Life

aengza001/Fotolia

Waiting On Your Milk To Come In? You're Not Alone

by Olivia Youngs

The days after you give birth are a whirlwind of emotion, exhaustion, excitement, and about 100 other things. The moment you've imagined for so long is finally here and you're probably ready to start bonding and connecting with your baby as soon as possible. If you're planning to breastfeed, you know that nursing your baby is one of the easiest and healthiest ways to bond with your newborn, but how are you supposed to do that if your milk hasn't come in yet? Exactly when is your milk supply supposed to come in so you can get this breastfeeding-show on the road?

First of all, just because your milk hasn't come in yet doesn't mean that you can't nurse your baby immediately after giving birth. According to La Leche League International, you've been making colostrum for weeks now, and that's all your baby needs until you're thicker, nutrient-rich breastmilk supply comes in. So you can nurse your baby the very first time you hold them.

However, you may have to wait a few days until your milk fully comes in. According to Kids Spot, a new mom's milk supply generally comes in within four days of giving birth. For some mother's (especially ones who have breastfed before), it will come in within only one or two days, but others have to wait a bit longer.

oceandigital/Fotolia

When your milk supply does come in, your breasts will likely feel tender and full — it may be a bit uncomfortable. Luckily, things will balance out quickly as you nurse your newborn every two to three hours, and your body learns to regulate the amount of milk it makes.

In the meantime though, don't worry that your baby isn't getting enough nutrients. LLLI stated that colostrum is the perfect balance of carbohydrates, protein, and antibodies to keep your baby full, protected, and healthy until your milk comes in fully.