Colostrum Powder

breastfeeding moms whose milk came in late?

My baby is 7 months now. I am asking this so that I know what to do with my second child. I had a c-section and I breastfed immediately. In the hospital I was such a proud mom b/c he had no problems latching on - I had heard this was the hardest part about breastfeeding. Anyway, after 2 days, my baby had lost more than 10% of his body weight. I was, of course frantic-only colostrum (sp?) was coming out. Hence, I supplemented with formula. Anyway, I kept breastfeeding and supplementing with formula for 3 months. Also,I was pumping with "in style medela" every day for 3 months and only getting 2 ounces per each 20-30 minute sitting (UGH). Anyway, I eventually just stopped because I was so depressed after each "feeding" seeing him still hungry. Here is my question, for anyone whose milk came in late or were in a similar situation as me initially, how did you get your body to produce more milk?

Public Comments

1. Late? Breastmilk doesn't come in until 3-7 days post partum. Babies are designed to only eat colostrum their first week of life... that's why it's there. The weight loss isn't a concern unless they do not regain that weight by their two week appointment. Also, pumping is no indicator of supply. Nothing is as efficient as a baby at getting the milk out. I think in your case, you were sabotaged before you even got started. Breastfeeding is supply and demand, and if you don't nurse, your milk supply will never fully come in. Supplementing means that is a feeding you didn't signal your body to make milk for. There are, however, a number of supplements that can be taken to improve your supply. Fenugreek, oatmeal, both are natural means. REglan, a prescription reflux medication, can also increase supply, but must be prescribed by the doctor. My daughter nursed every hour to an hour and a half, for 30-45 minutes... she never had a drop of formula, continued to gain weight, and it didn't mean she wasn't getting enough... she just nursed more frequently because she needed it!
2. I totally agree with the first answer. Your milk didn't come in "late", you sabotaged yourself by using formula. Babies most often lose 10% or so the first week- that's totally normal, to be expected even. Colostrum is all your baby needs until your milk comes in. I'm glad you're looking into it now... better late than never I guess. Check out http://www.kellymom.com Trust your bodies, women- it WILL make enough milk.
3. Eating food really helps...and drinking extra water. MY milk took a week to come it...I kept nursing and giving a bottle...but once the milk came in, I stopped supplementing with formula.
4. well you say your milk came in late, but 2 days is not late, it can take a week for the real stuff to come in, and until then colostrum is definitely sufficient to get your baby through, they do not need formula. and its normal for babies to lose alot of weight in the beginning. with your next baby, just keep breastfeeding, no formula, that will make it take longer for your breasts to adjust to how much they need to make. good luck. x
5. If your still producing milk... Try to get you some of the herb Fenugreek. Take 3, 3times a day and eat ya a bowl of oatmeal every morning. I did this to up my supply (I pumped for 2 months, still pumping and working on breastfeeding latch now) and this helped my supply double in size!!
6. Breastmilk CAN come in late, I was told so by a lactation consultant. My milk did not come in after a week, and my baby was starving and jaundiced. We used an SNS for a few weeks, filling it with both pumped milk as wellas formula, to feed my son and to stimulate milk. I later discovered that I have a breast deformity, and I will never produce adequate milk. I continued to use the SNS for a few more months, then I switched to bottles. I have always had to use some formula, I just can't make milk in one of my breasts. We nurse both breasts to empty, then my son takes 3-4 oz of formula, then he will often comfort nurse after his bottle. It works for us.
7. Supplementing is a slippery slope, especially since you started before you had established your milk supply. And no pump is as efficient at extracting milk as a baby is. I also had a C-section, and didn't get to see my daughter until 12 hours later (she was perfectly fine, the nursing staff were EVIL and wouldn't let me see her!). She latched on perfectly and hasn't had a problem. I also didn't get my milk for about 5 days, but that's normal, especially with C-sections. She lost more than 10% as well, but gained it all back quickly in a couple weeks, with nursing on demand. She's still nursing now at 15 months and hasn't had a bottle ever. If you plan on having another baby, don't worry like you did. He would have been just fine, and your future kids will be also. Get some good breastfeeding books (my personal favorite is "So That's What They're For!" by Janet Tamaro), and just have confidence in your body. God designed women to carry babies inside our bodies, and nourish them as well! :)
8. u know what did this, the low milk supply , the formula, its normal in the first days of breastfeeding that the milk supply is low . most mum, and me as one of em , have the feeling they have low milk supply , and start supplementing with formula. and pumping isnt effective as nursing. u wont believe it my baby now is 5 months old ,and am still having trouble breastfeeding. he had to feed formula for medical reasons, i was pumping , little milk supply ,then pumping more often and when back to breastfeeding it was horrible , my baby was crying , it was a fight. i began to decrease the bottle and increase breastfeeding, and when intreducing a bottle i pump in that feed. i had such a hard time , now i breast feed him only 1 bottle a day . i feel my milk supply never was back to normal . my advice for next baby, breast feed exlusivly unless ur babay AFTER EMPTYING ur breasts needs more.\ in shorts what brought my milk supply back to normal 1 breastfeeding( main ) 2 drinking lots of water , abt 90 oz a day 3 fenugreek , 15 capsule a day.
9. Take shatavari ayurvedic product available in powder, tablets and ready to mix and drink with milk form.
10. Wow....sounds like you had a really rough time. Sounds like you also got some really bad advice as well. "Real" milk doesn't come in for about a week. Usually by day 4 the mature milk begins to come in, it's about a 2 week process. During the first few days, all the baby is getting is colostrum, because that's all the baby NEEDS. If he still acts hungry, put him on the breast. As long as he's wetting at least 6-8 diapers a day and pooping regularly, he's getting enough. The whole 10% rule is garbage, and it doesn't fit with many scenarios. You say you had a C-section. That means you had IV fluids running when you rolled through the doors of the OR, and probably had a couple of liters of fluid on board by the time they got the baby out. IV fluids skew the birth weight of many babies, causing them to be slightly heavier because of the fluid retention, so of course they're going to lose that! The key things to remember are these. The first few days, before your milk comes in, your baby is getting all that he needs IF you put him to the breast every time he acts hungry. There is no need to supplement. His tummy is roughly the size of a pea. Doesn't take much chow to fill up something the size of a pea, does it? The more he sucks, the more your breast will be stimulated and the faster the mature milk will come in. As long as he's having 6-8 wet diapers a day, he's getting enough. Also keep in mind that the first several weeks are the hardest, because baby is working on getting your supply established. Some days it feels as though all you have done is nurse the baby. Breast milk is also more easily digestible than formula, therefore it passes through baby's system more quickly, so they need to eat more frequently. It doesn't mean that there's anything wrong with your milk. Just nurse more! Don't forget to drink plenty of fluids and eat a healthful diet. Good luck to you! Remember, the answer to almost every question about increasing your supply is to nurse more.