The Stages of Breastfeeding

Breastfeeding begins during pregnancy and ends at weaning. Between these two moments, a whole series of changes will take place.

Changes during pregnancy

One of the first changes you notice when pregnant involves your breasts. The mammary glands begin preparing to feed your baby, causing the breasts to increase in size — they may feel tender and taut. From the 5th month, the pituitary gland produces prolactin, the hormone responsible for lactogenesis. The mammary glands begin producing colostrum — that first milk which is so essential in the first days of your baby's life. Generally, colostrum is reabsorbed into the bloodstream thanks to progesterone, which slows down lactogenesis. However, it is possible to experience some milk leakage during pregnancy — this is absolutely nothing to worry about. It is very important not to express this milk: firstly because doing so would stimulate lactation and make the leakage even worse; but also, and most importantly, because oxytocin — the hormone responsible for the let-down reflex — is the same hormone that triggers labour.

The first milk: colostrum

Once you have given birth, the expulsion of the placenta triggers a drop in progesterone, allowing prolactin to kick-start lactogenesis. In the first few days, an average of 50ml of colostrum is produced. This may seem like very little, but rest assured — it perfectly meets your baby's needs. This thick, yellow milk is incredibly rich. It contains all the nutrients a newborn needs in those first hours of life: immune protection against infections and jaundice, fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals.

The first feeds can be tricky — don't hesitate to ask for help from your medical team or from specialist breastfeeding organisations.

The milk coming in

Your milk comes in 2 to 4 days after the birth of your baby. Your breasts swell and feel heavy, warm, taut, and very sensitive. The milk coming in is often painful and sometimes accompanied by a raised temperature. It is therefore very important to rest on that day and to keep visitors to a minimum.

A breastfed baby should be fed on demand, without waiting for them to cry. Crying is a last resort for a hungry baby. As soon as they stir, bring their fist to their mouth, or move their lips, offer them a feed. On-demand feeding perfectly meets your baby's needs — there is no need to supplement with water; the breast is sufficient! It also helps to establish breastfeeding properly and ensures you maintain a good milk supply. Finally, it reduces the risk of engorgement.

If your breasts are sore and your baby is sleeping, have a warm shower whilst gently massaging your breasts — this should bring some relief. For your comfort, we recommend wearing nursing bras day and night, as well as breast pads to manage the frequent leaks in those early weeks. But don't worry — these discomforts will ease as the weeks go by. Prolactin levels will gradually decrease, and milk production will shift to autocrine control.

What is autocrine lactation?

After 3–4 months of breastfeeding, mothers often notice what they mistakenly interpret as a drop in milk supply. Their breasts no longer feel as full between feeds, and leakage becomes a thing of the past. In reality, this is not a decrease in milk supply at all — it simply means that lactation has moved to autocrine control! In the early weeks, lactation is governed by hormones. Gradually, the mammary gland itself takes over. The rate at which the breasts are drained signals to the body how much milk to produce. The breast produces milk mainly between feeds and stores it in the secretory cells. When those cells are full, the breast stops producing. Conversely, when they are drained, the breast immediately starts producing milk again.

Growth spurts

For a long time it was thought that growth spurts were caused by an adjustment in the baby's milk requirements, but it now seems they are more likely a regression phase before a significant developmental leap. They tend to occur around 10 days, 3 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, and 1 year, when the baby seems glued to their mother and feeds very frequently. This lasts between 24 and 48 hours before returning to normal. There's no need to worry — your baby is not going hungry; they simply need your presence and reassurance.

Weaning: the end of breastfeeding

The end of breastfeeding is an inevitable milestone in the mother-and-child relationship. The older the child grows, the more interested they become in the world around them, and the easier weaning tends to be. Even though feeds remain important moments, they gradually space out over the months until they naturally disappear when your child is ready. It is common for a mother to continue producing milk for a few weeks after weaning, but this excess milk will be gradually reabsorbed into the bloodstream over time.