Expectant Mom Worried About Breastfeeding

My advise would be to find a lactation consultant. My daughter are 4 and 2. I needed help with both of them. With my first I struggled for 5 months to feed my daughter, it was very painfull and we were both frusterated. I went to the lactation consultant and we didn't have any more problem. It took one 30min visit. With my second child I got help right away. This made a huge difference. We had a lot better breast feeding experience.

This website offers ways to help- http://www.kellymom.com/bf/supply/index.html
Also, like the pp I'd look into the La Leche
league which offers great help from moms who have been there and lactation specialists who are available all the time. I know there's things like mother's milk tea that helps, etc. So definitely look into those 2 things! GL!

You may wish to do a little research regarding lactation consultants or get in touch with someone from La Leche League. Don't just rely on what the hospital has to offer as hospitals seem to be hit or miss and can be inconsistent with LCs. Talk to/interview a few before giving birth so you can find an LC with whom you will feel comfortable. Knowing ahead of time that you've got someone lined up may alleviate some of the stress and anxiety that can interfere with milk production. You will also have someone who can assist you in the first few weeks if the breastfeeding is not going well. Good luck to you!

If your doctor has not checked your thyroid hormone levels, ask her to check them.

First I want to assure you that you're not a failure because you couldn't breastfeed your son. Nor will you be a failure if you can't breastfeed this one. People who have c-sections are not failures at childbirth, they just find an alternate way to achieve their goal. You may have to do the same. I'm not sure if there is anything to help or not. Some people have no trouble & others have lots. You may not have any trouble this time. Stop worrying. It won't change the outcome. Just enjoy that new baby. Have fun.

With my first child, I was instructed to put warm packs/compresses on the breast for about 5 minutes and to also massage them. The warmth and stimulation would help with the let down of milk. My first child was also 6 weeks premature, so my milk wasn't "ready" to come in yet, so they had me pumping every 2-3 hours to stimulate my milk to come in. The first few times I pumped, I only produced a few drops, which can be frustrating but I turned into a milk maiden in just a few days!!!! I wouldn't worry about getting you milk to come in just yet, your body will sense your stress and when you baby comes, your baby will sense your stress also. Try to relax and ask to talk to a lactation specialist. They can help get you prepared. Most people have the misconception that breastfeeding is easy, but it's not. It's a definite art/science combination and A LOT of women struggle with it. Good luck to you and congrats on you new baby!!

My doctor gave me some pills to make my milk supply stronger and as an added effect, it also helps heartburn.

Hi H.,

Find a local chapter of the La Leche League! They are run by breastfeeding moms who have had training on many topics. They will be able to give you the best advice (based on personal experience as well as training provided by the La Leche League) to help you get past issues and problems. In case you aren't familiar with it, the international La Leche League is run by a panel of doctors, nurses, nutrition specialists, etc. They all have a special interest in making your breastfeeding experience a happy, healthy, successful one. You can go to this website for more info and help locating a local chapter:
www.lalecheleague.org

I highly encourage you to follow through with this. Breastfeeding can be the most precious time you will ever get to spend with your little one. Good luck to you.

C.

H.,

I have a few tips for you. I breastfed all three of my children, each one a little longer than the last. My first son for 3 months, the second for 6, and my daughter never wanted to stop! She was 2 when she was finally done. I am also a nurse.

First of all DO NOT massage your nipples while you are pregnant. This can actually cause your body to release small amounts of the hormone that is responsible for contractions while you are in labor and start your labor early.

Your breasts may not change while you are preganant, mine never did either. I will tell you, that the second time you breastfeed is much easier than the first. It seems like breastfeeding should be such a natural thing, but it is much harder than one would expect the first time. The most important thing I can tell you is relax. The more stressed and nervous you are about it the harder time you will have. Drink lots and lots of fluids after your baby is born and the entire time you breastfeed. There is not alot you can do before your daughter is born, but do nurse her as soon after delivery as you are able. Once she is born, the more she nurses the more milk your body will make to keep up with her. Again, plenty of rest and fluids will help alot with your supply. You may also want to have a lactation consultant visit you while you are in the hospital after delivery to give you some tips. She can help you get started and advise you on your technique, like if the baby is latching on properly and positions for nursing.

