Ideally, babies can begin feeding from your breast soon after they are born. Most maternity hospitals support breastfeeding within one hour after birth. At birth, your baby’s stomach is tiny, and they only need a small amount of milk.
Skin-to-skin contact between you and your baby is an important way to encourage early connection and bonding. It’s recommended by the World Health Organization for all premature and low birth weight babies.
Most women’s breasts and nipples change during pregnancy. These changes include:
your breasts and nipples enlarging
your nipples and areola (the skin surrounding the nipple) darkening
veins in your breasts becoming more obvious
your breasts feeling heavier
From the start of your second trimester, your breasts may start leaking colostrum. This is thick and yellow in colour at first. As your pregnancy progresses it will become almost colourless.