moms-nursing question

[peach]

With my older daughter, my milk never came in. I started nursing, then pumping and giving her formula because I never had more than maybe a teaspoon in me. We fought for 3 months and I was on all sorts of medication to bring milk in and it never worked.

This time, I told myself if my milk doesn't come in I am not going to kill myself trying to make something work that obviously doesn;t. 

New baby is latching better and sucking way longer than my first dd, which is good. I am nursing her as often as I can stand it - every 2 hours on average. I am also on a prescription that is supposed to increase milk production. I am taking fenugreek and blessed thistle as well, which are for milk production too. I am also drinking a cup of nursing tea every morning and eating oatmeal every day. What else can I do? I definitely have colostrum but my milk has not come in.

I am so frustrated. She was born Monday night so its possible it will still come in right? She is hungry and roots around crying shortly after I finish nursing and attacks a pacifier. Would you give her a bit of formula or just wait for the milk to come in? i can see she is hungry...

[emoflamingo]

If you want it to work, try not to do the formula. I did that too and it meant he wouldn't try nursing again. But, happy mom and baby is better than making yourself miserable trying to nurse.

Good luck.

[thewop]

I'd give her formula, no shame. You can't beat yourself up over lack of milk supply. If she's hungry, feed her what's available now- formula.

[SusanBAnthony]

You are still within normal for your milk to come in. But, I would probably start supplementing tomorrow if it hasn't come in by then.

Remember, colostrum has a lot of calories. So she is getting something. Also, why are you saying nursing as much as you can stand- are your nipples sore? Mine killed me so I can totally understand if that is the case. But, if you can let her nurse more it will help.

Good luck. It totally sucks. If you think she needs food ASAP, you can also thimble feed or do a SNS to get some calories in her but not give a bottle.

[candreco]

Ditto Merida, frkls would probably know better.  I don't think it's too late for your milk to come in though, I think 5 or 6 days isn't unusual.

[bunnymendelbaum]

I think your milk will still come in. Mine came in faster this time, but with DD1 it was at least 4 days, more even I think like 6. If she is getting colostrum don't stress too much, that stuff is super fatty. If you are worried get her weighed or watch for signs of dehydration.

Nursing every 2 hours seems good, but if she wants more do it. It will help. I'd really try to do not the formula.

Sounds like you are doing everything right. Honestly, I know it is hard, but try to relax. That helps A LOT! I seriously notice an increase in my supply when I relax about it all.

[Deleted]

Feb 14, 2013 10:16:59 GMT -5 thewop said:

I'd give her formula, no shame. You can't beat yourself up over lack of milk supply. If she's hungry, feed her what's available now- formula.

This is where I am too. I know it's not too late, but I do feel like it's getting on the late side for milk to come in. My feelings of her being hungry would outweigh anything. My best advice is to trust your instinct though. If you think she's fine, she probably is and you can wait. I just don't believe in stressing out over bfing. Not one little bit.

Hang in there and enjoy your precious baby.

[grey56]

Mine came in on Day 6. I took a syringe and squeezed the colostrum out, sucked it up with the syringe, and dropped it into LO's mouth. PP is right, it's super concentrated in calories.

Just make sure she's having the right number of wet diapers - one diaper for each day. So 4 wet diapers when she's 4 days old, etc. Up to 7 diapers on the 7th day, then it's 7 diapers after that.

If you are really concerned, take her to the pedi for a weight check.

[grey56]

Also, I don't know if I was ever "finished" nursing. It was like all running into each other. If she still is rooting, just keep her on there. I think ~12 times a day is normal.

[sjh722]

Feb 14, 2013 11:31:08 GMT -5 grey56 said:

Mine came in on Day 6. I took a syringe and squeezed the colostrum out, sucked it up with the syringe, and dropped it into LO's mouth. PP is right, it's super concentrated in calories.

Just make sure she's having the right number of wet diapers - one diaper for each day. So 4 wet diapers when she's 4 days old, etc. Up to 7 diapers on the 7th day, then it's 7 diapers after that.

If you are really concerned, take her to the pedi for a weight check.

This is what the LC at our breastfeeding class said to do - she had recently helped her own daughter that way too before her milk had come in.

Since this baby is still firmly inside of me, that is the extent of my knowledge so far.

[abseptember17]

A friend of mine had her milk come in at 2 weeks with her second. If you want to make nursing work, don't give up yet.

[lavender444]

Are you pumping? Bfing is all supply and demand. The more you demand, the more you'll make. I would rent a hospital grade pump and pump for 10 minutes after every feeding.

[teeah22]

DS nursed constantly the first several days, like every 45 minutes. And by that I mean 20 minutes on, 25 minutes off, repeat. I never had a moment of "omg my milk came in!" like everyone said would happen, I'm guessing because he was pretty much emptying it out as fast as it was being produced. So I'd try nursing more frequently if you can, and maybe ditch the pacifier until you've got a feeding system established.

[bearkatjen]

Nurse whenever the baby wants at this point, even if you think she just wants to use you as a paci, and drinks gobs of water. You need 13 cups of fluids a day while you nurse.