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Milky Adventure
The first feed, colostrum, and manual expression
In episode 3, Lauriane Emond explains the role of the first feeding, what colostrum is, and how to hand express milk from the very first days to establish a good milk supply.
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Summary
🔊 This program is an information program by a trained professional. This is generic advice and is not a personalized diagnosis. In all cases, we recommend that you be followed by a gynecologist and/or a midwife for individualized follow-up.
What you will learn in this episode
In this episode, Lauriane Emond explains what really happens in the first hours and days after birth. You'll understand the role of the first feeding (no pressure), the different phases of lactation, what colostrum is, and especially how to hand express your milk to initiate and support your supply from the start.
- Why the first feeding is important but not decisive
- The 3 phases of lactation
- What colostrum is and why it's enough for the baby
- How to hand express your milk
- Why keeping your baby warm promotes breastfeeding
💡 Key figures
A study of over 1,100 newborns shows that limiting weight loss after birth promotes continued breastfeeding: among babies who lost less than 5% of their birth weight, the rate of exclusive breastfeeding remained much more stable over time. Acting in the first few days (early latching, colostrum expression) therefore helps both the baby and the duration of breastfeeding.
Source: "Postnatal weight loss and exclusive breastfeeding in newborn", BMC Pediatrics, 2025 (study of 1,101 infants, PMC12060565).
The first feeding: important, but not decisive
When a baby is born, they have innate behaviors, learned in utero, which manifest in the first two hours of life. The first feeding usually happens naturally because the baby is programmed to do it. It most often appears between 30 and 90 minutes after birth: you need to be patient and let the baby awaken at their own pace.
If it happens, all the better: we let physiology take its course. But if it doesn't happen (C-section, separation, neonatology, baby unable to latch, stress), it doesn't determine the entire duration of breastfeeding. And for mothers who do not wish to breastfeed, they should not feel obliged to do it.
An important message for caregivers: the less the mother-baby dyad is disturbed, the better. Outside of at-risk situations, there is no urgency to intervene. The hormonal cocktail of the mother (oxytocin surge) and the baby promotes an effective first feeding.
The 3 phases of lactation
- Phase 1: Colostrum, secreted from pregnancy until the first days of life
- Phase 2: Milk coming in and the days that follow
- Phase 3: Stabilization, with mature milk establishing itself within 15 days to 4 weeks
Colostrum, a precious concentrate
Lauriane compares it to an energy ball: a very thick milk, in small quantities, but extremely rich in proteins, nutrients, and lipids. It is enough for the baby to maintain their physiological balance and microbiota in the first few days, and it activates milk coming in. Even in small quantities, it covers the newborn's needs.
Why express your milk from the start
The body continuously produces milk, but to produce more, milk needs to be removed. The more milk is extracted from the alveoli, the more production increases and the more the milk supply progresses.
The classic scenario in maternity wards: the baby sleeps, the mother doesn't stimulate her lactation, and on day 2-3, weight loss is observed, and a supplement is offered. Lauriane suggests another approach: manually expressing milk to give colostrum to the baby, even if they are sleeping.
She uses the analogy of a car: a baby with fuel (colostrum in their stomach) wakes up and gains weight; a baby without fuel goes into energy-saving mode. The less colostrum they receive, the less they wake up: it's a vicious cycle that often leads to supplements.
The Manual Expression Technique
Place your thumb and index finger in line with the areola. Move them back towards the chest, bring your fingers together, then release. Milk is pushed from the alveoli towards the ducts and nipple. Collect it with a colostrum spoon, a regular spoon, or a syringe, and give it to the baby, possibly with the help of the co-parent.
Lauriane recommends doing this every 1.5 hours, for 5 minutes on each breast, giving the drops of colostrum immediately afterwards.
Keep the baby warm
The warmer the baby is, the less energy they spend warming themselves, and the more available they are to feed and gain weight. Skin-to-skin contact is ideal: the mother's body regulates its temperature to adapt to the baby's. The co-parent can also do this. This is the principle behind kangaroo care units.
