How do you know if a pregnant woman has milk or not? What does it have to do with whether a pregnant woman has milk or not?

We all know that when a woman is pregnant, her body will undergo various changes, such as the belly will gradually grow bigger, the breasts will gradually grow bigger, etc. These are very common phenomena during pregnancy. Many mothers will pay attention to the issue of breast milk and want to know whether they have breast milk. So how can you know in advance whether a pregnant woman has breast milk? Let's take a closer look!

How can I know in advance whether a pregnant woman has milk?

1. Your breasts will swell and grow larger during pregnancy

Compared with before pregnancy, the breasts of pregnant mothers develop again after pregnancy, and the degree of development can reach 2-3 times that before pregnancy. Normally, around 4-6 weeks of pregnancy, pregnant mothers will experience some early pregnancy symptoms, including changes in the breasts. Pregnant mothers' breasts begin to feel swollen and tingling, the areola begins to grow larger, and the color of the nipples becomes darker. Some mothers are even more sensitive, and they feel particularly painful every time the nipples are touched, so they have to be very careful every time they put on clothes. After entering the second trimester, the breasts may not be so painful, but pregnant mothers will find that their breasts have grown and are much larger than before. Some mothers also feel swollen and painful in their breasts throughout the pregnancy, until the fetus is born. In fact, this is very normal, because after pregnancy, the breasts will start to work to prepare for future breast milk.

2. Milk will leak from the nipples during pregnancy

In the middle and late stages of pregnancy, some mothers can see milk on their nipples when they are about five months pregnant. You may only see some yellow and thick liquid sticking to the nipples, and the amount is relatively small. In the late stages of pregnancy, the amount is slightly more. Some pregnant mothers will find that milk is flowing out of their nipples. In fact, this is also a very normal phenomenon. Because about a week after the sperm and egg are conceived, the concentration of progesterone and estrogen in the pregnant mother's body will increase. This peak period lasts until about four months of pregnancy. Because the levels of sex hormones and estrogen are very high, the secretion of prolactin is inhibited, so there is no milk secretion in the early pregnancy. In the middle and late stages of pregnancy, the estrogen and progesterone in the pregnant mother's body are relatively stable, and the secretion of prolactin will gradually increase, so there will be milk secretion, but due to the inhibition of progesterone and estrogen, the amount of milk is also very small. But this phenomenon also shows that during pregnancy, the body is actually actively preparing for postpartum lactation, so there will generally be milk after delivery. After the baby is born, the progesterone and estrogen in the mother's body will drop rapidly, and prolactin will take the opportunity to rise rapidly. In this case, as long as the baby drinks breast milk, the milk will come out soon.

What factors are related to the amount of milk?

In fact, it is difficult to tell how much breast milk a mother will have after giving birth during pregnancy. Breast milk generally appears within 3 days after the baby is born. Some mothers may have a small amount of lactation during pregnancy, but this does not mean that there is more breast milk after giving birth. The factors that really affect the amount of breast milk are:

diet

Reasonable diet and correct combination can make new mothers have enough milk. Generally speaking, mothers who have regular diet and love to drink soup after childbirth will have more milk. A friend of mine had a lot of milk during the confinement period, but after the confinement period, she was eager to lose weight and basically stopped drinking soup. She only ate light boiled vegetables every day, and gradually her milk disappeared.

Mindset

I have heard that some new mothers have less and less milk because of sadness, fear, etc., and eventually have to wean their babies. A good mood affects the amount of breast milk a mother produces, and mothers with a peaceful mentality often have a good milk supply.

Baby's sucking

The baby's sucking will stimulate the continuous production of breast milk. Some mothers refuse to breastfeed their babies for fear that breastfeeding will affect their figure, which will also affect the secretion of breast milk and gradually reduce milk production.

Breast care during pregnancy

1. Change to suitable underwear in time

During the entire pregnancy, breasts change a lot. From the beginning of pregnancy to delivery, breasts will increase by about 2-3 times. In the early stages of pregnancy, breasts often feel tingling, so pregnant mothers must change to suitable underwear in time. It is best to choose underwear that is neither too loose nor too tight. Too tight will affect development, and too loose will not hold it. When choosing underwear, comfort is the main consideration. You can buy some special underwear in maternity and baby stores. If it feels tight, change it immediately.

2. Clean the nipples

After entering the middle and late stages of pregnancy, pregnant mothers may occasionally find milk crust on their nipples. This is a normal phenomenon, so don't be too nervous. If you see it, just wash it with clean water, or wash it gently when taking a shower.

3. Give your breasts a proper massage

If your breasts are very painful, you can use a hot towel to relieve the pain. You can also massage your breasts. Be careful not to use too much force to avoid hurting your breasts and the milk ducts. Ten minutes each time is enough. If you feel a strong fetal movement or stomach pain during the massage, stop immediately.