Hoping for Encouragement While Waiting for Milk to Come In

I don't know if you would feel comfortable w/ this or not , some people do , some don't... Drink a beer. I was having problems w/ milk & sons pediatrician suggested beer.

Ahhh I remember being so worried that my babies were not getting enough and felt my milk was not coming in fast enough or maybe not at all. It is hard when with formula you have a bottle with actual ounces imprinted on it and you are just guestimating when it is you! Too bad we can't have some electronic device that monitors that the way they can monitor everything else in this crazy high tech world! Hang in there...it will happen! And someday you can remember this time of anxiety and pay it forward by helping ease another mama's worries!

If you have diapers to change, everything is okay.

His suckling constantly is good... not only is he getting tons of the colostrum but also priming your breasts for the necessary production speed. Keep in mind the newborn's stomach is about the size of a large marble or small walnut. Not much can fit in there!! I know it's hard, but if you can try to get the 2 year old out of the house for a few hours a day so you can relax and lay down with and snuggle your new baby while you are trying to establish nursing.

Keep it up and try going to a la leche league meeting or something like that in your area to get your little one weighed before and after a feeding in a couple of days to ease your mind!

Count the diapers. And remember that the colostrum is super concentrated so it doesn't take much!

Also you are NOT a substitute pacifier-- a pacifier is a substitute YOU! (and not a very good one at that!)

A local La Leche League leader may be VERY helpful, to check his latch and provide trained in person support and advice you can find one at http://www.llli.org/webus.html

I was bound and determined to exclusively bf. I refused to formula supplement (in part because I resorted to sup. with first baby and it was the beginning of the end of breast feeding). That said, before I left the hospital at day 3 (c-section), a wonderful lactation consultant caught a problem (same as you , weak suck). baby was going barely 1 hour between feedings day and night. She told me with a whole lot of concern and experience that if I continued the way I was, I was headed for burn out. She was right. I am so glad I let go of my rigid determination not to formula supplement. My body needed rest to produce milk and without a baby going at least 2 hours between feedings, I was not going to make milk. She taught me how to syringe feed (avoid bottles for the first 10 days). Ideally you want to supplement with your own expressed breast milk. When you cannot, use a little formula to get you past the hump, just to get baby to go 2-3 hours between feeding so you can rest and not burn out. My milk never "came in". Babies week suck prevented good supply. I had to go on a rigid 8 time a day pumping schedule for a while. It was brutal and I recruited all the support I could get. Email me privately if you want. Also, get yourself in to see a lactation consultant asap. I really hope things improve for you.

First child, a boy, I was certain I could do the all natural route. Didn't even have a pump. Well, he was born 9 lbs 9 oz and when he dropped below 9 lbs doctors told me I had to supplement and said threatening things about "renal failure." So I remember holding my son, giving him a bottle of formula, and weeping while my husband ran to the store and got a pump. I am proud to say my son wound up nursing for more than two years and other than four ounces of formula on his fourth day of life, never had a drop of the stuff. We wound up needing a nipple shield so that he could get a better latch and it worked like a charm. After a couple of months of that, he knocked it off one day and never needed it again.

Second delivery blessed me with twin girls. One was born with an amazing latch. The other, not so much. She lost weight and had a really hard time putting it back on. I nursed them at the same time so that Twin A could activate my letdown for Twin B, but B would dribble out half the milk she got. Again, doctors and even a lactation consultant said "You have to supplement." They also told me I had to Super Pump because they were afraid my body wasn't making enough milk to sustain twins. So they got me a hospital-grade pump and told me to use it every three hours (in addition to the time I was already nursing.) Rather than supplementing outright, I fortified expressed milk with a special formula for premies. My twins were born full term, but since twin B was dribbling so much away, I wanted her to get the biggest caloric bang for her buck with what she did swallow.

This Hell lasted about two months. It was very hard, but we made it through. Now my twins are 14 months old and healthy and happy. (They nursed until recently as well.)

I know with all three children I felt a lot like a pacifier in those first weeks. However, there is nothing better than that skin contact for helping to stimulate milk production. Also, try to be as calm as you can manage. When you are tense, everything moves slower. In Germany, they used to give nursing mothers a beer. (My Grandmother said the one they gave her had a picture of a nursing mother on the label.)They said it helped stimulate production, but I am certain they were also counting on the relaxing nature of the alcohol. And no, one beer (even a German one) isn't going to hurt the baby.

Enjoy this time as best you can. It is over too soon.

