The sudden drop in prolactin inhibiting factor with the delivery of the
placenta causes milk to be produced in the first 3 days postpartum regardless
of nipple stimulation.  This is what Lawrence meant, I think.  But, this is
not to say that early breast stimulation is unimportant.  Women who bf early
and often have better milk supplies later on.  This is especially evident in
moms of premies, those who begin pumping in the first 12 hours postpartum make
more milk than those who wait a few days.  So I think both things are
important, I suspect the early 'freebee' milk is to give the baby a little
time to get it together after birth.  Stimulation is important for long term
breastfeeding success.  I personally beleive in the prolactin receptor theory=
that in the first 6 weeks postpartum, the greater the demand for milk, the
greater the number of prolactin receptors that will be generated on the milk
gland cell surface.  More receptors means more ability for prolactin to get
into the cell and increase milk production once the prolactin baseline level
drops after about 6 weeks.  This could certainly be responsible for the 2nd
month failure to thrive that we see....
I apologise if this is incomprehensible, it is 2:26 am, but I felt compelled
to clean up my Lactnet posts....
Catherine Watson Genna, IBCLC