Is there a way to know if there is milk in b*****s?

Question

I am 32 weeks pregnant with my first baby, and my breast got bigger during the pregnancy, but they stopped like at week 24 and i was wondering is there a way to know if my b*****s are filling up with milk? i know some women leak i am not, and they are very soft..I would like to breastfeed so any info would be great.. thank you all :)

Answer 1

You must know nfirst of all when you are breastfeding that milk wont come in until 3 or 4 days after giving birth.The first time you will breastfeed baby might need 30 mins to 45 jsut to get the colustrum out .Then when your milk comes in you will notice the difference mine got as big as a melon huge!then baby might take 15 mins of drinking.So don't worry about your milk comming in right away right now its just going to be colostrum

Answer 2

Your b*****s will make the right "milk" for your baby when the baby needs it.  Its silly to make a big distinction between colostrum and milk.  There is no such thing as mature milk, the milk changes as the baby gets older and based on how much baby drinks.

Also if you have a premature baby then your body makes special premature colostrum followed by premature milk.

During pregnancy your body makes milk/colostrum but in most women it breaks it back very quickly rather than storing it.  So you won't feel full and you won't leak.  (Even when baby is nursing the body is constantly breaking down old milk and making more).  Some women make more than it breaks down and they leak.  The full feeling during pregnancy and as well when the milk "comes in" after the baby is born is actually mostly increased blood flow and lymph fluid -not milk.

And remember when your baby is born their stomach is the size of a chickpea (garbanzo bean) and does not stretch at all.

http://www.kellymom.com/newman/13still_m...

8. Women whose b*****s do not enlarge or enlarge only a little during pregnancy, will not produce enough milk.

Not true! There are a very few women who cannot produce enough milk (though they can continue to breastfeed by supplementing with a lactation aid). Some of these women say that their b*****s did not enlarge during pregnancy. However, the vast majority of women whose b*****s do not seem to enlarge during pregnancy produce more than enough milk.

http://www.kellymom.com/bf/supply/milkpr...

In the Beginning...

Endocrine (Hormonal) Control of Milk Synthesis -- Lactogenesis I & II

Milk production doesn’t start out as a supply and demand process. During pregnancy and the first few days postpartum, milk supply is hormonally driven – this is called the endocrine control system. Essentially, as long as the proper hormones are in place, mom will start making colostrum about halfway through pregnancy (Lactogenesis I) and her milk will increase in volume (Lactogenesis II) around 30-40 hours after birth.

During the latter part of pregnancy, the b*****s are making colostrum, but high levels of progesterone inhibit milk secretion and keep the volume “turned down”. At birth, the delivery of the placenta results in a sudden drop in progesterone/estrogen/HPL levels. This abrupt withdrawal of progesterone in the presence of high prolactin levels cues Lactogenesis II (copious milk production). Other hormones (insulin, thyroxine, cortisol) are also involved, but their roles are not yet well understood. Although biochemical markers indicate that Lactogenesis II commences approximately 30-40 hours after birth, mothers do not typically begin feeling increased breast fullness (the sensation of milk "coming in") until 50-73 hours (2-3 days) after birth.

These first two stages of lactation are hormonally driven – they occur whether or not a mother is breastfeeding her baby.

http://ninemsn.birth.com.au/Info.asp?cla...

The milk 'coming in' is the time that the breastfeeding will start to incorporate a 'let down' reflex. A 'let-down' is a response by the woman's body to the baby suckling. The stimulation of her nipple triggers the release of her natural oxytocin hormone from the brain, which causes her milk to 'eject', or flow freely. The 'let down' is also known as the 'milk ejection reflex'.

The b*****s. The woman's b*****s usually feel heavy, 'firm' or 'full' and warm. They will increase considerably in size (although this is only temporary for a few days). The b*****s may look a little flushed, and the woman may have a slight temperature (up to 38 degrees Celsius). Most of the 'fullness' in the b*****s is due to an increase in blood supply to the b*****s (called 'vascular engorgement') and an expansion of the lymph supply, as well as the start of the mature milk production. This is why it is usually difficult for the woman to judge if her b*****s feel 'full' or 'empty' after a feed (or to tell by feeling, which breast she fed from last!)

