As a Certified Breastfeeding Counselor, you will learn the different stages of breastfeeding. As a CBC, your training includes a variety of information you will need to remember. However, some information you need a basic understanding of, and then the ability to look up specifics.
Afterall, it can be difficult to remember every detail. In many instances, understanding the stages of breastfeeding helps you better educate your clients. When helping parents with typical breastfeeding initiation, ensuring they understand what to expect and what is typical is important.
As a CBC, you will see that much of supporting parents is building their confidence in feeding baby. Many parents face conflicting and non-evidenced based information when trying to navigate early feeding. When you understand the stages in a way you can simply explain to clients, you can help reassure them.
Stages of Breastfeeding – What Are The Stages of Laction?
Lactation is broken down into three stages. Many parents will be more familiar with the term breastfeeding versus lactation.
The three stages of lactation are Lactogenesis I, Lactogenesis II and Lactogenesis III. Chances are, you will not necessarily use these terms with your clients. You will be more likely to discuss the terms below.
- Lactogenesis I = Colostrum
- Lactogenesis II = Transitional milk
- Lactogenesis III = Mature milk
When helping clients navigate breastfeeding initiation, it is helpful for them to understand that colostrum is typical and only small quantities are sufficient. It is also helpful for them to understand that transitional milk to mature milk is a process which can vary by a few days from person to person. In the absence of specific circumstances, baby needs only small quantities of milk for the first few days of life.
Nearly everybody is physiologically capable of producing plenty during these stages. However, certain circumstances, medical conditions, and management can influence milk production in all stages.
Stages of Breastfeeding – Colostrum
Many of us, whether experienced CBCs or new to birth work, are familiar with the term colostrum. It’s a nutrient and antibody dense early milk. The body begins creating colostrum as early as the second trimester. Some women even notice leaking, others do not. It is important to note that leaking or lack of is no indication of future supply.
The increase in progesterone during pregnancy prevents the body from producing large quantities of milk until the expulsion of the placenta. For those breastfeeding during pregnancy, by the second half of the pregnancy the milk returns to colostrum.
This early milk will be produced for about one to two days after birth. While some parents opt to collect small quantities during pregnancy, it is not necessary for most. Some do so if there is concern about early mother baby separation, or blood sugar issues in baby (e.g., gestation diabetes).
Transitional Milk
With each feed at the breast, or expression, the body is told to produce more milk. This triggers the gradual transition from colostrum to transitional milk, to mature milk.
Transition milk begins about two to five days after birth. Many refer to this as their “milk coming in,” but this is not quite accurate. The body has been producing colostrum milk since at least birth.
During this stage, the volume increases but it is still quite concentrated. Baby’s belly is gradually increasing in size from a marble to just under the size of a chicken egg. It will reach the size of a chicken egg around 10 days after birth.
That increase in size coincides with the next stage of lactation, the mature milk.
Mature Milk
Understanding the different stages of lactation is not vital for parents to successfully feed. However, being aware of the differences can help alleviate concerns about supply and learn how to best manage early feeding.
Mature milk is in around ten days after birth. It is less concentrated and in high volume. Breastfed babies often take about 1-1.5oz per hour in between feeds.