When does milk start to come out of a pregnant woman's breast?
A few weeks before the due date.
Some women may notice leakage from their nipples during pregnancy, which is normal during pregnancy, especially in the last period of pregnancy. Where the breasts may start producing milk weeks or months before the due date (in the second trimester of pregnancy), and it occurs due to the different hormones of pregnancy such as estrogen and progesterone, which lead to changes inside your breasts as well; Where the mammary glands begin to form and multiply.
The milk produced in this period is called colostrum. It is a sticky, thick, yellowish-orange substance. It is the first milk your baby drinks after birth. It will be finally ready and in the right amount after birth. Colostrum may be small in quantity, but it is full of nutrition and nutrients that boost immunity for your baby. Colostrum has some special features that distinguish it Regarding the mature milk that the child will receive a few days after birth, we find that colostrum is characterized by the following:
- It is higher in protein and lower in fat and carbohydrates than mature milk.
- It protects the baby from infection and increases immunity, in part due to increased amounts of IgA secretion.
- Protects your child's gut and helps build a healthy microbiome.
- It contains a variety of antibodies, including important antibodies called immunoglobulins, which help protect the baby from infection and develop the immune system.
And after about 3 to 5 days after giving birth, it is possible to notice that the breasts are full, and this means that the body is moving on to producing more mature milk, which will be whiter in color and more abundant.
When is the milk hormone secreted during pregnancy?
In the sixteenth week of pregnancy and continues until after days after birth.
During pregnancy, the body undergoes various hormonal changes, the most important of which is the secretion of the hormone prolactin, which controls the amount of milk that is produced. Usually, the body begins to secrete prolactin at the time of formation of the placenta; Since at the beginning of pregnancy, other pregnancy hormones such as estrogen and progesterone are the most secreted, which leads to inhibition of prolactin secretion, and progesterone and estrogen are the ones that lead to the growth of milk ducts in terms of number and size before the start of milk production.
Once the placenta is formed, the secretion of the various pregnancy hormones decreases and the secretion of prolactin, which is responsible for the formation of milk in the breast, increases. This occurs during the sixteenth week of pregnancy, which is commensurate with the time of the important process of lactation formation in lactation and milk formation, the first stage of which begins in the week Sixteenth of pregnancy and continues until a few days after childbirth.
It is possible that some changes in the shape of the breast occur in the first stage of lactogen formation, such as the nipples becoming darker and the breast areola becoming larger, and the breast begins to produce important colostrum for the baby in its first days, and the Montgomery glands on the nipple also secrete oil to lubricate the nipple.
pregnant milk
Then the second stage of lactin formation begins a few days after birth, during which milk production begins to intensify. As after childbirth, there is a severe decrease in the secretion of estrogen and progesterone, and the prolactin hormone increases to produce larger quantities of milk in the breast, so we will notice a significant increase in milk production at this stage.
Finally, the third stage of lactin formation begins, which is the final stage in milk production, which continues throughout the remaining lactation period. In general, when the lactation process is complete, your body begins to stimulate the secretion of prolactin and oxytocin; Prolactin causes milk to be made from the air sacs in the breast, while oxytocin causes contractions in the breast muscles when breastfeeding begins and makes milk come out of the specialized milk channels in the breast.
Symptoms of milk formation when pregnant
It is necessary to notice some signs and changes in the breast during the last stage of pregnancy, which indicate that the breast has begun to produce milk, and these signs include the following:
- Breast fullness and swelling.
- breast heaviness
- Warmth of the breast and its temperature is simple and unnoticeable.
- Some drops of colostrum - a sticky, yellowish liquid - leak through the breast.
- Feeling of breast discomfort due to engorgement.
- Noticing that the nipples have become more flattened, or that the skin around the nipple is taut.
These signs and irritations are the first time milk is produced, and over time, the body will adapt to the breastfeeding routine after childbirth and regular pumping of milk from the breast.
No milk coming down during pregnancy
- Glandular tissue is underdeveloped.
- Having some hormonal or glandular problems.
- Use of hormonal contraceptives.
- Previous breast surgery.
- Taking certain medications or herbs.
- Postpartum medications.
- Take some nutritional supplements.
Underdeveloped glandular tissue : A complete lack of growth of breast tissue may occur for some women due to some different reasons, which leads to the incomplete formation of the milk ducts and tissues designated for the formation and production of milk, and this problem often occurs in the first pregnancy of women; As these ducts and tissues grow with each pregnancy, so this is often less of a problem with the second or third child, and this problem can be solved by increasing the pumping of milk from the breast after birth.
The presence of some hormonal or glandular problems: Women with polycystic ovary syndrome or those with thyroid problems or diabetes often suffer from normal milk secretion during and after pregnancy, as various hormonal problems affect the secretion of prolactin responsible for milk production in the breast during Pregnancy, and these problems also contribute to a decrease in milk production after childbirth.
Use of hormonal contraceptives : Taking birth control pills after childbirth or some time before pregnancy may lead to decreased milk production or no milk production during pregnancy. It is likely that these pills will cause some hormonal problems, and to solve this problem in the next pregnancy, we recommend not taking birth control pills and using other non-hormonal methods.
Having breast surgery in the past : Various breast surgeries for medical or cosmetic reasons may lead to damage to the milk secretion ducts, and the effect of these surgeries varies according to how the operation was performed and the period before pregnancy.
Taking some medicines or herbs : Milk production during pregnancy may be affected by taking some medicines that contain methergin, bromocriptine, or pseudoephedrine (found in cold medicines), or drinking herbal drinks such as mint in large quantities, so it is necessary to ask the doctor about an alternative to medicines. During colds, in order to ensure that it does not affect breastfeeding after childbirth.
Take some nutritional supplements: Nutritional supplements may affect milk production after childbirth, especially in the first weeks of pregnancy or after childbirth.
