what triggers the switch between colostrum and milk?

[cairnterrier]

DS has just finished breastfeeding just before his second birthday. All very non-stressful, just one morning he preferred to go downstairs and have breakfast.

DC2 is due in May and I've heard advice that keeping a stock of frozen colostrum could be good in case of feeding difficulties in the early days/unexpected stays in hospital etc. So I tried expressing today (approx 10d ays after DS has stopped) and I'm producing colostrum.

Which then made me wonder, what triggers the switch in production from colostrum to milk? Is it to do with the birth/release of hormones etc? I was just wondering if I kept on expressing off colostrum, would this trigger a switch to milk sooner (along the lines of the more you empty the breast of milk, the more is produced).

hasten to add, I'm not worried, just one of those lying in the bath pondering moments. I'm out of the bath, now obviously, I'm not about to electrocute myself!!

It's the baby sucking isn't it?

Removal of the placenta

Kellymom's explanation including pretty graph. As worried says, it is hormonal changes due to removal of the placenta, so no you won't trigger lactogenesis II early .

What Worried said.

Congratulations on the pg, and well done to your DS on stopping so calmly.

thanks! I didn't really do anything about it, one morning he just asked to go downstairs for milk and cheerios and that's been it. No pain etc and a very happy little boy. Was expecting it to all be a bit more traumatic but think it will work out okay. I thought that I was going to be tandem feeding but looks like it won't be like that and that's just fine.

(ps little hormonal sniff, no-one's ever waved at me before! )

Thanks everyone. Will go and look at the graph. I was just surprised (and tbh v impressed!) that my body had changed so quickly from toddler feeding to changing to new baby feeding in the space of 10 days.

MoTeaVate like the idea of Lactogenesis II: the return of boobah (said in impressively deep cinematic trailer voice ).

Happy Christmas everyone!

Your milk may of change while you where still feeding you DS which could be why he's lost interst in feeding.

Milk changes in regard to your baby regardless of wearther your feeding an older one. It very comone for older one's to wean during pregancy some do carry on dry nurseing.

It'll be a long while before my DS is at that stage (at least 8 daytime feeds I reckon plus as often as he wakes at night).

Happy Christmas!

Angels am torn between being relieved that his feeding is over without too much trauma and a decent gap before the next one turns up, and realising that in Ds's world Peppa pig and Cheerios are now preferable to a mother's tender loving care, warm nursing snuggles during which we strengthen our bond etc etc.........

Absolutely not cairterrier :) I only managed 8 weeks with mine but as a 2 and a half year old he still has a nuzzle in my chest during the ad breaks. :o

Just a point on storing, while it's often suggested to store colostrum in syringes there is some question at the moment about whether it's the best thing to do, as syringes are not passed/tested for freezing breastmilk. Milk banks are advised not to accept colostrum in syringes, although some do. While there seems to be no evidence of any problems whatsoever, if you do find yourself in a position of having antenatally expressed sufficient colostrum which you don't need and can donate to a milk bank, storing it in a different container (provided by a milk bank) would be ideal. If you wanted to consider donating just contact your local bank here www.ukamb.org/yourmilkbank.html and see what they say.

I know you're looking to potentially express for yourself and it may prove to be a really valuable thing to do if you have any problems at birth. Equally, though, if things turn out fine then it seems a shame to waste such valuable, magical stuff if you really don't need it :)