There is no “right” time to change your baby's nipple level. Some babies are content using Level 1 throughout their feeding days, while more aggressive eaters may advance sooner than expected. Your baby will offer signs if the flow is not fast enough and it's time to move up a level.
Babies who are 1 to 3 months old and are both breastfed and bottle-fed should use the Slow Flow nipple, which has two holes. If your baby is 3 to 6 months, you should use the Medium Flow nipple that has three holes.
Most bottle manufacturers recommend checking nipples for signs of wear when they've been in use about 3 months, although they can certainly last longer. However, if you notice them wearing out earlier, there's definitely no reason not to take them out of use sooner.
3-6 Months:
This is typically known as size 2. (note: some bottles say medium flow) This nipple has 2-3 holes in it making the flow of milk to your baby a little faster. Unsure if your baby is ready at 3 months?
Sometimes slow-flow nipples can cause babies to take in extra air during feedings, which causes gas. Try a more vented nipple to allow more air to release. Make sure your baby has a good latch when bottle feeding to reduce gas later on.
A bottle-feeding should take about 15-20 minutes. If the baby finishes the bottle in 5-10 minutes, the flow is likely to fast. If it takes your baby 30-45 minutes to take a bottle, the flow is too slow.
Nipples become more prominent during sex, Prasad explains, due to the wonder of hormones. “When stimulated, the hormone oxytocin is released causing the nipple to become erect,” he says. “In addition, the muscles behind the breast contract causing the areola to tighten and create a goose bump-like effect on the skin.”
The short answer is no. Although your breasts will likely grow larger before and during your breastfeeding journey, breast size is irrelevant when it comes to how much milk you produce. A mom with small breasts might have just as much milk supply as a mom with large breasts.
"We found that patients with smaller nipples rated higher in attractiveness than those with larger nipples," consultant plastic surgeon Mo Akhavani said in a press release. The nipples that ranked most attractive and as "just right" in size occupied 25 to 30 percent of the breast when viewed head on.
Soaps, lotions or alcohol might remove this protective oil. Each nipple has 15 to 20 openings for milk to flow. When your baby nurses, the action of baby's jaw and tongue pressing down on the milk sinuses creates suction.
You may only need to use a breast hold for a short time. As your baby gets older, breastfeeding becomes more established, and you become more confident, you might find that you no longer need to hold your breast when your baby latches on to breastfeed. American Academy of Pediatrics.
Breast Storage Capacity
The maximum volume of milk in the breasts each day can vary greatly among mothers. Two studies found a breast storage capacity range among its mothers of 74 to 606 g (2.6 to 20.5 oz.) per breast (Daly, Owens, & Hartmann, 1993; Kent et al., 2006).
In the first trimester (weeks 1 to 13): Your breasts may start to feel swollen and tender. Your nipples may stick out more than usual. Some women find that their breasts start to get bigger during this time.
Bottle-fed babies
Newborn: every 2 to 3 hours. At 2 months: every 3 to 4 hours. At 4 to 6 months: every 4 to 5 hours. At 6+ months: every 4 to 5 hours.
Beginning to nurse or feed your baby while they're still calm will facilitate the most successful breastfeeding results. Once crying begins, it can be harder to properly latch.
Support your baby's head and neck, make sure their tummy and back is nice and straight (not curled up), and rub or pat their back gently. You don't need to spend ages burping your baby, a couple of minutes should be enough.
Each silicone nipple is stamped with an “S” for Slow-flow or an “M” for Medium- flow. Wide base slow flow 0-4 months. Wide base medium flow 4-12 months.
Signs that a baby is struggling to cope with the flow of milk in a fast let-down might include: Choking, gasping and coughing at the breast. Coming on and off the breast during breastfeeding. Pulling on the breast and nipples (babies can also do this when the flow of milk is too slow)
If your newborn prefers to eat from one breast only during a feeding, gently place your finger inside the corner of the baby's mouth to unlatch her, take a break to burp her, and then allow her to latch again. If your newborn doesn't burp, that's ok too.
“Something I recommend to moms is the 5-5-5 rule,” Pawlowski says. “Try and use milk within five hours at room temperature, five days if in the refrigerator, and five months if in the freezer.”
Reaching a Full Milk Supply
A full milk supply is 25 to 35 ounces per day. Once you've met this goal, you may find that you are able to reduce the number of times per day that you pump and still maintain your supply. You can drop out one pumping session every few days and keep an eye on your milk supply.
The first few days: Your breast milk coming in
Around day three after your baby's birth, your breast milk 'comes in' and your breasts may start to feel noticeably firmer and fuller.
It's totally up to you and your comfort. If you usually go braless, you do not need to wear one during breastfeeding. Moms often have concerns about leaking a lot at night, so this may be another reason why wearing a bra at night might be helpful.
Lean back if you're sitting or recline on any supportive surface. But do not lie flat on your back. It's okay to adjust your position until it feels right. Hold your baby close so they're lying on your tummy with their core fully supported.