When do you start producing milk?

Question

I've heard of women in the late second/early third trimester getting "leakages" of milk from their boobs. I'm 23 weeks and haven't had anything like that yet. Should I have?

I'm really worried as my mum was unable to breastfeed with either of her two children as she had no milk, and I'm worried I'm going to be the same.

momma2mingbu - I guess you might be right - my mum had her two children in 1971 (me) and 1978(my brother) in an NHS hospital and I don't know how much support they gave to new mothers and breastfeeding back then. They may just have told her bottle feed and left it at that. I really want to breastfeed because I've heard its good for baby and helps you to bond and its also surely cheaper and easier than buying and mixing formula (especially at 3am when you're really tired!). I'd be so disapointed if I couldn't!! I just haven't had any leakage yet at all. . .

Answer 1

Milk is produced in small sac-like glands in the breast. These sacs develop after specific hormones (such as estrogen, progesterone, pituitary prolactin, and placental lactogen) stimulate them, beginning during the second trimester of pregnancy.

The human breast does not store a large volume of milk, as cows do. Suckling stimulates the release of a hormone (prolactin) which stimulates milk production and the release of another hormone (oxytocin). Oxytocin, in turn, stimulates contraction (or the "let-down reflex") of the milk glands. The milk is squeezed out of the milk gland, into the milk ducts, and into the nipple.
Some mothers feel a tingling sensation as the milk begins to eject from the breast due to the let-down reflex. The best way to monitor whether this milk-ejection reflex has begun is by watching the sucking and breathing patterns of your baby.

At the start of a feeding, you will notice a pattern: suck, suck, suck, swallow, suck, suck, suck, swallow. This pattern may last up to 30 seconds, but could be longer. As the milk ejection reflex takes over, the pattern may be described as gulping: one swallow, one deep breath, one swallow, one deep breath. This pattern may last for 2 - 4 minutes.

Your baby may want to nurse longer (maybe 15 or 20 minutes) on this breast in order to get more fat from the hindmilk or because your baby needs to fill a need for sucking. Rather than watching the clock to let him nurse 10 minutes on each side, you may want to allow your baby to pull away from the first breast naturally before switching to the other breast.



.

Answer 2

Some women leak during pregnancy and some don't. It doesn't mean anything about your milk supply. Some women never leak but can feed triplets. When your milk starts showing up towards the end of your pregnancy, it's just the colostrum which is thick and sticky and comes in small quantities. Your milk should "come in" 3-5 days after the birth and you'll feel the difference in your breasts. If your milk has not come in by day 5, you really should see a LLL Leader or an IBCLC to double check your latch.

I'm willing to guess that your mom may not have had a lot of support for nursing when she had her babies. If she had proper support she might have had a chance at breastfeeding. Truely having NO milk is pretty rare unless she had some kind of previous surgery on her breasts where all the milk ducts were cut. Breastfeeding is all about supply and demand. The baby needs to be nursing frequently to bring in your milk and establish your supply.

You are NOT cursed to relive what happened to your mom. ALL pregnancies, ALL births, ALL babies and ALL breastfeeding experiences are different, even for the same woman!

I'd suggest you start to build yourself a support system since your mom wasn't able to nurse. Try going to your local La Leche League group to meet other nursing moms. Get to know the Leader so you'll be comfortable calling her after the baby arrives if you have questions or need help.

When you are in the hospital, be sure to see the Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) and have her check out your latch and positioning.

Check out the links below for good breastfeeding info.

Answer 3

Some women leak early and others never do, it has no bearing on whether or not you can nurse.
What does is worry. The more you fret over this the more likely to not produce milk you will be.

Breastfeeding like all things related to humans depends on our moods and frame of mind. If you want to nurse then by all means do it!

If after the baby comes you feel there isnt enough milk allow the child to suckle even when it's not feeding time. Use *on demand* feeds and only give water if there is a need too.

All my sisters in law nursed their children, some for two years! Even the one who has a deformed breast managed this.
Relax hon, this is a normal thing for women to do.

Answer 4

The early seventies was a time when bottles were king and breatfeeding unusual so I think it unlikely she would have been given much support.
I don't know where you read this information but I feel you should be talking to your midwife about this.
I have had three children and never had any leakages before birth. I fed the 1st for 6 months, the 2nd and 3rd for 9 months so don't worry too much.
Enjoy your blossoming figure and look forward with a positive attitude, the sickness for most should have stopped by now so this is the best time, bask in it!!!

Answer 5

With my first child it didn´t start until 2-3 days after he was born, and pretty much the same with second and third, of course they still got "food" from me, but it didn´t start flowing until then, think most women are the same when it comes to this, but..don´t know, all the women in my family has always had it really easy with breast-feeding and everything that involves around it, so I´m no expert...but just don´t expect anything too soon, is the advice I would give you..and don´t worry, just relax and see what happens.

Answer 6

Yes it is common that some women leak even from the start of pregnancy, but don't panic just because you aren't producing. Some women don't produce any until their baby is born. Take all the support on offer for breastfeeding - some hospitals offer antenatal workshops for expectant mums. It can take a little bit of time to get it properly established, but if you're determined to do it, it will benefit both you and your baby in so many ways.

Answer 7

i started to leak "pre-milk" when i was about 2-3 months pregnant. i knew it was going to happen because my breast felt fuller and sore. i had little wet marks on my shirts for awhile. but yes i know you can leak by the 1st/2nd trimester. after giving birth i couldnt breastfeed due to inverted nipples with 1st child but after my 3rd i couldnt produce milk either, but dont worry you can still feed without the hassle at 3 am. just make enough bottles for that night a head of time before going to bed or use those 1 quart bottle and puor into bottles at night like regular jug milk, milk can sit in the frindge for 24-36 hours with proper preparations. i had to do the same but yes cleaning and sterilizing is what i hated. but all in all i knew i got into this and i can fix it especially for my babies they are helpless.

Answer 8

It's actually extremely rare for a woman to have "no" milk. Talk to your ob/gyn about your mother's history and your concerns about breastfeeding.

My milk didn't come in until the sixth day after I gave birth. (I didn't leak when I was pregnant.) I did breastfeed my colostrum as well as supplementary formula (as prescribed by son's pediatrician) until my milk came in. (The milk can take up until the tenth day after birth to come in.)

I recommend that you start attending your local La Leche League support group, so you can find women like you who want to breastfeed. There is so much misinformation on breastfeeding, a group like this can be really helpful.

Answer 9

It takes lots or hormone production alongside with for the time of being pregnant yet its unquestionably nipple stimulation, or a new child sucking on them 6 situations an afternoon that gets it going. Puberty can do it each and every from time to time too. Its on record that a 9 year old gave beginning and breast fed and that i've got heard of an 88 year old breastfeeding her husband.

Answer 10

It isn't milk to start with - your milk comes in about 3 or 4 days after you give birth.

Before that it is watery fluid which has loads of good stuff for the baby.

Everyone is different so don't stress. If you are worried go to your midwife and ask.