Congratulations on your little one and good luck! Relax and trust your body. You will do just fine.

The best advice I can give you is not to struggle alone. It is very rare for milk to not come in, but low supply does happen. Oatmeal is a natural stimulant to increase milk production and is nutritious as well, so do eat that if you can. However, any supplimenting with formula that you do will decrease your supply since milk production is based on supply and demand. What I would do is get recommendations for a good lactation consultant in your area now and that way if you have problems you have a good resourse. And who knows? Maybe this time there will be no problems! Good luck!

I agree with Trisha, the more stress you have, the more your body will react to it. I nursed both of my children until they were 12 months old and able to drink whole milk. Unfortunately I was not a good pumper. With that said, I still nursed just fine. Just try to relax with it and not let it consume your thoughts for the remainder of your pregnancy-enjoy the this time!

I wish you all of the luck with nursing your new little one and if for some reason you are unable to, please do not feel like a failure. For some reason, people are unable to nurse, but it is okay, there is really good formula out there. You are doing everything you can for your baby and that is a GREAT Mom!

I just wanted to let you know that while I didn't have exactly the same problem you did, I was unable to bfeed my first born due to dry, cracked, sore and bleeding nipples. When #2 was born, I learned about Lanolin (which I now recommend to ALL expectant moms) and with its help, I was able to nurse #s 2, 3 and 4. Just because you can't nurse #1 there is absolutely NO reason you should be unable to nurse subsequent babies

Please come and check out a La Leche League meeting, they have leaders who can help you, you can gain knowledge from attending meetings, be encouraged by other mothers who have breastfed, ect... The support is wonderful!! Check out LaLecheLeague.org for meetings in your area.

H.,

The first post you got was a really good post.

Another thing is please dont stress about it. I breastfed all of my girls. My youngest only til she was 6 wks old. Because I was stressing to much over her being in the hospital and all. I even tried to pump. The doctor just told me that is how my body was reacting to stress. It was just to much for my body to produce milk for her under those situations.

Just sit back and enjoy the moments. relax is the best thing i can say. And drink plenty of fluids. eat healthy. And let it come to you naturaly.

I really hope you are able to nurse you lil' gift. If you need help ask the nurses at the hospital to help you. They understand and some of the nurses had bf there children. So they understand.

Good luck and congrates!

One of the best resources for practical breastfeeding information is La Leche League. Find a local group, go to meetings even before your daughter is born. My older son is 21, and some of my best friends even now, are the women I met then.
Nursing on demand, not on a schedule is the best thing. Relaxing. Make sure the baby is "latching on" properly. If she's not, it will hurt & you will both get frustrated. Best of luck! I nursed both my boys for quite a while, and I think that's a big part of why they're pretty healthy, both physically & emotionally.

H.
I'm a mother of a 2 year old little girl and 4 month old little boy. I've breast feed both and I thank it can be very intemidating and very hard for all mothers. Its something the doctors and lactation nurses dont tell you about. The one thing I can say for sure is the more you stress about breast feeding the harder it is for your milk to come in. When it's time to breast feed your little girl it will come and if it does'nt work out look how great your little boy is, so formula is good to. I think it all works out in the end what works for your family . So relax and just try it and take it one day at a time. Good luck I hope it works out for you.

K.

H.,
First of all, congradulations on your upcoming birth! This is a very exciting time for you, I'm sure. Rest assured that your body knows how to feed this baby! Your milk will change over from the colustrum (which is perfect for those early days) to milk and adapt to meet the changing needs of that baby on a day by day basis. There is nothing you need to do in preparation. There are some things you can do during labor/birth to ensure the best possible opportunity and then once your baby is born to enhance the breastfeeding relationship. I'm not sure what caused your troubles with your first child, but most issues can be successfully remedied in the early days. There are many books out that are very helpful ie: The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding, and he Nursing Mother's Companion are 2 good ones that you can be reading up on now. Depending on where you give birth, there are usually lactation consultants on staff that you can meet with to make sure you are getting a proper latch/etc. I am a doula/childbirth educator/lactation counselor and would be happy to meet with you before you give birth to give you some additional ideas. You can peruse my website and if you're interested, give me a call. An initial meeting is no cost/no obligation. www.freewebs.com/heart2heartbirthmatters
I always include breastfeeding help with my doula packages, and most other doulas do as well. A couple other things to help you would be: immediate skin-to-skin contact upon birth, and kangaroo care. You can google those to get more info.
Blessings to you!
D. Easthon CD(DONA) ELCS, Lamaze trained CBE

do you have any other medical conditions?

