The milk
The breasts
The baby
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The milk. By about days 5 to 7 after the birth, the supply of mature milk is more established and starts to equal the baby's feeding needs. The milk is now what it will be for the time the woman breastfeeds her baby, although it is believed that the milk does not fully 'establish' until about 2 weeks after the birth.
The breasts. The woman's breasts soften and start to return to the size they were when she was pregnant. The blood supply and
lymph supply recede, and the breasts are left with the normal supply of mature milk.
It is much easier now for the woman to tell when her breasts are 'full' or 'empty', and to have an idea about which breast she fed from last. The nipples should feel more comfortable (unless they have been damaged by the baby not attaching properly). Latching the baby is also usually much more comfortable, and by this stage easier to achieve by many women. Expressing breast milk by hand, or a breast pump, can usually yield a fairly large amount of breast milk (50 to 150 mls) if this is required, although expressing to store milk for later use (unless the baby is unwell) should be delayed for a few weeks. This is discussed further in
expressing and storing breast milk.
The baby. The baby usually becomes more settled, and the feeding becomes less frequent (2 to 5 hours or more). The baby is usually more 'instinctual' at knowing how to latch correctly, and will often become more efficient at emptying the breast (meaning their feeds will become comparatively shorter).
The baby's poos should now be bright yellow, or mustard in colour, and watery with curds. Many babies will start to pass motions less frequently. The baby should have at least 6 wet nappies a day (or possibly more).
birthTIPS
Feeding from one breast at each feed is usually adequate. Always start with the other breast that you didn't feed from for the next feed. This means that both breasts will then be fully emptied.