By four months, as infant intake increases, milk production raises maternal metabolism by about 400 calories per day and peaks at 500 calories per day by six months post childbirth. On average, milk production raises postpartum basal metabolism by about an average of 300 calories per day in the initial postpartum weeks. The amount of breast milk that women make varies widely between 500 ml and 1200 lm per day. Therefore, separation of the mother and baby after birth, scheduled or restricted feedings, supplemental feeding with formula or water, or use of pacifiers are not advisable before breastfeeding has become well established. Since the nipple stimulation of suckling production produces prolactin, the amount, frequency, and intensity of early suckling determines breast milk supply.

The amount of milk that a new mother makes is directly proportional to the amount of prolactin in her body.

This is what we perceive as our milk вЂњcoming in.вЂќ Some factors, such as premature birth, diabetes, maternal obesity, retained placental fragments, or birth trauma may delay the rise in colostrum quantity. On day one, about 100-ml/3.4 oz of colostrum is available in your breasts, and this quantity rises rapidly to about 500-ml/17 oz by day four. These living cells deliver essential health substances for the development of your infantвЂ™s immune and digestive systems. ItвЂ™s Alive, ItвЂ™s Alive, ItвЂ™s Alive!Дirectly after childbirth, the initial breast milk is called colostrum, or pre-milk a thick, yellow fluid that contains a higher amounts of white blood cells, antibodies, and Immunoglobulin A than mature breast milk. Oxytocin also stimulates the uterus to contract and shrink back down in size, a process called involution. Oxytocin, our вЂњfeel goodвЂќ hormone, is responsible for the вЂњlet downвЂќ effect, or the milk ejection reflex. Prolactin, as its name implies, stimulates the production of breast milk. Suckling causes the production and release of the hormones prolactin and oxytocin. While myths still swirl about milk supply, such as how much water a new moms drinks, or what she eats, the actual factors that influence milk production include infant intake and nursing frequency, and maternal hormones, nutrition, and environmental impacts.

Ideally, except in rare instances of supply insufficiencies, or other complications, infants should be exclusively breastfed for the first six months of life. When you understand the interconnected relationships between lactation, nutrition, and your metabolism, you will have the skills to succeed in nursing your infant and healthy weight management. Breast feeding provides numerous, truly profound, life-long benefits to you and your baby.

Bmr calculator breastfeeding