Practice Quiz

Doula

Category - Postpartum

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In the immediate postpartum period, what breast changes can a new mother expect?
  1. She should have noticed leaking colostrum during pregnancy, and that's the only way she knows whether she can feed her baby at the breast or not.
  2. If her breasts did not grow at least two cup sizes during pregnancy, her milk will probably not come in.
  3. The breasts should begin filling immediately after the birth.
  4. The breasts are producing colostrum, which will transition to a full milk supply over the next couple of weeks.
Explanation
Answer: D - During pregnancy, a woman's breasts grow and change in anticipation of feeding a baby. Colostrum is produced in the last months of pregnancy, and is ready as soon as the baby is born. Once the placenta is delivered, a hormonal shift signals that it's time to switch to producing milk, and the transition takes place over the first couple of weeks. Typically, a mother's milk "comesin" two to five days after birth, and slowly the mature milk will replace the colostrum. Some women leak colostrum during pregnancy, and others don't. Both are normal. Breast changes in pregnancy do indicate a proliferation in the glands and ducts, but the amount of noticeable growth is different for every woman.
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