talking to a lactation consultant, AND an EXPERIENCED LLL leader they can help you find out what is going on, and may reccommend a dr. that will prescribe a galactogogue (google this word:)

I would reccommend against any natural hormones like progesterone creams, as that can actually inhibit your mlik production.

how did your first delivery go? did you have any complications? sometimes if a piece of the placenta stays in the uterus then the body doesn't get the signal that the baby has been born, and your milk might not come it.
also a stressful birth could potentially have an inpact...

message me privatly if you have any other questions that i could help you with

M.
(cincinnati Birth doula)

Before you leave for the hospital, make sure you are stocked up on boxes of fenugreek tea and containers of lentil soup in the freezer! When you get home, make pitchers of the tea and drink it all day long. Lentils are known to help produce breast milk so make sure you have them at least one meal a day or more. If you dont like the tea, you can take fenugreek capsules. But your body will need the extra liquid, so the tea will help.

Relax... that is very important. And YES! Work those breasts NOW. All day every day... massage, twirl, and pinch! Do it yourself or get some help. I'm sure there is someone in your household that would love to help you with that!

By stimulating your breasts, and toughening up your nipples, you will avoid at least one common breastfeeding deterrent, sore nipples. The massaging and stimulating will also help your milk come in when the time is right.

Here is some "natural" remedies that I have tried: While pregnant, drink "pregnancy tea". you can get it at most health food stores. It helps your body prepare for birth (uterus, mostly) but helps keep your hormones balanced and may help with milk, since production is hormone related. Also, I personally do not produce lots and lots of milk like some of my mommie friends do. I didn't have much luck with my first, who is now 4 yrs old. But I was determined with my youngest, who is now 9 months old. I did everything "by the book" and still have some trouble, so I ordered "Mama's Milk Brew" from www.bulkherbstore.com. It is wonderful! The more I drink, the more I make; it has made a huge difference for me! You might try it?

I am a mother of 4. My milk would not come with my 1st child, so I pumped my milk for a while. I used breast like bottle nipples and he was able to use either after a while. But he still got the healthy start of breast milk. With my other 3 the milk came right in. I think the main thing in breast feeding is to relax. ENJOY YOUR CHILDREN!

H.,

I had a horrible time breastfeeding my first child. He never seemed to get enough and when I pumped, I struggled to get even a little bit. I had to supplement with formula which I wasn't ready to do. When I had my second son, it was totally different. He seemed to take to it bettter and I had more milk. So, maybe there's nothing you need to do about it now. Just wait to see if your daughter is different and your body reacts differently the second time around. Good luck!!

L.

You should check out www.breastfeeding.com this is a really helpful site - they offer free lactation consultants on tuesday and thursday, there are many articles and many members who have been in your shoes and can offer you moral support. Because of this site, I have been able to exclusively breastfeed my second son for 5 1/2 months now, and he was born premature. The ladies there helped me through his difficult, and unexpected NICU and to make the transition to full breastfeeding. It's a wonderful support network, and it is free.

Sometimes low milk supply can be a lack of hormones. There are natural ones that you can take...Try the health food store or I've also heard that Arbonne's is really effective..

Hi H.,
I hate to tell you this, but there are some women who don't produce milk at all. I have a friend who is one of them. She too never got tender, fuller breasts while pregnant and though that was odd. Sure enough, once she had the baby, they realized her body just does not produce milk. Don't beat yourself up about it. Your formula fed babies will be just as bright and wonderful as any other breast fed baby! Good luck and congrats on the upcoming arrival of your new baby!

Your milk won't come in unless there is a baby who needs it. It is a supply and demand thing. The baby demands it so your body supplies it.

