In plain words
Milk storage capacity is the amount of milk a breast can hold before it feels full and needs emptying. Some mothers have a large capacity, and some have a small one. Storage is different from supply, which is how much milk the body makes over a day. A small capacity means the breast may feel full more often, so feeds or pumping sessions may come closer together. A larger capacity can mean longer stretches between feeds. Storage changes over time and with the feeding pattern. Many mothers notice the breast feels fuller later in the day or after a long stretch. Storage is one of several factors that shape feeding rhythm. It is not a measure of how well a mother is making milk.
The deeper version
refers to the volume of milk held in the breast between milk removals, distinct from the rate of milk synthesis. Studies that measure it use or breast volume estimates, and reported values vary widely between women and over the course of lactation. Kent and colleagues (2006, Pediatrics) described how feeding volume and frequency change across the day and how milk fat content varies. Storage is linked in models to feeding frequency and to milk stasis, which can slow production through local feedback. Measurement is technically difficult, and the relation between storage and long-term supply is debated.
Where it comes up
- Pumping: how, when, how oftenFeeding Your Baby
- Is my baby getting enough?Feeding Your Baby
- Exclusive pumpingFeeding Your Baby
- How breastfeeding works: supply and demandFeeding Your Baby
- Building and storing a milk stashFeeding Your Baby
What mothers here say about milk storage capacity
No one has posted under this term yet.
Sources
- Kent JC et al. — Volume and frequency of breastfeedings and fat content of breast milk throughout the day. Pediatrics 2006