How long before milk comes in?

Lisa0922

Tomorrow will be a week since I delivered.  At the hospital I was supplement feeding bc DS's blood sugar level's were low and the nurses wanted to make sure he was eating enough.  I did not seem to be producing a lot of colostrum and DS was having a hard time latching bc my nipples were a little flat.  The past 3 days I started pumping and I am getting some colostrum, but not much (today- only an ounce).  Could it be possible my milk might not come in?  I would have thought I would have been pumping more colostrum.  There's no way DS would be getting enouhh.

charlatti

I think if you're able to get an ounce, that's milk, but I don't know that for sure.  Can you check with an LC or your OB?

Sassystace

Are you nursing as well as pumping?  The stimulation will help with your milk coming in.  I had my DD on a Thursday and my milk can in by Tuesday and that seemed like a long wait.  Your DS would probably have a hard time latching if your nipples weren't flat too--it takes a while for both baby and mom to figure it out.  Seek out an LC and get help asap if you want to make this work.  It's hard to judge what your DS is getting by pumping.  If your DS is having wet/poopy diapers and not losing weight he is getting enough.

marrymemylove

An ounce is a LOT of colostrum. The newborn tummy can't hold any more than 2oz, some less than that. A week is pretty common, if it goes 10 days get a Rx for domperidone. Problem solved. BTW pumping before your milk was due was probably part of the problem. You would have crowded out BFing sessions that would have stimulated production more than a plastic milking machine. When DS was born he scarcely got anything I swear the first 5 days, and he was just fine with no supplements. And I was feeding him pretty much round the clock less 2 hours. Really, he was literally at the breast 22 hours a day. You can't do that when you have a pump attached. No harm done if you get a Rx and get supply up.

mjcleve

If you pumped an oz, I'm guessing that it is milk!

If you are having troubles with flat nipples, I would highly recommend nipple shields.  They worked great for me.  You should be primarily nursing to establish your milk supply and only pumping one or two times a day to help increase your supply.

murphyec

Yeah, that sounds like milk to me.  I thought colostrum only came out in a few tablespoons, not an ounce.  My milk came in really soon, like day 4, so I am no help there.  My friend had an early c-section due to pre-e and her milk took about a week to come in.