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All about Breastfeeding

Just after your baby’s born, the first breastmilk you make is called colostrum, and it’s full of essential nutrients and protective antibodies, so let your baby feed from your breast as soon as possible after birth and have lots of skin to skin contact.

You only make small amounts of colostrum because, at a day old, your baby’s stomach is tiny – the size of a blueberry! It can only hold around 5-7mls of milk. The colostrum helps your baby pass their first poo (known as meconium). Getting rid of the waste in their body like this lowers the risk of them becoming jaundiced.

Three or four days after birth, your baby’s stomach has grown and can now hold around 22-27mls; so is the size of a cherry tomato.  It’s at this time that your milk production starts to increase. People often refer to this as your milk ‘coming in’.

Milk production is a continuous process, and as long as milk is removed regularly, more will be made. A baby needs to suck at the breast effectively to make sure there is a good milk supply and as your baby grows, your breasts will automatically produce more milk.

Useful links

  • Down Syndrome UK – Breastfeeding a baby with down syndrome
  • Best Beginnings website – a series of short films about different aspects of breastfeeding, including the first feed after giving birth, breastfeeding in the early days, breastfeeding out and about, overcoming challenges and breastfeeding twins
  • NHS – advice on expressing and storing breastmilk
  • NHS – advice on breastfeeding in public
  • Maternity Action – information on your rights in relation to breastfeeding in public. You can also ring their advice line: 0808 802 0029
  • NHS – breastfeeding and returning to work
  • Start 4 Life leaflet – breastfeeding after returning to work or study
  • Maternity Action – information about your rights in relation to breastfeeding and returning to work
  • Feeding Your Baby – leaflet giving an overview of your feeding choices
  • Association of Tongue-tie Practitioners – information about tongue tie and signposting to available support
  • National Breastfeeding Helpline, open every day from 9.30am – 9.30pm: 0300 100 0212
  • National Childbirth Trust (NCT) – breastfeeding and antenatal support, including information about their breastfeeding helpline, open every day from 8am – 10pm: 0300 3300 770
  • The Breastfeeding Network – breastfeeding helpline, open every day from 9.30am – 9.30pm: 0300 100 0210
  • Bengali/Sylheti Supporter line: 0300 456 2421
  • Drugs in breastmilk helpline 0844 412 4665 (answerphone on the line)
  • La Leche League – 24 hour breastfeeding helpline: 0845 120 2918
  • Association of Breastfeeding Mothers (ABM) – breastfeeding helpline: 0870 401 7711
  • Unicef’s Baby Friendly initiative
  • Start4Life- Breastfeeding

National breastfeeding helpline

Page last reviewed: 14-10-2024

Next review due: 14-10-2027