During pregnancy, your breasts prepare to produce milk to feed your baby. The flow of milk also takes place in the days following childbirth. Depending on whether or not you want to breastfeed your child, you can use advice and tips to promote the flow of milk, or on the contrary to stop it.

Rising milk refers to the physiological process that allows a woman to breastfeed her child. It corresponds to the moment when the milk gradually changes from colostrum to breast milk.

This phenomenon is triggered by the drop in hormones after the delivery of the placenta. Prolactin is released and can fulfill its role of stimulating and initiating lactation: the breasts then become full of milk and become hot and tense. The flow of milk can be more or less painful depending on the woman, depending on the amount of milk produced, which is specific to each woman.

Apart from rare cases of specific pathologies – most of the time known before pregnancy -, the flow of milk occurs in all women, whether they have given birth vaginally or by cesarean section.

Colostrum, a thick yellow liquid, is the milk of the first few days. Around the third or fifth day, the transitional milk, much more fluid and white, takes over, then about fifteen days after birth, it is the turn of mature milk to be secreted.

Contrary to popular belief, colostrum and breast milk have very different compositions and do not have the same interests at all.

Colostrum plays an anti-infectious role by transmitting antibodies from mother to baby. It also protects and facilitates the growth of organs and in particular of the digestive tract, but also makes it possible to facilitate the transit of your baby, and to evacuate the meconium. Colostrum is also very rich in mineral salts.

Transitional milk, then mature milk, is much less rich in proteins and antibodies. On the other hand, breast milk is nutritionally more interesting, whether it is transitional milk or mature milk: they are indeed richer in energy (in the form of calories), in lactose (sugar) and in fat for guarantee the good growth of the newborn and its optimal weight gain.

The true flow of milk usually occurs 30 to 40 hours after the birth of a full term child, usually between the second and third day after giving birth.

But in some cases, especially if the mother has not been able to breastfeed her baby frequently enough after childbirth, milk production may be delayed.

It can also occur later, sometimes even on the fifth or sixth day if the birth was by caesarean section, or if the labor was long and difficult or if the baby was born prematurely.

Certain hormonal abnormalities (diabetes, obesity, hypothyroidism, etc.), very early hormonal contraception as well as lesions or breast surgery can also delay the flow of milk.

Certain behaviors can also be at the origin of a late surge of milk and in particular if a pacifier and / or a supplement of bottle milk are offered to the newborn after birth.

Mother-child contact is absolutely essential for the flow of milk to take place. This is why, in addition to allowing a meeting in a privileged position, skin to skin in the delivery room and as often as possible thereafter, is the first key to promoting a beautiful flow of milk.

Following this skin to skin, it’s a safe bet that your newborn, guided by your smell and that of colostrum, instinctively seeks your breast to suck. Nature is decidedly well done because it is the sucking movement of the newborn that will start the production of milk by stimulating the nipple. Note that an early breastfeed in the delivery room greatly conditions the quality of the flow of milk because if the first breastfeeding takes place more than six hours after birth, the baby’s natural sucking movement will be less instinctive and will prevent breastfeeding. effective lactation process.

In general, the more often your baby will breastfeed during the first few days, the more milk secretion will be stimulated – and the risk of engorgement reduced.

For the optimal start of lactation, it is also important to pay special attention to the position of the newborn to facilitate breastfeeding. Make sure he opens his mouth wide to catch your nipple and extract the milk. If you have any difficulty or have any doubts, do not hesitate to seek advice from a midwife or lactation counselor.

Finally, since most of the milk is water, it is important to keep yourself hydrated throughout the day. You will also experience a feeling of intense thirst during the first days after your childbirth. Drink in small sips and on a regular basis.

Either way, stay calm and confident not only in your ability to breastfeed your baby, but also in their ability to breastfeed well. On the other hand, remain vigilant to the risk of congestion which could, if they were not properly solved, compromise the start of your breastfeeding.

In the event that you do not wish to breastfeed your baby, it is essential to stop the flow of milk as soon as possible to avoid any risk of engorgement.

If there is no consensus on the therapy to be used to block lactation, the most effective way is not to stimulate the breast by not putting the child to the breast of course but also by avoiding the use of a breast. breast pump, even to relieve a possible unpleasant feeling of heaviness in the breasts.

On the other hand, to gain comfort and avoid pain due to great tension in the breasts, an analgesic or even an anti-inflammatory is generally sufficient to relieve mothers in a few days.

But some tips can also help you, starting of course with wearing a suitable bra and alternating hot / cold on the breasts. Alternative medicines such as homeopathy, herbal medicine or acupuncture for example can also be of great help. The ideal is, in this case, to meet people specifically trained in these fields.

Other natural methods exist to stop the flow of milk. They all have their followers and detractors but are all safe for health. The important thing is to find the one that suits you:

• Certain plants like sage, parsley and mint are known to block the flow of milk. You should infuse a handful of either plant in simmering water and drink it regularly throughout the day.
• Cabbage poultices are also effective: they consist of placing 3-4 hours in the bra a cabbage leaf that has been washed and from which the main vein has been removed.

More controversial, there is also the tight bandage of the chest which consists in strongly bandaging the chest for a week or so to prevent “massaging” of the breasts which has the effect of stimulating lactation. A sports bra can replace the bandage as long as it compresses the breasts enough and is worn day and night.

Regardless of the method used, it is recommended to moderate your water consumption to limit milk production.

Drugs that block lactation are now prescribed only in cases of medical necessity (fetal death in utero or IMG) because of the neurological and cardiovascular side effects they present.