Mummy and Me Magazine August 2014 September 2014 | Page 24

Birth & Beyond

Breastfeeding - What toExpect...
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BREASTFEEDING - WHAT TO EXPECT

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here are many changes that take place during
pregnancy, one of which is that your breasts
prepare for their role in making milk. From
about 20 weeks into your pregnancy, your breasts
will produce a rich mixture of proteins, vitamins
and substances for fighting infections, this is called
colostrum. This is usually a yellow/golden colour.
After birth, your baby feeding will send signals to
your breasts to produce milk. At around 3-4 days,
the colostrum changes into a whitish milk. This milk
is more creamy (higher in fat) and more satisfying
for your baby. The more your baby feeds, the more
milk you will produce. Once they have finished
feeding on one breast, offer the
other.

Your baby’s instinct is to breastfeed, this instinct
is particularly strong after birth, therefore it may
help if you spend time cuddling your baby on your
chest with your skin against theirs. Skin-to-skin can
be done after a Caes \