When Does Breast Milk Come In?
When does breast milk come in? I have heard about mothers breast-feeding right after giving birth, so does this mean your breast milk comes in while you are in labor?
While it is true that you can breastfeed your newborn right after he or she is born, your milk will not come in for another three or four days.
The milk that you feed your baby soon after birth, is known as colostrum and will help to nourish your baby in the first few days after being born, until your milk supply comes in. Colostrum has a very high concentration of antibodies and nutrients and is also high in carbohydrates and protein. However, it is low in fat as newborns tend to have a lot of difficulty digesting fat.
This first milk provides a high concentration of nutrients in a very small does, because while your baby needs all of these essential nutrients, his or her digestive system is very small. It also will help your baby to pass his or her first stool, known as meconium.
In most cases it is almost unmistakable to tell when your milk has actually come in as your breasts will be fully engorged, feel quite hard to the touch and they quite possibly could feel very painful.
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