Making milk in the early days

Most mums notice a sudden boost in milk between 2 and 5 days after birth. If you’ve had a baby before, this may happen sooner. 

As your milk volume grows, colostrum is replaced by mature breastmilk, which looks thin and bluish-white. People often call this your milk ‘coming in’.

You might find your breasts feel fuller, heavier, and sometimes swollen. This is a sign your body is getting ready to feed your baby—milk, blood, and other fluids fill the breast tissue to kick-start milk production. For some, this change is sudden; for others, it’s gradual. It’s all driven by hormones, and it happens whether your baby is breastfeeding or not.

Feeding early and often helps your breasts make more milk and builds a strong supply. Your baby will lose less weight and be less likely to be jaundiced. It also helps you meet your baby’s growing needs.

Some mums find their breasts are more than just full during this time – they are hard, swollen, and tender. Babies may have trouble attaching, and nipples can get sore. Milk might not flow well. This is called engorgement and there are things you can do to help.

Sometimes, milk takes longer to increase. Reasons might include:

• Being a first-time mum
• Exhausting or traumatic birth
• Separation from your baby after birth
• Pain medications or caesarean birth
• Retained placenta (needs removal)
• Health conditions affecting hormones
• Being very overweight.

• Keep your baby close. Hold them skin-to-skin as much as possible. 

• Let your baby feed often and for as long as they like.

• Avoid long gaps between feeds. Wake your baby if needed. 

• Make sure your baby is well attached and removing milk effectively.

• Get help early if you have any concerns about breastfeeding. Reach out to an ABA breastfeeding counsellor, midwife or lactation consultant. 

Try not to worry if things seem slow. Many mums build a milk supply, even after a few weeks.  

© Australian Breastfeeding Association December 2025