Gonneke says, in relation to inability to produce enough milk,

"logical thinking will lead to the conclusion that if so many mothers as

seem to be nowadays were not able to nourish their child, mankind would
not
have been spreading around the world the way it did."

I have been using this same point in getting new parents to understand
that baby isn't "supposed to" get a large quanity of milk the first
couple of days.  I mention that a baby only gest 1-10 ccs the first
feeds.  After pointing out that baby's fist is only about the size of
its clenched fist-and that's the outside dimension-I state that
breastfeeding works the way it does because it's supposed to work that
way.  If babies needed large amounts at first, it would be there or the
human race would not have survived as long as it has!
This comment has produced many a mouth-dropping, wide-eyed response from
a parent who has been saying "I don't think there's anything there
yet."  If baby has gotten a bottle (horrors) or if I get the sense that
they may be comparing with what they perceive a bottle feeding baby
would be taking, I point out how baby keeps swallowing because it keeps
dribbling in and the ones that take an ounce or more that first day or
two frequently "give a refund".  We clean up a lot more spit-ups on
bottle babies than breast babies and I don't think it's entirely the
fact that it's not baby is reacting to the milk itself-it's often the
amount.
While I certainly don't claim to know the reason for low volume the
first days in the Grand Scheme of things, I see a real benefit.  Baby
has the first few days to master the technique of nursing before (s)he
has to cope with much volume.  If it came the first day or so as readily
and in as large a volume as it will a few days later, every baby might
be choaking and gagging on it!

Winnie

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