Breast milk is one of the most efficient ways to supply nutrients to your baby. If you’re a first-time mom, you may have many questions about what to expect with breast milk production.
One of the most common questions is, “When does breast milk come in?“.
What a lot of people don’t know is that breast milk production starts during pregnancy.
Today, we will discuss some of the most common signs milk is coming in during pregnancy. Keep reading to find out what they are.
Signs Milk is Coming in During Pregnancy
During pregnancy, women notice a lot of changes in their breasts. This is the body preparing itself to start making breast milk.
Look at some signs your body gives you when milk comes in.
1. Size Of Breasts
Many women notice that their breasts appear larger when breast milk comes in. This is because milk production can cause swelling. This is mainly noticeable in women with smaller breasts, as their breasts may increase by 2 to 4 sizes.
Women with larger cups often won’t notice a significant change.
However, it’s important to remember that every woman is different.
Some women notice a significant size increase while others barely change in size. The size of your breasts won’t determine how healthy your milk supply is.
2. How Your Breasts Feel
Sore breasts are a sign that milk is coming in. It’s normal for women to experience tenderness or soreness during this time.
However, paying attention to how sore your breasts feel is important.
Tenderness and slight soreness are normal. But, if the breast becomes hard and very painful, it can be a sign of breast engorgement. This can happen if your breasts are too full.
It’s rare to experience breast engorgement during pregnancy, but it is something women may deal with after childbirth.
Another thing many women notice is that their breasts begin to feel warmer. They can feel the temperature change when they touch the breast.
3. Weight of Breasts
One of the most common signs of breast milk coming in is how heavy your breasts are.
As your body produces milk, your breasts will start to get full. You may even notice that they feel more firm.
4. Colostrum (Leakage From Breasts)
Breast milk leakage can occur during pregnancy. This is known as colostrum. It’s the first feed that comes out of your breasts.
Although it may seem strange that you produce breast milk before giving birth, ensuring the milk supply is healthy for when your baby is born is important.
Leaking colostrum may appear sticky and yellowish. This may not look appetizing, but it contains plenty of nutrients.
The yellow shade and thick consistency will only last a few days of the colostrum period. It will eventually develop into thinner and whiter mature milk.
You may wonder if you need to wear a special bra when you start leaking colostrum. You won’t notice an excessive amount coming out.
Typically, a pregnant woman will only leak a few drops. It’s not enough to create a mark or stain on the bra (or shirt).
How Do You Know If You’re Producing Milk While Pregnant?
When your body starts producing milk during pregnancy, many hormones will be in your body.
These hormones will trigger a process called lactogenesis. There are three stages of lactogenesis:
- Stage 1- occurs mid-pregnancy
- Stage 2- occurs within the first few days postpartum
- Stage 3- the remainder of your time breastfeeding
You will start to notice signs of breast milk production during stage 1. All of the signs we mentioned above may occur.
Your breasts will be going through a lot of changes during this time. If you pay attention to them, some other signs they may give you that milk is coming in are:
- Nipples appear darker and larger
- Oil leaks from your Montgomery glands (small bumps on nipples); lubricate your nipples and prepare them for breastfeeding.
- Veins on breasts are more noticeable
- A tingling sensation in your breasts
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When Does Milk Come in During Pregnancy?
Many women were surprised to learn that breast milk production starts mid-pregnancy. There are so many hormonal changes that women experience during pregnancy that they don’t always notice the physical signs of breast milk production.
It’s also common to think breast size changes are normal throughout pregnancy.
So, when exactly does breast milk come in?
Breast milk typically starts around 16 to 22 weeks into the pregnancy.
However, every woman is different. Some women have experienced breast milk coming in as easily as 12 weeks into the pregnancy.
When Will I Notice Milk Production Occur?
Since breast milk coming in feels similar to other pregnancy changes, many women don’t notice breast milk production until the 2nd stage of lactogenesis. This usually takes place 2 to 5 days after birth.
