Understanding Breastmilk: Making Your Feeding More Effective
- Samantha Pieterse
- Feb 7, 2024
- 5 min read
Updated: May 22
Did you know that the type of breastmilk that you produce changes over the first two weeks of breastfeeding to end with the mature milk that will be produced until the end of your breastfeeding journey?
The 3 Stages of Breastmilk: Colostrum, Transitional, and Mature Milk
Breastmilk isn’t just one fixed recipe. It changes over time to match your baby’s needs at every stage. From those first golden drops of colostrum to the rich, nutrient-packed mature milk, each phase plays a special role in your baby’s growth and immune support. Let’s break it down stage by stage.
Colostrum (Day 0 – 3 After Birth)
Colostrum is the very first milk that you produce after birth. It is yellow and sticky, you will see that you only produce a very little at a time. But it is also so much more than the first milk your baby consumes after birth. It's highly concentrated with nutrients and antibodies to fight infection and protect your baby. The flow of colostrum is also slow to help you and your baby learn to breastfeed. Colostrum is known as liquid gold because it has so many benefits for your baby, including coating the gut to prevent harmful bacteria from being absorbed, acting as a laxative to get rid of the meconium, and helping with preventing low blood sugar in the baby.
Transitional Breastmilk (Day 2 – 5 up to Day 14 After Birth)
Transitional milk comes when mature breast milk gradually replaces colostrum. This is when you start noticing your milk “come in”. The colour will be whiter or a pale yellow white.
Mature Breastmilk (About 10 - 15 Days After Birth, Onwards)
The amount of fat in mature milk changes as you feed your baby. Let your baby empty your first breast before switching to the other breast during a feeding. Compared to colostrum, mature milk has increased carbohydrates and fats but less protein.
Also, important to note is involutional milk (this is the milk produced when weaning)
Involutional milk has a lower lactose concentration than mature milk but higher fat, protein, and sodium levels. The most amazing thing about involutional breast milk is that it has more antibodies than mature milk. It's incredible that a mother's body knows to give her baby an extra dose of goodness before reaching the end of their breastfeeding relationship.
How do I Know if I Have Enough Breastmilk?
Many moms worry that their breast milk isn’t enough to feed their baby and keep them growing well. This is especially important to note in the first few days. Remember, colostrum has a slow flow for babies to be able to learn to breastfeed. On day one of your baby’s life, their stomach can only take about 5 – 7 mLs of milk at a time (it is about the size of a cherry). On day two, their stomach capacity has increased to 22 – 27 mLs.
This means that they do not need hundreds of mLs per feed. However, due to their small stomachs, your baby will become hungry faster and might cluster feed initially. A baby’s stomach will only reach 80 – 100 mL capacity at about one month old.
Signs You Have Enough Breastmilk and Your Baby Is Feeding Well
Your baby is gaining weight steadily.
After an initial drop in the first few days, most babies regain their birth weight by 10–14 days and continue to grow steadily from there. Growth charts are your best friend here—ask your clinic to track this at each visit.
Your baby has plenty of wet nappies.
From day 5 onwards, expect at least 5–6 wet nappies every 24 hours. If the urine is pale yellow and doesn’t have a strong smell, that’s a great sign of good hydration.
Baby poops regularly.
Young breastfed babies usually poop at least once or twice a day (some do even more!). Yellow, soft stools are the norm by the end of the first week.
You can hear or see swallowing during feeds.
Look for rhythmic sucking and swallowing sounds once your milk has come in. It’s that little pause after a suck that signals a swallow.
Breasts feel full before feeds and softer afterward.
This change often means milk is being transferred well.
Baby is calm and satisfied after most feeds.
They don’t need to be milk-drunk zombies, but they should seem content and not still acting ravenous after a feed.
Signs That You Don't Have Enough Breastmilk
Lethargic or sleeping longer than usual
Not passing stools
Dark urine
Poor weight gain
Doesn't settle after a feed
Remember that all of these signs may also be an indication of another issue not related to breastfeeding.
Should You Breastfeed From Both Breasts in One Feeding?
Unlike formula, the calorie content and composition of breast milk changes during a feed. Breastmilk changes during each feed and throughout your breastfeeding period to meet the needs of your baby.
The milk is usually more watery at the beginning of a feed to quench the baby’s thirst. The milk that comes later is thicker, higher in fat, and more nutritious.
Foremilk
Foremilk is the milk that comes out first during a breastfeeding session. It’s usually thinner in consistency and higher in lactose (a natural milk sugar), which gives your baby quick energy and helps with hydration. It also plays an important role in digestion. Think of foremilk as the "starter."
Because foremilk is lower in fat than the milk that follows, it doesn’t keep babies full for very long on its own. That’s why it's important to allow your baby enough time at the breast to reach the hindmilk.
Hindmilk
Hindmilk is the milk your baby gets later in the feed, after they’ve already had the foremilk. It’s creamier, richer, and much higher in fat. In fact, hindmilk contains 2 to 3 times more fat than milk from the beginning of a feed, and more calories per mL.
This fatty milk helps keep your baby fuller for longer and supports healthy weight gain and brain development. It often leaves them looking milk-drunk after a good feed. If you’re switching breasts too early or offering both sides every time, your baby might not get as much hindmilk as they need, especially in those early weeks when their stomachs are still tiny and feeds are frequent. Letting the baby finish the first breast before offering the second can help ensure they get a well-rounded meal.
Both types of milk are important, but the balance supports healthy weight gain and satiety. So if you’re switching sides too quickly during feeds, your baby might be missing out on that fuller-fat finish. If your baby is still hungry after emptying a breast, then continue on to the next breast. Always start your next feed with the breast not used or partially used during the last feed to avoid engorgement.
Final Thoughts: Trust Your Body, Trust Your Baby
Breastfeeding is ever-changing, and so is your breastmilk. It is designed to grow with your baby. From colostrum to mature milk, foremilk to hindmilk, every drop is important in nourishing and protecting your little one.
If you’re ever unsure whether your baby is feeding well or whether you’re making enough milk, remember that support is just a clinic visit or WhatsApp message away. At Mums & Bums, we’re here to guide you.
Every mom’s feeding experience is unique. There’s no one-size-fits-all answer or “perfect” way to feed your baby. But when you understand how your milk works, and when you’re supported in the process, it becomes a whole lot easier to trust the incredible job your body is doing.
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