Breastfeeding in the first days of life and when do we need to intervene with formula? Dr Danielle Freeman Australia, 2020 Baby Podcast, September 2020

Dr Pamela Douglas14th of Jan 202412th of Dec 2024

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Despite wanting to breastfeed exclusively, many women find they have been advised to introduce formula by the end of the first week of their baby’s life. How much of this formula use is actually necessary? As Melbourne neonatal paediatrician Dr Danielle Freeman explains in conversation with Dr Pamela Douglas, ‘normal is a very diverse condition’ at the beginning of life! Dani offers important insight into what we can expect to see in otherwise well newborns, and how unnecessary formula supplementation might be avoided.

Listen now on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, episode webpage

Next up in when your milk comes in

How do you know when your milk comes in?

When does your milk come in?

Milk comes in anywhere between the second and fifth day after the birth - which may be later than you have heard. Most women's milk comes in about 30 to 40 hours after the placenta is delivered, regardless of what is happening with the breastfeeds. You can find out what happens in your breast to make your milk comes in here.

But milk can take up to five days to come in for mothers whose newborns remain healthy and safe, and who go on to exclusively breastfeed. Milk often comes in slower for your firstborn, too, than for subsequent babies.

What matters is that you offer your breasts to your baby frequently and flexibly as best you can from after the birth, with lots of skin-to-skin contact.

What do you feel when your milk comes in?

When your milk comes...

Breastfeeding in the first days of life and when do we need to intervene with formula? Dr Danielle Freeman Australia, 2020 Baby Podcast, September 2020

Next up in when your milk comes in

When does your milk come in?

What do you feel when your milk comes in?

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