🔎 Useful definitions
Colostrum : the first milk produced by the mother, starting during pregnancy and in the first days of life. Very thick and in small quantities, it is extremely concentrated in nutrients, proteins, and immune factors. It meets the needs of the newborn and activates milk production.
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Manual Expression : a technique that involves removing milk from the alveoli by hand, without a breast pump. By pressing back towards the chest and then releasing, milk is moved towards the nipple. Useful for collecting colostrum when the baby is not yet feeding.
🎯 Practical actions
- Don't feel guilty if the first feeding doesn't happen:
- Separation, C-section, sleepy baby, difficulty latching: none of these situations compromises the continuation of breastfeeding
- The first feeding is a bonus, not a requirement.
- Give the baby time to wake up after birth
- The first feeding often occurs between 30 and 90 minutes: observe for small signs of alertness (head, arm, leg movements) rather than forcing it.
- If healthcare staff become impatient, remind them that the less the dyad is disturbed, the better the feeding will go.
- As soon as you return to your room, if the baby is sleeping, start manually expressing milk to initiate production.
- The technique: thumb and index finger aligned on the areola, push towards the back of the chest, bring fingers together, release
- Repeat every 1.5 hours, 5 minutes per breast.
- Collect the drops of colostrum (colostrum spoon, regular spoon, or syringe) and give them to the baby immediately, even if they are sleeping
- A few drops, drop by drop, are sufficient and pose no risk of aspiration
- The co-parent can help collect and give, and it's even great to start including them!
- If the baby is awake and wants to feed, prioritize putting them to the breast
- Manual expression takes over only when they are sleeping.
- Familiarize yourself with the manual expression technique during the last month of pregnancy, to be comfortable when the time comes, without excessive or untimely stimulation (to avoid triggering contractions).
- Keep the baby warm to preserve their energy and promote alertness: prioritize skin-to-skin contact (baby in a diaper, against the bare skin of the mother or co-parent).
- If that's not possible, dress them warmly
- It's better for them to be too warm than not warm enough.
- Trust yourself:
- You know your baby and your plan
- Once you have the tools, you can act confidently, without being swayed by external comments.
.png)
Summary
🔊 This program is an information program by a trained professional. This is generic advice and is not a personalized diagnosis. In all cases, we recommend that you be followed by a gynecologist and/or a midwife for individualized follow-up.
_____
⭐ The Milky Adventure series is made possible thanks to the participation of Fizimed, a French company that develops innovative solutions for women's health, such as their Emy Pump portable breast pump.
What you will learn in this episode
In this episode, Lauriane Emond explains what really happens in the first hours and days after birth. You'll understand the role of the first feeding (no pressure), the different phases of lactation, what colostrum is, and especially how to hand express your milk to initiate and support your supply from the start.
- Why the first feeding is important but not decisive
- The 3 phases of lactation
- What colostrum is and why it's enough for the baby
- How to hand express your milk
- Why keeping your baby warm promotes breastfeeding
💡 Key figures
A study of over 1,100 newborns shows that limiting weight loss after birth promotes continued breastfeeding: among babies who lost less than 5% of their birth weight, the rate of exclusive breastfeeding remained much more stable over time. Acting in the first few days (early latching, colostrum expression) therefore helps both the baby and the duration of breastfeeding.
Source: "Postnatal weight loss and exclusive breastfeeding in newborn", BMC Pediatrics, 2025 (study of 1,101 infants, PMC12060565).
The first feeding: important, but not decisive
When a baby is born, they have innate behaviors, learned in utero, which manifest in the first two hours of life. The first feeding usually happens naturally because the baby is programmed to do it. It most often appears between 30 and 90 minutes after birth: you need to be patient and let the baby awaken at their own pace.
If it happens, all the better: we let physiology take its course. But if it doesn't happen (C-section, separation, neonatology, baby unable to latch, stress), it doesn't determine the entire duration of breastfeeding. And for mothers who do not wish to breastfeed, they should not feel obliged to do it.
