So Your Milk Hasn’t “Come In” Yet — Now What? Part 2

Part 2: Feeding Frequency — How Supply Is Built

Milk production is regulated largely by how often milk is removed.

Newborns are biologically designed to feed frequently — often 8–12 times in 24 hours, and sometimes more in the earliest days. This range reflects normal newborn behavior, not a problem.

Each feeding stimulates hormones that support milk production and flow. In the early postpartum period, long gaps between feeds can slow the transition to higher milk volumes, especially if milk isn’t being removed in another way.

Frequent feeding doesn’t mean something is wrong — it’s how supply is established.One of the most common things new parents hear is, “Your milk hasn’t come in yet.”
And while that phrase is familiar, it can create unnecessary worry.