One of the biggest sources of anxiety for new parents in the first week of life is the fear that their baby is starving.
You might be thinking: “My milk hasn’t come in yet. The baby is crying. Everyone is telling me I need to give a bottle.”
Before you panic or rush to supplement, we need to talk about biology. At the SCV Birth Center, we believe that understanding the physiology of your baby is the best defense against fear.
Here is the truth about what happens in those first few days, as explained by our founder, Renee Sicignano.
Expert Advice You Can Trust
When it comes to feeding your baby, advice is everywhere. But not all advice is equal.
Renee Sicignano is not just a Licensed Midwife (LM) and Certified Professional Midwife (CPM); she also holds the highest credential available in the field of breastfeeding support: International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC).
This isn’t a weekend certificate. Being an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant requires thousands of hours of clinical practice and a rigorous board exam. It means Renee understands the complex medical and physiological mechanics of lactation, so when she says “your baby is getting enough,” it’s based on clinical science, not just encouragement.
Why You Don’t Have “Milk” Yet (And Why That’s Okay)
First, let’s clear up a misconception: You are not supposed to have volumes of white milk the moment the baby is born.
If human babies needed a full flow of milk immediately at birth, our bodies would produce it. But they don’t.
- Lactogenesis I (The Foundation): This happens during puberty and pregnancy, building the “factory” for milk production.
- Lactogenesis II (The Power Switch): The delivery of the placenta is the trigger that tells your brain, “Baby is here! Turn the factory on.”
It takes about 3 to 4 days for the milk to fully “come in.” In the meantime, your body produces Colostrum—a thick, nutrient-dense “liquid gold.” It comes out in drops, not ounces. And biologically, that is exactly what your baby needs.
Nature’s Backup Plan: Brown Fat Babies are born with a special substance called “Brown Fat” (subcutaneous adipose tissue). This fuel reserve is designed to sustain them for the first few days while they wait for your milk volume to increase.
The “Thimble” Reality: Your Baby’s Stomach Size
The reason you only produce drops of colostrum is that your baby only has room for drops.
Renee uses this visual to help parents understand just how small a newborn’s stomach really is:
- Day 1 (First 24 Hours):
- Stomach Capacity: 3 to 5 milliliters.
- Visual: The size of a marble or a thimble.
- The Reality: If you feed a baby 1 ounce (30ml) from a bottle, you are overfilling their stomach by nearly 600%.
- Day 2:
- Stomach Capacity: 5 to 10 milliliters.
- Visual: The size of a large cherry.
- Day 3:
- Stomach Capacity: 10 to 15 milliliters (about half an ounce).
- Visual: The size of a walnut.
If you are breastfeeding frequently (every 2–3 hours), those tiny drops of colostrum are perfectly matching these tiny volumes.
The Proof is in the Diaper (Input = Output)
Since you can’t measure colostrum in ounces, how do you know the baby is getting enough? We look at the output.
- Day 1: At least 1 poopy diaper (Meconium).
- Day 2: At least 2 poopy diapers.
- Day 3: At least 3 poopy diapers.
As long as the baby is pooping according to their age in days during that first week, they are getting what they need.
The “Second Night” Syndrome: Why They Won’t Stop Crying
If there is one thing we want every parent to know, it is this: Your baby will likely freak out on the second or third night of life.
Usually between 10:00 PM and 4:00 AM, the baby will cry, cluster feed, latch, pull off, arch their back, and scream.
This does NOT mean:
- ❌ You don’t have enough milk.
- ❌ The baby hates your deodorant/soap.
- ❌ The baby is starving.
It DOES mean:
- ✅ The baby has just realized they are no longer in the womb.
- ✅ They have no ability to self-soothe (this doesn’t develop until ~12 weeks).
- ✅ They are terrified of being separated from you.
This is normal newborn behavior. The solution isn’t a bottle; it’s the 5 S’s: Swaddle, Side-lying, Shush, Swing, and Suck. Keep putting them to the breast, rock them, and know that this is a phase, not a failure.
The Danger of the Early Bottle
When a baby is crying on night two, the temptation to give a bottle is huge. But Renee warns that this can cause long-term latch issues.
The “Firehose” Effect: Breastfeeding requires the baby to work. They have to extend their tongue, create a vacuum, and pull the milk out. It’s a workout. A bottle—even a “slow flow” one—is like a gravity-fed firehose. The milk drips out rapidly with barely any effort.
If a newborn gets used to the rapid flow of a bottle in the first few days, they may learn to pull their tongue back to protect their throat from the flood. When they go back to the breast with that retracted tongue, they can’t extract milk, and they often cause pain for the mother.
When to Ask for Help
While 10% weight loss is normal in the first few days, and crying is normal, breastfeeding shouldn’t be a battle you fight alone.
If you are struggling, don’t just rely on Google. Reach out to a certified expert. As an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant, Renee Sicignano brings a level of clinical expertise that goes far beyond basic support.
We are here to help you feed your baby with confidence.
Serving families in Santa Clarita, Antelope Valley, and surrounding areas.
Santa Clarita Birth Center (661) 254-3000