For a day or so, the supply of milk will be a little more than the baby needs, contributing to an 'overfull' feeling. It is crucial for the baby to feed 'on-demand' at this time, to keep the milk flowing, otherwise the normal vascular engorgement will turn into painful 'milk engorgement', as the alveoli distend with milk. However, many women will want to feed their baby regularly at this time, because it relieves the overfullness.

http://www.llli.org/FAQ/colostrum.html

Stomach capacity of the newborn

When mothers hear that colostrum is measurable in teaspoons rather than ounces, they often wonder if that can really be enough for their babies. The short answer is that colostrum is the only food healthy, full-term babies need. The following is an explanation:

A 1 day old baby's stomach capacity is about 5-7 ml, or about the size of a marble. Interestingly, researchers have found that the day-old newborn's stomach d

Answer 3

The only thing that will be in them until a few days after birth is colostrum. At this point in pregnancy, if you squeeze you may get some. If you don't it doesn't mean *anything*- labor and birth is what is generally needed to trigger your body to actually make milk. There is an abundance of breastfeeding information available both on-line and in your local bookstore. I'd suggest picking up any basic book (nursing mother's companion, etc) and read it, just to understand the physiology of breastfeeding- it helps to know when it is time to eat (for you- because so many women think they need to eat a bland diet during BFing)have a glass of wine, get a cold and not be afraid to do something for it not to mention to deal with any issues that may arise once baby is nursing.

I have never leaked during pregnancy (5) and have in fact had issues with oversupply / rapid let down with three of those babies.

On that abundance of information I would just give one warning- take it with a grain of salt. *Do not over-complicate BFing*. It's natural and your body and baby generally know what to do, and if not, it can be fixed easily enough.  

Answer 4

You milk doesn't come in until 2-3 days after the baby is born.  Your b***s increasing in size just means that your milk ducts were getting ready and you were producing more fat in that area.  I did leak but I leaked colustrum which is a clear/yellowy sticky liquid that the newborns thrive off of for the first 2-4 days until your milk comes in.  So as of right now, no you can't check to see if you have any milk because it won't drop or start to produce until you've had the baby.  

Answer 5

It is normal for women to experience a number of breast changes during pregnancy.  Sometime during the pregnancy, usually in the second trimester, a pregnant woman will begin to produce colostrum.  Colostrum is a pre-milk filled with lots of good nutrients and antibodies.  This is what your baby will eat in his/her first few days of life until your breast milk comes in, around 3 days after you give birth.  During the pregnancy, some women do leak colostrum, but not all do.  If you haven't had an opportunity to take a breast feeding class you may want to check with your doctor's office or the hospital you'll deliver at.  You will get a lot of good information from a class plus you will have opportunity to speak with a lactation consultant in the hospital after you give birth.  It can be difficult in the first few weeks of breast feeding and you should plan to spend a good 6 weeks recovering from birth as well as establishing your breast feeding routine as well as your milk supply.  Difficulties with latching on and sore b*****s are common at first, but with practice and perseverance it gets better.  I breast fed all 4 of my children and I had nursing problems with the first and the fourth.  My middle 2 took to nursing like they were pros, but not all babies do.  I never leaked colostrum while pregnant yet went on to successfully nurse all 4 of my babies, the youngest 2 until they self-weaned.

Answer 6

Your milk doesn't really come in until a few days after birth.  Before then, you MAY be able to express some colostrum, but some can't, and it is by NO MEANS an indicator that you won't have milk.

It's highly unlikely you would be unable to breastfeed (about a 1% chance), so just relax!  If you can, try to get a copy of The Joy of Breastfeeding.  I know the title is very "hug a tree", but it's a really informational book..there's only so much we can type here! :)

Answer 7

you milk does not come in until after the baby is born.  Your body makes colostrum for the baby when they are first born and your milk usually comes in 2-5 days after you deliver.

Answer 8

Your milk comes in when your baby is a few days old. What some women leak is colostrum. Thats what your baby will be eating at first. Its loaded with antibodies and viatmins. Its the good stuff for babies! Its almost clear (kindof looks like honey) and, when your milk does come in there will be not mistaking it. Your b*****s will get huge, and hard, and sore!  You will know. Congrats. And, good luck!  

Answer 9

Your milk will come in a few days after you have the baby...and you'll know when your milk comes in, trust me!

As for now, you might have colostrum in your b*****s- but no milk.  

Unless you've had drastically altering breast surgery, I'm sure you'll make milk.

Right now, the best thing to do is to educate yourself as much as possible on breastfeeding.  The more you know, the better off you'll be.  If you're aware of possible "bumps in the road" that might arise and how to fix it, you'll be much more likely to have a successful breastfeeding relationship and you'll be a much happier nursing mom!

Check out http://www.kellymom.com - it's a great breastfeeding resource.

Answer 10

Some women leak colostrum while pregnant, some don't.  I didn't.  It's no indication of later production, as I'm still breastfeeding my 9 month old son.  Congrats, and best wishes to you. :)

Answer 11

There's only a very small percentage of women who cannot breastfeed. I reccommend reading up on it, going to a LLL meeting, taking a breastfeeding class. (If you're going to give birth at a hospital, many offer brestfeeding classes and have lacatation consultants on staff.)

Kellymom.com has a lot of information on breastfeeding.

And The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding is an excellent book!