume and will generally begin to appear thinner and whiter in colour.
How often will baby feed?
Whenever baby is hungry!
Healthy, full-term newborns should breastfeed eight to 12 times in each 24 hour period. Many mothers are surprised at how quickly and easily human milk is digested, often within 90 minutes of the last feed.
Many babies do what is called 'cluster feeding’, spacing feeds closer together at certain times of the day (usually during the evening). This is normal. As babies grow and their stomachs become larger, they begin to go longer between feeds and develop more regular feeding patterns.
How long does a feed take?
Your baby will determine this.
A typical feed might last about 20–30 minutes. In the beginning, it could take up to an hour.
It is important that you allow the baby to feed for as long as the baby wants on one side.
Do not time the feed or swap sides unless the baby seems to have finished one side. This will ensure that your baby feeds well and helps with your breast milk supply.
If the baby takes only one breast, remember to offer the other breast at the next feed.
When your baby has had enough, they will stop sucking and come off the breast or simply fall asleep. If you notice that baby's jaw isn't moving anymore, you can detach baby. Your breasts keep making milk.
Remember, supply = demand.
How to tell if your baby is getting enough milk
A common concern to breastfeeding mothers is how to tell whether their baby is getting enough milk.
Your baby will tell you by:
- being content between most feeds
- having six to eight wet nappies a day, by seven days of age
- their poo changing in colour, from black meconium stool to soft yellow by seven days of age
- starting to put on weight. Many babies may lose up to 7% of their birth weight during their first days of life. Babies usually regain the weight by two weeks of age.
Seek advice from a healthcare professional if you have concerns.
Age | Feeds per day | Wet nappies | Dirty nappies |
Day 1 | 3–8 | 1 | 1 Black, tarry and sticky |
Day 2 | 5–10 | 2–3, may contain urates. What are urates? Crystals present in strong urine that stain a nappy reddish-orange. | 1–2 Greenish–black, softening |
Day 3 | 5–10 | 3–4 paler, but may be concentrated and contain urates. | 3–4 Greenish–yellow, soft |
Day 4 | 5–-10 | 4–6 pale, no urates. | 4 large or 10 small Yellow and/or seedy, soft/liquid |
Day 5 | 8–12 | More than 6 pale nappies. | 4 large or 10 small Yellow and/or seedy, soft/liquid |
In this guide:
- Breastfeeding 101
- In pregnancy – planning for breastfeeding
- Breastfeeding – the first few days
- Signs of hunger
- Breastfeeding – the early weeks
- Positioning and attachment
- Signs of an effective attachment
- Breastfeeding positions
- Common breastfeeding questions and concerns
- Common breastfeeding issues
- Breastfeeding in the first year
- Important points about breastfeeding