An important message for caregivers: the less the mother-baby dyad is disturbed, the better. Outside of at-risk situations, there is no urgency to intervene. The hormonal cocktail of the mother (oxytocin surge) and the baby promotes an effective first feeding.
The 3 phases of lactation
- Phase 1: Colostrum, secreted from pregnancy until the first days of life
- Phase 2: Milk coming in and the days that follow
- Phase 3: Stabilization, with mature milk establishing itself within 15 days to 4 weeks
Colostrum, a precious concentrate
Lauriane compares it to an energy ball: a very thick milk, in small quantities, but extremely rich in proteins, nutrients, and lipids. It is enough for the baby to maintain their physiological balance and microbiota in the first few days, and it activates milk coming in. Even in small quantities, it covers the newborn's needs.
Why express your milk from the start
The body continuously produces milk, but to produce more, milk needs to be removed. The more milk is extracted from the alveoli, the more production increases and the more the milk supply progresses.
The classic scenario in maternity wards: the baby sleeps, the mother doesn't stimulate her lactation, and on day 2-3, weight loss is observed, and a supplement is offered. Lauriane suggests another approach: manually expressing milk to give colostrum to the baby, even if they are sleeping.
She uses the analogy of a car: a baby with fuel (colostrum in their stomach) wakes up and gains weight; a baby without fuel goes into energy-saving mode. The less colostrum they receive, the less they wake up: it's a vicious cycle that often leads to supplements.
The Manual Expression Technique
Place your thumb and index finger in line with the areola. Move them back towards the chest, bring your fingers together, then release. Milk is pushed from the alveoli towards the ducts and nipple. Collect it with a colostrum spoon, a regular spoon, or a syringe, and give it to the baby, possibly with the help of the co-parent.
Lauriane recommends doing this every 1.5 hours, for 5 minutes on each breast, giving the drops of colostrum immediately afterwards.
Keep the baby warm
The warmer the baby is, the less energy they spend warming themselves, and the more available they are to feed and gain weight. Skin-to-skin contact is ideal: the mother's body regulates its temperature to adapt to the baby's. The co-parent can also do this. This is the principle behind kangaroo care units.
🎯 Concrete actions
- Don't feel guilty if the first feeding doesn't happen:
- Separation, C-section, sleepy baby, difficulty latching: none of these situations compromises the continuation of breastfeeding
- The first feeding is a bonus, not a requirement.
- Give the baby time to wake up after birth
- The first feeding often occurs between 30 and 90 minutes: observe for small signs of alertness (head, arm, leg movements) rather than forcing it.
- If healthcare staff become impatient, remind them that the less the dyad is disturbed, the better the feeding will go.
- As soon as you return to your room, if the baby is sleeping, start manually expressing milk to initiate production.
- The technique: thumb and index finger aligned on the areola, push towards the back of the chest, bring fingers together, release
- Repeat every 1.5 hours, 5 minutes per breast.
- Collect the drops of colostrum (colostrum spoon, regular spoon, or syringe) and give them to the baby immediately, even if they are sleeping
- A few drops, drop by drop, are sufficient and pose no risk of aspiration
- The co-parent can help collect and give, and it's even great to start including them!
- If the baby is awake and wants to feed, prioritize putting them to the breast
- Manual expression takes over only when they are sleeping.
- Familiarize yourself with the manual expression technique during the last month of pregnancy, to be comfortable when the time comes, without excessive or untimely stimulation (to avoid triggering contractions).
- Keep the baby warm to preserve their energy and promote alertness: prioritize skin-to-skin contact (baby in a diaper, against the bare skin of the mother or co-parent).
- If that's not possible, dress them warmly
- It's better for them to be too warm than not warm enough.
- Trust yourself:
- You know your baby and your plan
- Once you have the tools, you can act confidently, without being swayed by external comments.
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