One of the reasons it’s more noticeable a few days after birth is because all of the symptoms we mentioned above increase.
After you give birth, your estrogen levels will decrease. When this happens, a hormone called prolactin takes over. Prolactin is responsible for producing breast milk.
As your body produces more prolactin, your breasts will feel the changes. It’s normal for them to be fuller than they were during pregnancy. It’s also normal to feel more soreness during this stage.
Reasons Milk May Be Delayed
You likely won’t be able to tell during pregnancy if your milk is delayed. This is something women don’t notice until after giving birth.
Milk is delayed if it’s been a week or longer since you gave birth and you still aren’t producing breast milk.
You must speak with a lactation consultant if you’re not producing breast milk. There are several reasons why this could occur.
- Certain medications
- Taking birth control
- Using certain herbs
- Hormonal problems
- Stress
- Insufficient glandular tissue
- Previous breast surgery
- High blood pressure
- Obesity
- Alcohol consumption
- Baby’s latch
What To Do If Breast Milk Is Delayed
Your baby relies on you for a steady nutrient supply. If your breast milk is delayed, you must find a solution asap.
You will first need to speak to a lactation consultant to pinpoint why you’re not producing milk.
If your breast milk is delayed due to a medical condition or other reason out of control, you will need to speak to a healthcare provider about your next move. However, if your breast milk is delayed because of something you’re doing, you must start making lifestyle changes.
One of the main reasons breast milk is delayed is due to birth control.
Many women start taking birth control immediately after giving birth to avoid a second pregnancy. However, it’s recommended that you wait at least six weeks after birth to start.
Do Herbs Delay Breast Milk?
Herbs have a lot of natural health benefits. That’s why many people include fresh herbs in their diet.
New moms may be consuming herbs with good intentions. However, certain herbs are known to slow down or completely stop breast milk supply.
You don’t have to cut every herb from your diet while breastfeeding. But you should avoid parsley, peppermint, sage, and jasmine for a healthy milk supply.
The following herbs are okay in moderation but can affect milk supply if consumed in large quantities.
- Rosemary
- Spearmint
- Thyme
- Cilantro
- Lemon balm
Do I Need To Change My Diet?
Your diet plays a significant role in how healthy your milk supply is.
It’s important to keep yourself hydrated because breastmilk is mostly water. You should also focus on eating a well-balanced diet to ensure you get enough nutrients to supply mature breast milk.
You likely didn’t know that there are certain foods you should avoid, or at least eat, limited amounts of, for breastfeeding success.
The following foods can slow down your breast milk supply.
- Beverages with a high level of caffeine (soda, coffee, espresso, matcha, black tea, green tea, energy drinks, etc.)
- Foods high in citric acid (tomatoes, grapefruit, citrus juices, etc.)
- Carbonated beverages
- Chocolate
- Cruciferous vegetables (cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, etc.)
Ways To Support A Healthy Milk Supply
Once your baby arrives, there are several things you can do to support a healthy supply of mature breast milk.
As mentioned, your diet is vital. Speak to your doctor about any vitamins or supplements you should take at this time to ensure you’re getting all the necessary nutrients.
There are many snacks and beverages that support lactation, such as lactation tea, smoothies, and cookies. These snacks feature ingredients that help naturally boost your milk supply.
However, following your baby’s feeding patterns is the most important thing for a healthy supply. You’ll produce breast milk at a healthy rate if you feed more frequently.
Feeding as your baby needs also ensures you’ll continue producing enough milk for their nutritional requirements.
Final Words
Did you know that milk production begins while you’re pregnant?
There are several signs that your body will give you, and you will notice them all occur in your breasts.
As milk production begins, your breasts feel full, heavy, and tender. You may even experience slight breast milk leakage before giving birth.
Do you have any more questions about how to tell if your body is producing breast milk? Let us know in the comments below.