Breastfeeding is considered the best way to feed newborns. This period is different for everyone, but if you behave incorrectly, you may encounter a lack of breast milk. Some wonder when lactation sets in. We will try to answer this question below. The information presented to your attention will certainly help citizens understand breastfeeding and its establishment. What should every girl know? What data will be useful in practice?
Stages of formation
How long is lactation established? Unfortunately, the answer is ambiguous. For all women, the period of formation of breastfeeding and its establishment is different. It depends both on the preparation carried out and on the individual characteristics of the organism.
In general, the formation of lactation can be divided into three stages:
- initial;
- immediate becoming;
- mature lactation.
All these periods have their own characteristics. And they last differently. Aboutevery woman should know this, especially since breast milk production can be affected.
Inception
When is lactation established? More and more women are asking this question. Artificial formulas do not compare with breast milk in terms of composition. And so most expectant mothers struggle to breastfeed. Lactation with him is one. But when does the process of preparing the body for feeding the baby start?
How long is lactation established? Usually the initial stage of preparation of the body occurs shortly before childbirth. Approximately 12 weeks before giving birth, a woman begins to secrete colostrum from her breasts. This is a clear sign of the preparation of the body for breastfeeding. Lactation has begun its formation!
Stages of lactation appearance
When is lactation established? Completely this process, according to reviews, can be adjusted for a long time. At the initial stage, the girl is faced with the release of colostrum from the mammary glands. Sometimes such a phenomenon does not occur. There is no need to be afraid of such a situation.
The active phase of preparation for breastfeeding begins after childbirth. It is conventionally divided into the following stages:
- Launch. A similar stage begins immediately after the birth of the child. Rapid changes are taking place in the body, allowing milk to begin to be actively produced.
- Milk production. This period of time is accompanied by active tides of milk. Most often, the phase begins 35-40 hours after birth. BeforeAt this point, the baby can be fed colostrum. It is quite nutritious and useful substance. It is enough to feed a newborn.
- Switching to mature milk. This is an important stage of lactation. During it, colostrum is completely replaced by full-fledged breast milk.
When is lactation established after childbirth? Once all of the above stages are over, you will have to prepare for the establishment of breastfeeding. This is the period of full formation of lactation. It can cause some discomfort that you just have to endure.
Adaptation of the body
When is lactation established in primiparas? Usually, after the replacement of colostrum with mature breast milk, the adaptation stage of breastfeeding begins. It lasts differently. When will lactation be established after childbirth?
On average, getting used to breastfeeding a baby lasts from 4 to 6-8 weeks. By the 3-4th month of life, lactation should be fully established. However, some women have been waiting for this moment for more than six months, according to reviews.
During the adaptation to breastfeeding, the body learns to understand the needs of the baby. The flow of milk first occurs spontaneously, then - out of necessity. You can say on demand.
What does this mean? The more milk the baby eats, the more it will be produced.
Mature lactation
How long is lactation established after childbirth? Unfortunately, no one can give a definite answer to this question. It all depends on the individualorganism. Therefore, we will try to study the average data.
Mature lactation begins around the 3rd month of a newborn's life if he is breastfed. The end stage is different for everyone. Usually, the full completion of milk production occurs 3-4 years after birth without outside intervention.
At the same time, lactation crises can occur during mature lactation. There is no need to be afraid of them. This is normal, but not every woman experiences it.
About lactation crises
When lactation sets in, we found out. On average, this process begins 3 months before and is completed 3-4 months after childbirth. Then the woman can safely breastfeed the child without any discomfort. This period is called mature or established lactation.
Lactation crisis is a period of decrease in the amount of breast milk due to natural factors. After some time, lactation will be established. The duration of the crisis is about a week.
Should I supplement my baby with formula or complementary foods at this point? No. Such actions can lead to a gradual decrease in the amount of milk produced on an ongoing basis. So lactation can come to naught.
How to determine maturity
How to understand that lactation has been established? Finding an answer to such a question is extremely important. The fact is that mature lactation is quite easily determined. The main thing is to understand how it manifests itself.
As already mentioned, with maturelactation is the establishment of the production of breast milk. A woman when feeding a baby will no longer feel discomfort. Moreover, the chest will feel soft and empty. These are sure signs of improved lactation.
How will the child eat then? With mature breastfeeding, milk begins to be produced when the baby is directly fed and in the quantities that are needed.
Women say that milk flushes after breastfeeding will not be accompanied by dizziness or fever.
How to speed up the process
We figured out when lactation sets in. As highlighted earlier, every woman experiences a different period of becoming breastfeeding. After giving birth, it takes an average of about 4 months.
You can accelerate the development of mature lactation and not lose breast milk. How to do it? Here are some tips to help you get the job done:
- correctly attach the baby to the breast when feeding;
- breastfeed on demand, not on schedule;
- avoid stress and anxiety;
- don't overwork;
- adjust nutrition - need to change it to a he althy diet;
- eat more dill, anise and fennel;
- drink a lot (from 2 liters a day);
- eat food enriched with animal proteins.
It all helps with breastfeeding. Some recommend drinking special preparations and tea forincreasing lactation. Unfortunately, these techniques do not help everyone, but it's worth a try!
Important: it is necessary to start using any drugs during breastfeeding and its establishment only after consulting a doctor. Advice from relatives, friends and acquaintances can only do harm.
About involution
We figured out when lactation sets in. It can last 1 year or 5 years. It all depends on the mother and baby. Most often, women refuse breastfeeding by the age of the child.
Natural involution (cessation of breast milk production) occurs 2.5-4 years after birth. It is characterized by the absence of rushes of milk during long breaks in feeding. What is happening at this moment? The amount of breast milk is sharply reduced, and its composition resembles colostrum.
After 2-3 days after direct involution, the ducts of the mammary glands narrow, and then close completely. After another 30-40 days, milk production stops in full. Glandular tissue develops into fatty tissue.
Thus lactation stops. Doctors recommend waiting for natural involution. This will help avoid problems in the future, especially if the girl is still planning to give birth and breastfeed. There is no need to use special drugs to stop lactation. They can lead to irreversible consequences, and the reviews about them are unfavorable.
Diseases and breastfeeding
Signs of established lactation were brought to our attention. And how to behaveif a girl gets sick during the formation of breastfeeding? Should I stop feeding my baby?
Not unless mom wants to lose her milk. Usually, when the mother is sick, antibodies to the disease appear in breast milk. This helps not to infect the baby and strengthen his immunity.
Stopping breastfeeding when sick is rare today. Even antibiotics can often be chosen to be compatible with lactation.
Conclusion
How much lactation is established, when it disappears and how to establish breastfeeding, we found out. All of the above tips will definitely help both primiparous and experienced mothers.
Breastfeeding is an important period in the life of mother and child. Today, breastfeeding consultants help to establish and establish lactation. They often help to find a way out of any problematic situation associated with the lactation period.