I had the same problem as you. I never was able to give my first baby more than colestrum. My second nursed for about a week and a half then we quit because it was so painful and I never had enough milk to satisfy her. By the third time I was determined to make it work. I attended a breastfeeding class at Southview and the consultant there (who teaches the class) was great! I was able to nurse my baby for one month (without pain). I never did get a good supply of milk in, so I had to supplement. I was thankful to have a very supportive doctor who encouraged me to nurse for the bonding experience then bottle feed to meet nutritional needs. Having two other little ones to care for made it difficult for me to keep trying to get a larger supply of milk to come in. I noticed that the majority of my milk came in at night when I was rested. Drink lots of water. Some reccomend green tea. There are many things you can do to get your supply to increase. Get to a breastfeeding class and also get the phone numbers of some local La Leche League groups in your area!

Just remember that your milk will NOT come in until after the baby is born! It usually takes anywhere from 3-7 days. Babies only need a tiny bit of milk at the beginning and your body will increase the supply as the baby's appetite increases. Hang in there and good luck!

Usually your milk won't come in until after birth. I would just suggest that you rest a lot at the end of your pregnancy, eat very well and take your prenatal vitamins.
My breasts didn't get larger really until my milk came in after the baby. I understand how you could feel devastated, I wanted a drug free natural birth and due to complications had to have an emergency c-section. Whether you can nurse or not doesn't reflect on you as a mother, you may just not be able to. Your baby won't love you any less and probably doesn't even know the difference. We do because the information is all around us but that's why you feel the way you do. Don't be hard on yourself, keep in mind that there are women who won't even consider nursing and babies who won't nurse. Just your desire to do what you feel is best for your baby is what really matters. Good luck!!

H....

I was unable to nurse my 13 yr old (I was very young when I had her) and when she had to go on a bottle I cried for days as I feed her. I can understand the feeling like a failure, but you are NOT. Since then I have had 3 more kids... I nursed my 4 yr old for about 8 week, my 2 1/2 year old for about 3 months and my littlest 9 mo is still nursing though it's down to once a day (morning) - I have a hard time once I return to work... and with the littlest I was laid-off shortly after returning from my medical leave and just got called back in Jan.

I didn't have any changes in my breast durning my pregnacies except with the oldest... but the other moms are right, getting help never hurts. I'm lucky enough to have a sister that is about to get her certificate in this area.
Anyways... milk usually doesn't start coming in till a few days after the baby is born and has started nursing. And for the first month or so the babies always seem to be attached. It's not because you don't have milk... it's because they have such little tummies and they need to eat often, but don't be afraid to give a bottle every once in a while if you feel like you need a to. After about a month it gets a little easier, because they will stay full longer.

But try your best not to get upset or stressed out about nursing... this will only cause your supply to be less. I had someone tell me to eat oatmeal... not sure if it was in my head or not, but it did seem to help. It's suppose to have nature ingrediants that helps with milk production, and when I would eat it as an evening snack... I would wake up hurting from all the milk I had, but when I didn't they weren't as full. Also, drink lots of fluids when you are nursing... it helps too.

Good luck!!!! Remember, if it doesn't work... as long as the baby is healthy and happy you are a great mom and doing your job!!! Don't "beat" yourself up over nursing... it is a hard job!

Hi H.,
It seems to me I remember reading something about non-pregnant adopting mothers that wanted to breast feed might produce milk eventually by pumping their breasts on a regular basis. I'm so sorry though, I don't remember where I read that at. I'm sure it was a pregnancy book though. Hope this helps. God Bless and good luck! N. L.

H.,
I am currently trying to breastfeed my 2nd child and I stuggle with milk production as well. On my doctors advise, as I write this I am drinking my 1st cup of "Mothers Milk" tea. He says there is no medical "proof" but he knows of several women that swear by it. I cant tell you if it works or not since I am just starting, but it may help you. I added the tea bag to hot water along with the flavored tea bag of your choice. You can get it an any health food store for $5-6$. Hope this helps.

my sister in law had no change in her breasts during pregnancy, and has successfully nursed two babies, so i hope that is encouraging! i have also nursed two, and i found the "mother's milk" tea to REALLY boost supply. also, carrot juice and chocolate are said to help. blessings to you.

My suggestion would be, make sure you drink a lot of water, especially in the beginning. Make sure you are drinking 8 glasses and then after each feeding, try to drink another one. So you will be drinking more than you normally would, but this is what should help your supply. Your body needs to stay hydrated. Also, you may want to consider pumping after each feeding. This will help the milk come in faster and generally more.

