How long does it take for the mother to produce milk after a normal birth?

Everyone knows that breast milk is the best food for babies. After giving birth, mothers hope to breastfeed their babies as soon as possible. However, many mothers do not breastfeed their babies soon after giving birth. This makes mothers feel very upset. They don’t know how long it will take for milk to come after giving birth, and how to make more milk for the baby.

How long after giving birth does milk come out?

In fact, the breasts begin to produce milk as early as during pregnancy (some mothers experience milk leakage in the late pregnancy for this reason), so that they can supply milk as soon as the baby is born. It’s just that the stomach capacity of a newborn is very small. In the first one or two days, even if the baby is sucking milk, you may not be able to notice it. Generally, it will take 2-5 days after delivery for you to clearly feel your milk production. Colostrum secreted in the first few days after delivery can stimulate the baby's immune system to produce antibodies, protect the intestines, and reduce the chance of jaundice. Of course, the sooner you give your baby this precious "liquid gold", the better.

How to increase breast milk

1. Start breastfeeding early

In recent years, many baby-friendly hospitals have been established in our country, whose fundamental purpose is to increase the breastfeeding rate. It is also common in hospitals to room mothers and babies in the same room to facilitate early breastfeeding and frequent sucking. Research data shows that the earlier the baby's sucking stimulation, the more it can promote milk secretion. Even if breast milk has not yet been secreted, milk can be secreted after a few feedings and repeated stimulation. Generally, the first feeding is required to start within half an hour after delivery.

2. Breastfeed on demand

The interval between breastfeeding should be determined according to the baby's needs. It does not have to be based on the clock, nor does it have to mechanically adhere to a certain breastfeeding time. The production of milk needs to be stimulated by frequent sucking. At the beginning, the milk is not rich, and breast milk is easy to digest, so the baby will be hungry soon. The baby will need to be breastfed approximately every 2 to 3 hours and will need to be breastfed 8 to 10 times or more in 24 hours. As milk production gradually increases, the interval may become 3 to 4 hours. Although it is troublesome, you should gradually adjust the regular time according to the baby's needs.

3. Don’t lose faith

If the milk secretion is low in the first few days after delivery, do not stop letting the baby suck, and do not use rubber nipples or bottles for the baby, because rubber nipples can make the baby have a nipple illusion and be unwilling to suck hard for breast milk, resulting in less and less breast milk. The most important thing is that mothers should not lose confidence. As long as they insist on letting the baby suck, the secretion of milk will increase. The key is persistence.

4. Keep a happy spirit and a stable mood

Some mothers originally have sufficient milk supply, but if they get angry, sad or crying for some reason, their milk supply will decrease significantly or even stop. Mental state and emotions can affect the secretion of certain hormones in the body, thereby affecting lactation. Therefore, after delivery, you should maintain a regular life, ensure adequate sleep, and be in a good mood and open-minded. These are important conditions for smooth milk secretion.

5. Rich in nutrition and reasonable in taste

This is the basis for milk secretion. Postpartum mothers should eat more foods rich in protein, fat and sugar, and eat appropriate amounts of fresh fruits and vegetables to ensure their vitamin needs. Liquid food is very necessary, such as milk, juice, and various soups. The thicker the soup is, the better it is. Pig's trotter soup, pork rib soup, etc. are high in fat, so it is best to remove the oil before eating, and drink vegetable soup regularly.