My Milk Hasn’t Come In Yet. What Is My Baby Actually Drinking?

You have been putting your baby to the breast all day.

They suck.

They come off.

Then not long afterwards, they want to feed again.

And you are sitting there thinking:

I don’t know if anything is even in there. What on earth is my baby drinking?

This is such a common question.

Your breasts are already making your baby’s first milk, called colostrum.

What is colostrum?

Colostrum is the first milk your breasts make.

You might hear people call it liquid gold, and honestly, it deserves the name.

It is concentrated early milk made especially for those first days of your baby’s life.

It might look golden yellow, creamy, white, clear, thick or sticky.

And there may not seem to be very much of it.

That is the bit that worries a lot of mothers.

You look at this tiny drop and think:

Surely that cannot be enough?

But newborn feeding in those first days looks very different from feeding an older baby. They are taking small amounts and coming back to the breast often.

Why is my baby feeding so much?

Because there are actually two things happening.

Your baby is feeding.

And your baby is also helping tell your body:

Baby is here now. We need more milk. Let’s get things moving.

Every time your baby suckles, it helps stimulate the hormones involved in milk production.

So those frequent feeds are not just about what baby is getting right this second. Baby is also helping build the milk supply they are going to need over the next few days.

Pretty clever, really.

When does my milk actually “come in”?

Your milk is already there.

What mothers usually mean by “my milk coming in” is when that smaller amount of colostrum starts transitioning into a much larger volume of milk.

For many mothers, that happens somewhere around day 2 to day 5 after birth.

You may notice your breasts suddenly feel fuller, heavier, warmer or firmer.

Sometimes very, very full.

You might wake up one morning and think:

Oh. There they are.

Why does my baby want to feed again so soon?

Newborn babies feed often, usually around 8 to 12 times in 24 hours, and sometimes more.

Those feeds can feel incredibly close together, especially over the first few days.

That is partly because baby is taking small amounts often, and partly because all that sucking is helping tell your body to increase milk production.

If baby seems to be at the breast constantly and you are sitting there wondering, “Are they actually getting enough?”, there are a few things we look at besides how often they feed.

Wet nappies, dirty nappies, how baby is feeding and weight gain as they get older can all give us clues.

Watch this short video, “Is My Baby Getting Enough Milk?”, in the Breastfeeding Library and I will walk you through exactly what to look for.

What if I cannot squeeze any milk out?

If you cannot squeeze any milk out, it does not mean there is none there.

A well attached baby creates a much better seal and suction at the breast than a quick squeeze with your fingers, so they may be able to remove milk even when you cannot see much yourself.

If you are worried, focus on how baby is feeding and the other little signs rather than judging your supply by what you can squeeze out.

Related articles

• The First Breastfeed: What Actually Happens After Birth?

• How Do I Know My Breastfed Baby Is Getting Enough Milk?

• Why Is My Newborn Breastfeeding Constantly? Cluster Feeding Explained