Hope it helps,
T.

Most hospitals have lactation consultants on staff and a breastfeeding support group. Start going to to them NOW! Get all the tips and advice you can before you give birth. That way you'll be armed with knowledge for that very important first latch on.

I'm currently breastfeeding my 3rd child, who's 7 months old, and fully intend to nurse her until at least 18 months like I did her brother and sister. My breasts never changed size during or after pregnancy. As for milk coming in, the best thing to do is have the child nurse ALOT but he/she must be latched on correctly. You can expect to nurse for 30-45 minutes with only 1-2 hours between for the first couple weeks. That is the best way to ensure your milk will come in. Only in very rare cases does the milk not come in if the child is allowed to nurse as much as he/she needs. Not all kids need to nurse that often, but some do.

Talk with a lactation consultant before the baby is born. Stress and worrying is one of the best ways to ensure your milk will NOT come in... stress greatly affects your milk supply. You might have a real medical reason why your milk won't come in. If that's the case, don't beat yourself up over it. No matter how your baby is fed, I'm sure he/she will be loved and fed well and that's the important thing.

I know what you are going through. I could not feed my first daughter because my milk came in 4 weeks after i had her. So when i had my second daughter, the doctors started using the breast pump immediately after delivery. It worked. Ask your doctor if you might be able to start earlier or if not start it right after delivery. Hope all works out well for you.

I had a hard time getting my milk to come in for my first child as well. It was easier with the second. There were several things that helped to get it to come in, but some women are not able to breastfeed. Please do not feel like a failure. I know it's hard to feel that way, but your baby will be healthy and happy without breastmilk.

I drank about 2 gallons of water a day, ate consistently throughout the day, breastfed and pumped at each session. I would keep pictures of little one and a piece of his clothing near me when I pumped to help stimulate the release of natural chemicals to stimulate milk flow.

I did meditation, deep breathing exercises, and yoga to help relax and release the milk flow. Any amount of stress can inhibit milk flow. I noticed that when I was with my son and touched him, the milk would flow more easily. I guess he was my natural destressor. ;-)

I used the FenuGreek herbal tablet. I feel like that did help a bit. It was a suggestion from a pediatrician.

I suggest getting in touch with the lactation consultants from the hospital and in the community. I used a lactation consultant that sold breast pumps as well... Breast Pumps-To-Go.

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Hi H.,
I had problems breasfeeding my 1st daughter. My milk was very slow to come in and I honestly had no idea what I was doing and unfortunately the nurses at the hospital were no help. I ended up quiting 5 days later. My 2nd daughter was very different. I took a breastfeeding class and made sure I had the lactation consultant in my room no more than 3 hours after delivery. Make sure they know you want to breastfeed, don't let them push formula on you. Try to get him on your breast as soon after delievery as possible. I had a c-section and was able to breastfeed in recovery probably 20 minutes after surgery. Try to put him to breast every 2 hours, even if he is asleep and let him nurse for as long as he wants. I have become very fond of a place here in Ohio called The Breastfeeding Center. She has everything and anything you could possibly imagine to help. The owner is also a certified lactation consultant and she can give you any advice you need, before and after the birth. Here is her website. www.thebreastfeedingcenter.com Check it out, send her an email or give her a call. She is always happy to help anyone. Good luck!!!
T.

My milk not come in either, my breasts didn't get large or hard after he was born. They did give me a medication and I pumped all the time, very frustrating, maybe I would get two ounces per day. However, the lactation consultant did suggest the tube feeding method. This was not for me, I just didn't want it that bad. This is how it works. You put the formula in the tube/system, the thin tube is applied to your nipple. So the baby latches on and gets formula. After a few weeks, you will fool mother nature and have more milk than you know what to do with. This exactly what mothers who adopt babies do. Request this to your lactation consultant right after your baby is born so you can star @ home the sooner the better
Good luck, because you are so determined I'm sure it will work

H.--I feel your pain. I tried with both of mine for six weeks: "power pumped," took domperidone, blessed thistle, fenugreek--nothing worked. The lack of changes to your breasts during pregnancy sounds like my situation, too. I just lacked the mammary tissue that produces the milk. I talked to a lactation specialist who recommends seeing her during pregnancy if I have a third child. She thinks that progeterone cream could help develop breast tissue. Have a look at mobimotherhood.org, which addresses the inability to breastfeed better than any other source I've encountered. It especiall helped me with the feelings of inadequacy. Good luck!