Give it some time, it will work out!

Hugs and support! Congrats on the new baby!!! My milk took 5 days to come in with baby #3! I exclusively bf, he's now a very hearty 8 month old, nurses like a champ. His suck was fine, it was just slow to come in...I was freaking out...but everything was fine fine fine. Pumping did nothing, don't bother!

Keep letting that baby suck and bring your milk in. Are you getting the colustrum to come out? You can always call the local lactation nurses station. Most hospitals have a free number to call and get lactation advice.
Count the baby's poops and pees and you will know if he is getting enough.
Here are some links to help you figure out what's right or not. Plus you have a pediatrician.
http://www.babycenter.com/0_how-to-tell-whether-your-baby...

http://www.breastfeedingbasics.com/articles/how-can-i-tel...

Stick with it. Make sure you yourself are getting all the food and drink that you need. Sleep may be hard to come by right now. Can you hire a neighborhood kiddo to come be a "mother's helper" during the Christmas holiday break? So many kids are "bored" at home when mom and dad have to work during the winter break. Maybe they can make $5 and hang out at your house and play with your toddler for a couple hours while you and baby nap in the room down the hall or while you take a bubble bath during the baby's nap. Hang in there! Try to nap when you can! Good luck!

Hang in there!!! You and your little guy will be fine. If I were you, I would make an appointment with a lactation consultant as soon as you feel comfortable. I met with mine about 4 days after I got home and she put me completely at ease. After that, I had the most wonderful experience nursing my daughter.

I really wouldn't worry about pumping right now. Your body knows what to do without that. Maybe try pumping in a few weeks but right now, focus on your son and him nursing.

Congratulations!

I had to pump for about 2 months since my first was born early and could not latch on. You will KNOW when the milk comes in because I went from barely a B cup to vavavoom size D or more. It actually hurt to be so full. There is no mistaking it. This is from a lactation consultant on
http://www.babycenter.com/404_how-many-days-will-it-take-...
"Even before you give birth, your milk is already "in." The colostrum you've produced since you were about four months pregnant is milk. However, we generally refer to the surge in milk volume and the change in composition as the milk "coming in". In the normal course of events, your milk will change and increase in volume even if you don't breastfeed your baby. When the placenta is delivered, the hormone that causes milk production (prolactin) goes to work. So whether or not you put your baby to your breast, your body will make milk.
If you're a first-time mom, you'll probably notice your milk increasing about three to four days postpartum, with your breasts getting fuller, firmer, and heavier. If you've had a very difficult delivery, or if you notice a lot of extra swelling (edema) in your body after a prolonged induction with an epidural, you may find that it takes a day or two more for the milk volume to increase. With your second or later babies, you're likely to notice it a bit earlier, at around two to three days. These time frames are averages — some moms have milk earlier, some later. Your baby is getting colostrum from the start, though, so don't worry that he has nothing to eat"

I was told baby's are born with 3 days supply of food. Since you are pumping, why not rub a little taste on the nip for him and see if that entices him to work a little harder.

Not to mention...I was determined to BF and wasn't quite sure how things would work. I managed with a nagging MIL to give that baby a bottle!

Hang in there. No need to supplement. That tiny bit of he gets is just what is new self needs... as long has he's not dehydrated, that's probably better than formula which is designed for older babies. With my son, my milk came in after our second day home, so he was on day 4 by then. When my milk came in it came in with a vengeance (ouch)!

Hang in there. :) (I've been told a glass of wine just before can help you relax and let down... just food for thought).

You and the baby will be fine. My milk didn't come in until day 5 and we all survived and thrived! Its kind of scary because you want to feel that the baby is getting plenty of milk, but realistically they don't need that much the first couple of days. Hang in there and take good care of yourself! Nature will take its course and everything will be fine!

You can do it. I breastfed both of my toddlers, and the first few days were always the hardest - and scariest - because you dont know what they are getting, and you are just hoping they are ok.

I think what you are doing sounds just fine - or maybe you dont even need to pump right now?

If you are worried about what he is getting, you can get a lactation consultant and they will come out and weigh your son before and after he feeds. Sometimes their may be some through your hospital or insurance, but that was not covered under mine. Around here a lactation consultant is @ $100 for a visit. If your still worried after a week or two, it might be worth it for the peace of mind.

As long as your son does not seem dehydrated, and is having dirty diapers I really would not worry about it.

