One of the first and most important points all breast feeding women need to understand, is that not all will experience breast feeding in the same way. A pregnant or postpartum woman can easily become overwhelmed by all the helpful advice she's getting from everywhere around her. It can be quite confusing for some. Here are some of the basics facts and tools to help you stay on track...

Breast Development...in stages:

Be prepared; as you develop so do your breasts; but the gland that produces the milk, the mammary gland, only becomes fully functional after birth. Many hormones are being produced and excreted during this stage. For example, estrogen, progesterone, and prolactin, just to name a few; play a huge role in your breasts' development and growth. Don't be alarmed by the many changes you are and will go through; embrace them and enjoy the moment; the miracle of Life is within you....

During your pregnancy, you will also notice some fairly visible changes occurring, the least of which will be the increased size of your breasts; you will also notice the area surrounding the nipple, called the areola, will become darker as well. These are natural occurrences that every woman should welcome and expect. It shows that the body is in ready mode to produce milk, and that the hormones are all working well.

If we were to look deep within the breast, we would find clusters of tissue called alveoli; these are milk producing cells; interestingly enough, these tissues actually resemble grapes or broccoli florets. Following birth, there will be a series of physical but naturally events; when the baby first begins to suckle, and latches on to the nipple, this will cause the ducts to compress; while sending a signal to the brain to release a specific hormone which squeezes the alveoli, which in turn, causes the milk to flow down through the ducts and to flow like honey out of the nipple.

Maintaining Milk Production:

Like the economy, supply and demand plays a key role in the production of milk. The more the baby suckles the more milk will be produced by the body; if nutritional guidelines are being strictly followed. Please keep in mind that at birth the baby's stomach is about the size of a small marble; and that during these first few days of lactation the breast produces something called first milk. Its technical name is colostrum. It is thick and gooey and filled with all the vital nutrients and immunoglobulins your baby needs for optimum health. A bit goes a long way of this first milk.

Your baby will feed more frequently, and their stomach will gradually increase in size over these next first few days. By day ten, the stomach may be the size of a ping pong ball. Over the first few days the milk will also change from colostrum to a transitional milk; to a finally, a mature milk; the final milk product which resembles a skim milk of sorts. Usually by day four, the colostrum is no longer manufactured and the transitional milk is thinner than and not as pasty as the colostrum. It is also important to note that a mother should balance breast feeding equally between both breasts.

It is during these first stages of development that the mother should closely monitor her sensations within her breasts. A woman's breasts purely operate on a stimulus response mechanism. The baby cries the breasts may leak. Just around feeding time, they may begin to leak. Even as you are feeding from one breast, the other may leak. Or, they may leak for no reason or occurrence at all. And some woman, don't leak at all. Just realize these are all natural events that all women experience differently.

Nursing pads can help with the leakage, which can be easily found online or in any number of maternity stores. They range from re-usable cloth, to disposable, to synthetic. You have to decide what works best for you; making sure they cause no rashes or reactions.

In actuality, by day five or six, there are two distinct types of milks being produced for the baby by each of your breasts. One contains lactose, a basic sugar; and the other, mainly a milk containing fat. Be aware that you finish feeding completely from one breast before offering up the other breast for your baby. Your baby needs the nutrients from both milks from each breast.

Following these basic guidelines and advice should help you achieve a form of breast feeding bliss. Enjoy this special time; and eat and live healthy, for both you and your wonderful bundle of joy(s)....