The breast changes as much as the baby. Your body is amazing. And it’s constantly changing in the early weeks to months postpartum. For the first three months your body is making milk, and when all is going well will usually make more than it needs. Baby will only take about 65-85% at any given feeding. This is because baby is going to go through many cluster feedings and needs to gain weight the fastest in this period of time. Your breasts may feel engorged or full between feedings because of extra blood and fluid that help support changes in the structures of the breast to help you make milk. This engorgement is supposed to go away, usually around 6-8 weeks, as that blood and fluid reabsorb into your body and your breasts will go back toward pre-pregnancy size (or stay larger for some). Then as you milk supply regulates around 3-4 months, the leaking may slow or stop (or not for some) and you may not feel your let down as strong. Your body moves from milk being hormone driven, because you had a baby, to baby driven, you’ll make the milk that is being routinely emptied. If you leaked or collected milk in a haakaa or passive collector, you may start to see less of this milk. This is NORMAL. Your body is becoming more efficient. Softer breasts, not being able to tell which side baby fed on last, leaking less and not feeling let down as strong is all part of your body becoming more efficient with making milk. This process has a wide range of normal. It can be earlier or later depending on your unique body.

If you have concerns about supply or changes in your body, please work with an IBCLC lactation consultant to make sure what you’re experiencing is part of this very normal process