Congratulations! Good job and keep with it.

keep strong mama it will all work out!

http://www.kellymom.com/bf/normal/newborn-nursing.html
Wonderful article from Kellymom about those first few days. Check to make sure your baby is making enough dirty diapers and passing the meconium (early blackish green sticky poops). As your milk comes in they'll go to yellow.
It can take a few days for your full milk to come in. The more you nurse the faster it will come in.
Congratulations on your new baby!

Oh, I remember that first week. My DD was dropping weight left and right and it took 4 days for my milk to come in...
Just hang in there and keep nursing him. Forget the pump! If he wants to be attached to your boob just let him, his sucking will stimulate your milk production more than anything else. If he doesn't appear dehydatrated and produces wet diapers he is likely fine! Remember that newborns have stomachs the size of a marble and really cannot hold down more than an ounce at a time.

Now is the time to call in all those favors and offers of help! Have people come in to take care of your toddler so you can rest and recuperate with your newborn!
Congrats and good luck!

I breastfed all five of my kids and currently breastfeeding my 19 month old. My milk always came in eventually. I never pumped or supplemented. You don't need to. Doctors and nurses always fuss about that (except for the wise ones) thinking you should supplement. They had reasons why I should supplement with all of mine but I never did. They weren't ligitament reasons but mainly because of unwilling to wait for my milk or because of the birth weight not being what they thought it should. Crazy! Keep up the good work and don't worry about pumping.

My third is 4 wks today, congrats on your little one! What I did when I was waiting was I would just give my boob a little squeeze and see that liquid come out and I would feel much better. Also, chart your little one's urine and stool output. The hospital probably sent you home with some paperwork on what he should be doing in that dept. I have two others so I charted every time bc I knew I could never remember. I actually charted his output for the first two weeks and I was very pleased to see he was right on target. So I think that might help a lot bc you will see he is peeing and pooping and you will feel relived, I sure did. I also charted which breast I last fed on and checked my chart every time for the first two weeks. That way I ensured that I was starting on the correct breast each time and giving him that good fatty hind milk. Hope this helps, I think my milk came in on day 3 or so, I think you are fine and I agree that his wanting to nurse all the time is totally normal and a great sign that he is going to be a good little eater!

I have a 7 week old - so I've been there not that long ago!! She also has a weak suck - even now. I just nursed her whenever she wanted the first few weeks and it gets better - there were times she nursed every 1 1/2 hours. She does every 2 hours during the day most times and is sleeping 6 hours at night, a quick nurse and back down for another 4 hours. I just started using a pacifier at night so she'll sleep, I was nursing every 2 hours around the clock and couldn't take it anymore. The pacifier really helps her, I think she also needs to suck a lot. Good luck, it'll get better, I promise!!

With a 2nd child your milk will probably come in even sooner than it did with your first child because your body is all primed and ready...it "KNOWS what to do to feed that little one!! Try and relax...drink lots of water...maybe some mothers milk tea...you are going to be fine. Don't even think about supplementing with formula...that is just sabotaging your breastfeeding efforts.
The more your little one suckles, the more milk you are going to be producing...as you know this is the original supply and demand situation!!
Congratulations on your new little bundle of joy !!!

Yes, my first it took about 3 days before both of us had it all figured out. Like you, I agonized about whether I was starving the kid to death. We just laid in bed together most of the time and tried it every imaginable way. On the third day, his latched tightened, then I let down and nearly drowned the poor kid!

All three of them were different. It IS sressful not knowing what he's getting, isn't it?

Keep at it, maybe today's the day!

(btw, pumping didn't help me let down either, it just hurt. BUT after my milk came in, pumping in addition to nuring was a God send. All three of mine would talk BM in a bottle as well as nursing)

Congratulations!!

:)

Kellymom.com has lots of good info for you.

Collostrum, what first comes in, is superfood. Baby needs very little to be satisfied. I would not worry yet. Keep an eye on baby's output and nurse, nurse, nurse. The output will tell you about the input, as will the baby's behavior. You may get very little from pumping at this point, and also bear in mind that pumping is not equal to baby and some women don't do as well pumping, but nurse their babies quite well. Babies that age ALWAYS want to nurse and you can feel like a pacifier, but it's helping your supply. It will pass. Just try to get a shower every day and not worry.

Try to relax! Can you get a postnatal massage and have warm compresses? In my area there is a company that comes to your hospital or home after birth (for a fee) and pampers mommy a little. I've never had it done, but they advertise that their services help milk come in. Good luck - you're doing great!