Milk Coming In (Re-Post from Breastfeeding)

k8edgerton

My milk started coming in yesterday evening (4 days postpartum). I was able to pump 20 ml yesterday and so far today (@2:00 p.m.) I've pumped 30ml.

I am still working on the latch with a nipple guard but I have been pumping every 2-2.5 hours to make sure everything is coming in. I had breast reduction surgery 6 years ago and I knew that breastfeeding would be hard. I was so excited when milk started squirting out yesterday. However, not much is really coming out. I am really hoping to be able to breastfeed and if I cannot get the latch (another problem that is a side effect from the surgery), I am hoping to exclusively pump. I really want my baby to have my milk.

So my question is -- how much should be coming out as my milk comes in? When will there be more? Should I be doing more to increase the amount of milk that comes out. Right now... I am making sure that I stay hydrated, eating healthy, taking my prenatal, and pumping. 

kel716

Everyone is different and your supply will gradually increase as it comes in.  It sounds like you're doing great!   When I EP'd with DS, that's all I could get at first too... it grew to several ozs per boob over 6-8-10 weeks. 

kalette

Your supply will increase over the next couple of days until you are taking several ounces each pump. Be careful not to pump out too much more than you need, or you'll end up with an over-supply problem like I have.. (Which might sound great to those with low supply- but it HURTS to carry around too much milk.) I have been trying and trying to carefully pump and take no more than 40 oz a day because I really don't want to end up with any more.. I am down to 4 pumps a day at 4 am , 10 am, 4 pm and 10 pm... My LO eats 25 a day so I'm freezing 15 a day.. which is okay because then I have some to freeze and don't feel bad if I spill some or waste it here and there.

EMOmamma

Good for you for trying!  It's tough.  I had to EP with my first.  I got very little at first, maybe 1oz on one side and .5 oz on the other.  It slowly increased over the next 2 months and even after that I would have to step it up every now & then when LO went through a growth spurt.  We combo fed BM & FF until 2-3 months when I was finally able to catch up to LO.  

You can try power pumping sessions - 2 hours with 10min on 10 min off OR 3-4 hours where you pump every hour for 10-15 min.  These mimic the cluster feeding that baby would do.  If you're still low in another week or two talk to your pedi or OB about herbals (I liked more milk plus) or a prescription to help.  Mostly it could just take a ton of work to get going.  

Good luck!