When your baby is born, breastfeed "on demand." That means, whenever she's showing hunger cues (sucking on her fist, smacking her lips), no matter what the nurses OR your doctor may say. They are often not trained to assist people in breastfeeding. Babies do not live by two hour schedules. Also, don't give in to supplementing with formula. Your breasts work on a supply vs. demand, and when the demand is decreased by formula, your supply is decreased as well. Those are the two most important things to a sucessful breastfeeding relationship. Keep in mind that most people's milk takes up to a week to come in fully. Until then, the baby gets the colostrum that meets all her nutritional needs.

If you still feel like you're having problems with supply, eat oatmeal- as much as you can fit into a balanced diet, and/or try some supplements such as fenugreek and brewer's yeast. You can find them both at GNC.

I would also suggest setting up a support system- it helps to have like-minded people around to compare experiences and get inspiration. Look up the La Leche League chapter in your area or find out if the hospital where you're going to deliver has a support group. Most leaders of those groups encourage you to come while you're still pregnant. You can address any questions, concerns or fears before your baby gets here that way.

Good luck, and I hope I helped!

Pumping will help your body, if able, to produce milk. Definitely speak with your OB or your Pediatricians office about your experience last time. Your pediatrician should have a lactation consultant on staff....they are there to help you! Utilize them, they know lots of tricks on how to get your breast milk production up and how to get an effective nursing session from your newborn. These women are great! Best of luck to you!

I have BF all 4 of my children each with their own set of difficulties, supplimenting tubes, etc. Yet I was able to BF all four. Here's my tips for those first few months when it is so hard: I don't think you need to massage your nipples or anything like that. Get a bottle of Fennugreek, wait until the baby comes, no need to start yet. It makes your armpits smell like maple syrup, but hey, there could be worse things to smell like. Also, very important - - rent the good breastpump from the hospital for the first month. I have 4 different pumps and I never use them because nothing works as good as the one from the hospital. Get over the hump, then have hubby return it for you.
If baby is too sleepy, etc. and you need to suppliment, have the bottle with one ounce ready, tease baby with a drop or two of breastmilk or formula, then stop and get baby to latch on. It is so time consuming in the beginning, but it is so worth it later.
If you are having trouble with latch on etc. call the lactation dept. of the hospital. I have done it even with my 4th child.
Each child is different. Your 2nd baby might come out ready to eat and keep eating and not even have any problems. Try not to worry ahead of time and take each BF difficulty one at a time.

Hi! I am the mother of three children, ages 10, 7 & 4 1/2. I breastfed all of my kids and fortunately had an abundance of milk. I was told by several moms when I first started that if your milk supply was low to breastfeed more to increase the flow. I don't know if this would work if your milk has not come in yet, but my milk always came in 2-3 days after I had my baby. I have heard some friends having problems with their milk coming in...it could by that everyone is different or you may want to increase the length of time & frequency you are initially nursing from the very start. Also, if you have a LaLeche League in your area they were wonderful with my first child. If you are unable to go to meetings, I'm sure you can talk to someone over the phone or email. I think you are headed in the right direction by educating yourself now, before the baby comes. April 26 is my youngest' birthday! Good luck!! Debbie

Hi H. - I am a mother of 4 and nursed my 1st one for 3 years - I too struggled for about 3 months but stayed with it. I then went on to nurse my 2nd one for 2 1/2 years - nursing them together for 1 full year. I am now tandem nursing my 19 mo and 3 month old. I strongly suggest talking to a lactation consultant and also attending LaLeche meetings. You will find them to be what you need if you do find this nursing experience to be a struggle.

As far as what to do for your milk to come in - I don't think that there is anything that you need to do at this point. Just relax and attend some LaLeche meetings. Good luck! Contact me personally if you want some help in finding a local one.

