One of the biggest concerns of women who have just become mothers has to do with the rise in milk after delivery. When and how it will occur, if it hurts or not and how to spend the best possible moment of breastfeeding.
It is called so much rise as milk drop, both forms are valid, although by the way they are badly called, because milk does not rise or fall from anywhere, but when sucking the baby the nipple stimulates the hormones prolactin and oxytocin, responsible for the production of breast milk.
Is a key moment of breastfeeding in which the lack of information can confuse the mother, so stay tuned that we tell you everything.
When does the rise in milk occur?
The rise of milk occurs between 30 and 72 hours after delivery. In primiparous mothers (they have been mothers for the first time) it usually occurs later, while in multiparous mothers (who have previously been mothers), before.
One of the false myths of breastfeeding is that with a C-section the rise in milk takes longer. Regardless of the type of delivery, either vaginal or by caesarean section, it is a physiological process that starts when the placenta leaves.
After the birth of the baby and the exit of the placenta, the levels of progesterone decrease and the levels of prolactin, a hormone responsible for the production of breast milk, increase. The mother already produces colostrum in her breasts and little by little the milk will rise.
Does the rise in milk hurt?
The increase in the volume of milk generated by the mother causes a vascularization of the breasts. This first milk production is characterized by an increase in breast size, a feeling of swelling, an increase in temperature and sensitivity in the areolas.
Pain is something very subjective. There are women who do not feel pain, or feel a slight pressure on the breasts, while others feel the breasts congested with enough pain. It is even common for body temperature to rise a few tenths or have chills.
What partly determines whether the rise in milk will be painful or not. how breastfeeding has been established from the moment the baby is born. If you put it to your chest as soon as you are born, suck on demand, what you can and what you want, several times a day, the ascent process will be less uncomfortable and painful.
In well established lactations from the beginning, the change from non-milk to milk is not usually so drastic.
To soothe the pain caused by the rise in milk, some pain reliever can be used, but in general the use of medications is unnecessary. Congestion will last at most two days and should not be confused with a mastitis, which consists of a blockage of a duct or a possible infection in the chest, which may require medication.
Can you not notice the rise of milk?
As I said before, if the baby is hooked to the chest from the moment of birth, on demand and at all times, the process has been very gradual and the rise in milk may not be noticeable.
That you don't notice it doesn't mean you don't have enough milk to feed your baby. With very rare exceptions, all women are able to breastfeed.
Is it possible that there was no rise in milk after delivery?
It is very rare that after the birth the physiological mechanisms that trigger the production of breast milk are not generated or failed. Even so, there are 1% of women who do not secrete milk in the postpartum. This disorder is known as agalactia, total absence of milk secretion.
But be careful Do not confuse an absence of secretion with the child crying. The association is usually made: the baby cries - stays hungry - I have no milk. It's not like that.
Good practices are very important from the beginning, such as:
Put the baby to the chest right after birth, in the delivery room itself, and not separate from it. In that first moment the baby is very receptive, it is the moment of affective imprint between the mother and the baby, fundamental for the establishment of breastfeeding.
That the rise in milk occurs between the second and fourth day after delivery, does not mean that during the first days there is not enough milk to feed your baby. Prior to milk, the mother's breast secretes colostrum, the baby's first food that provides everything she needs nutritionally.
Let the baby suck whenever you want, the more times the better. Let him do it as long as necessary, no schedules and make sure it grab your chest well (the baby should cover the areola with his mouth).
Do not use a pacifier or bottles that can confuse the baby with teats during the first days.
With these guidelines, the rise in milk after delivery It should be a normal and perfectly bearable physiological process. Think of the arrival of the substance that will feed your baby for as long as you decide. There is nothing better for him than breast milk.
In the next post we will talk about the problems that may arise before the rise of milk and how to solve them so that you have a happy breastfeeding start.
