Introduction
The topic of the lactation is one of the most important for new mothers. When does it arrive? How to stimulate it if it does not come? What to do during? The questions are numerous! In this article, I will try to answer them all. As this is a long piece of content, I have also prepared an index. With it, you can, if you wish, go into more detail on the individual topics.
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What is breastfeeding
La lactation is the moment when colostrum, the precious yellow liquid that characterises the baby's nutrition in the first days of life, becomes transitional milk and then mature milk. The transition just described is referred to as breastfeeding.
How many days does it take for the transition from colostrum to breastfeeding
As mentioned by the Dr Maria Chiara Alvisi, midwife, in this video, the answer to the question that gives the paragraph its title depends on both the mother and the baby. The new mother produces milk according to how much her baby requires. Milk may come in the third day, but also in the fourth and fifth.
This variability in the timing of the lactation often worries new mothers. There is nothing to be afraid of! On the days when the baby does not have milk, the baby certainly does not suffer from hunger. There is in fact the colostrum, about which we spoke in this video on my YouTube channel, which provides the puppy with all the nutrition it needs and also gives its immune system a major boost.
Caution: it remains crucial to always stimulate the breast, making sure that, in its own time, the baby latches on as much as possible. In this way, it is possible to anticipate the arrival of the milk supply.
In this regard, I point out the well-known importance of the skin to skin. Promoting physical contact between mother and baby at birth is essential. It is so after a spontaneous birth and even more so following a caesarean section. During skin-to-skin contact, in fact, the baby is able to start 'studying' - and in some cases already sucking - the mother's breast.
The more you stimulate your breasts and the sooner you start to do so, the sooner the milk flow in the new mother will occur.
What are the symptoms of breastfeeding and how to recognise it
La lactation can occur in basically two different ways. The first is that it manifests itself in the form of a suddenly sagging, tense, sore breast (in most cases, these symptoms begin to manifest themselves during the night). There are also other signs to take into account. These are a symptomatological picture which, at first glance, may suggest an infection. None of that! Instead, it is a gland that, from one day to the next, is hyperfunctioning.
In the face of manifestations such as shivering, sweating, very high body temperature - even above 39°C - one should not panic! Nothing in particular is happening. It is the body 'screaming' at a sudden job, i.e. milk production, which it is doing for the first time or which it is returning to after a long time.
The second way is silent. For many women, the transition from colostrum to mature milk is subtle, nuanced, a picture characterised by a breast that does not fill up as much because it is continually drained.
What happens when breastfeeding does not come or is late
At some junctures, the transition from colostrum to milk happens after so many days. There are several interferences that can be behind this situation. The list includes occurrences such as separation of the baby from its mother immediately after birthas well as situations in which the baby is not allowed to latch on to the breast according to his or her wishes.
Also not to be forgotten is the case of the little one needing a little stimulation. These are situations in which the infant would go on sleeping even for many hours in a row. The breast, however, should not lie idle for long if one wants to start breastfeeding. It is therefore the mother's task to pay different attention.
Another eventuality to consider is that of the puppy with ineffective sucking. It is also worth mentioning the little one who has been offered anything else, from glucose solutions to formula milk. These are other liquids - nutritive or non-nutritive - that satiate him. If one then considers that in the first days of life the infant's stomach is very small, it is easy to understand why the baby will latch on to the breast less. By adjusting these interferences, breastfeeding can be initiated earlier.
How to stimulate breastfeeding
Getting the ripe milk in good quantities and early is an important goal for many new mothers. There is nothing strange about this: it is something that helps a lot, for example, in recovering from the physiological decline after birth.
To ensure that the lactation is best stimulated, it is enough to keep the baby with you, in the same environment or, better still, on you. Yes, we are talking about the famous skin-to-skin contact which, in addition to pleasing the baby so much, helps the mother to encourage that neuroendocrine cascade of hormones that bind the baby and also play a decisive role in milk production.
La mechanical stimulation is fundamental, but it is not enough. It also requires the contactIt must not be forgotten that we are mammals and that its continuity is decisive in providing milk in quantity. The mother must offer the breast frequently to her baby and absolutely not be afraid of attaching it too much: the more it attaches, the better!
A small, purely osteopathic parenthesis: in the event that the child has a poorly nourishing suction, it is good to assessing the presence of contractures in the neck and tongue.
These factors can make sucking weaker and lead to less intense and effective stimulation of the breast. Also the short frenulum can lead to this consequence. Since parents do not always notice this, I have created a YouTube video ad hoc to help new mothers and fathers recognise it.
What must be done during breastfeeding
In the event that breastfeeding arrives silently, one should not pay particular attention to the breast. On the other hand, in situations where the symptoms listed in the preceding paragraphs occur, it is necessary to adopt some caution (especially if you have already gone home, since breastfeeding may occur even after leaving hospital or after leaving the maternity home).
To prevent the puppy from struggling to latch on due to an overstretched udder, it is essential to implement themanual self-pressing. The passage in question should be carried out before attaching the baby. He will do most of the work but, in some cases, it may be necessary to facilitate it a little.
Many new mothers wonder whether or not it is appropriate to use a breast pump during the milking. It is not the first choice. It drains, of that there is no doubt. The cons are related to the fact that, receiving from the instrument the information on milk production, the breasts become overfilled. I would like to conclude by specifying that in breast-feeding, it is not necessary to heat the breast before 'working' it; since it is hyperfunctioning, it will already be hot by itself.
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