Contact your local La Leche League group ASAP! They are the BEST at providing mother to mother support for breastfeeding. The leaders are extensively trained to help with problems (they also do phone help and often personal consultations) and other moms are always there to share their own stories and insights, which can be invaluable. Some moms go to the meetings because they have problems and some go because they just want to meet other breastfeeding moms. (You can bring your toddler/preschooler to meetings as well.) We encourage pregnant moms to come so that they can head off any problems before they start! (When we had a pregnant mom there last month, most of the other moms said they WISHED they had come while they were pregnant--it would have been so helpful!) Don't be concerned that you would be the only mom who hadnt nursed a child there. We have a mom in our group right now who tried to nurse her first and wasn't able, but started coming to meetings when she was pregnant with her second and has now been nursing her second for 10mo. So I would look up your local La Leche League meetings on the www.llli.org site and go to a meeting as soon as possible. And I would also read "The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding" by La Leche League. It's the La Leche League "Bible" for breastfeeding and full of all sorts of amazing info. Good luck! Keep in mind that nursing is a LEARNED behavior for both moms and babies, so it does take some work and time. But it's an amazing journey and one that is well worth it!!

My milk came in as I was leaving the hospital after giving birth. Don't beat yourself up if you can't breastfeed, plenty of kids are not breastfed and they're healthy and happy. I think too much pressure is put on mom's to "do the right thing" by overzealous breastfeeding enthusiasts. Other things are more important!! That said, I loved the help I got from the Fairview Hospital lactation consultants. Please call them and talk to them, they helped me out several times and their advice was always the best. When you call you get an answering machine. They will call you back the same day if you reach them before they leave - around 2ish. It's free and they don't care if you've been a patient at Fairview or not.

I go to 2 hostpital support groups (you don't have to deliver at Community to attend) and La Leche League in Castleton. LLL suggests you attend meetings before giving birth. Let me know if you'd like info on times and places of them. I also know when Broad Ripple's LLL meetings are. I think there are a few other groups in the area as well.

Pumping can help, massaging your nipples doesn't do anything for problems. It's an old wive's tale that you need to "toughen your nipples" before breastfeeding so don't bother, it will just hurt and might put you in to pre-term labor! There are also a couple herbs and supplements that can help. There is a prescription or two that make a difference. Oatmeal every day and hopps (in beer) can also make a difference. Being relaxed can really affect it, so try not to get too stressed and always make sure you are well-hydrated.

If all else fails, there is a milk bank in Indianapolis and if you get a prescription from your pediatrician, most insurance companies will pay for donor milk. Don't beat yourswelf up about it, it sounds like you did everything you could to make it work. If it doesn't work out this time, there's no shame in using formula when you can't breastfeed. Obviously, your baby has to eat and there's only so much you can do :)

Good Luck! PM me if you want more info on anything I mentioned.

Hi H. - I too was unable to breastfeed my first child due to my milk never coming in. I also felt like a complete failure. However, my second child was 3 months premature and I was able to pump a huge amount of milk for him, which was a godsend since he really needed the natural antibodies from me. I then had no problem breastfeeding my third child. Hang in there and and remember that each pregnancy and birth is different. You hopefully will have no problems breastfeeding your second and will find it one of the most rewarding experiences of your life (at least I did).

There was an article recently in yahoo news that said there may be a link between the epidural and troubles breastfeeding. As far as bringing down your milk, I would ask for a pump during your hospital stay. Seems to just get things going a bit. Good luck! Shannon
PS. Please discuss the epidural / breastfeeding link with your doc. My first pregnancy no epidual. Did fine with breastfeeding. Second, had c section so I had an epidural. I had lots of trouble and eventually gave up.

When my little one was born prematurely I was forced to pump and when she was ready to eat my milk was coming in soooo much that I almost drowned her (just kidding). Maybe this will help your milk to come in???

Don't stress yourself out over this yet. I nursed my first for a year, and my second for almost 2 months. My youngest wouldn't latch on right and then he got frustrated. I ended up pumping for a while but couldn't keep up with his demand and my older child at the same time. We finally ended up giving him formula and he's perfectly healthy. I felt guilty about not being able to give my son breastmilk. Friends and family reassured me that I was giving him everything he needed when I gave him a bottle by talking, singing and cuddling him. PLease don't feel guilty if it doesn't work out.

M. mom of two