Possibly dumb question about breastfeeding...

Mrs.Mayhem · March 2012

I have heard it can take a few days after birth for your milk to come in. What do you feed the baby in the meantime? Do they just drink colostrum? Is that enough for them? I'm confused how a baby can wait several days for a real "meal".

grapeape73 · March 2012

The colostrum is very nutrient dense and is all they need until your milk comes in. And that is not a dumb question.

vermont7 · March 2012

Your body makes the perfect food for your baby automatically. The colostrum that they receive is really important and will satisfy your baby until your milk comes in. The important thing to remember is to keep nursing your baby every 2-3 hours. Breastfeeding is all about supply and demand and you need to let your body know to make the milk and how much. No need to supplement.

melrrr · March 2012

That tiny tummy doesn't need much at each feeding. You'll know your baby is getting enough if it is having enough wet and dirty diapers. Your hospital will probably have you keep track of that while you're there, and you can continue to do it for the first few days when you are home. My milk fully came in the day we came home from the hospital.

NeverLostHope · March 2012

grapeape73:
The colostrum is very nutrient dense and is all they need until your milk comes in. And that is not a dumb question.

This. Just watch out, some hospitals really push supplementing formula, but most babies don't need it. They pushed with my dd and with my being so tired and hormonal from giving birth they really had me doubting myself and thinking I needed to feed her formula. Dh helped me stick to my guns, and dd was just fine without the formula.

shannm · March 2012

https://community.thebump.com/cs/ks/forums/thread/63946445.aspx

stratton23al · March 2012

Their newborn tummies are only the size of small marbles, so the little bit of colostrum produced is just enough to satisfy them.

beachbum28 · March 2012

grapeape73:
The colostrum is very nutrient dense and is all they need until your milk comes in. And that is not a dumb question.

This! And my Milk didn't come in for 4 days after birth and I was home and more comfortable to nurse DS!

cswatch · March 2012

grapeape73:
The colostrum is very nutrient dense and is all they need until your milk comes in. And that is not a dumb question.

This. Your body will take care of everything, it's really amazing.

jazzcrawford · March 2012

Take a breast feeding class, it's the best thing for you and your new baby.

breast feeding isn't easy and it's best to prepare yourself with information so that you can breast feed successfully with confidence!

Mrs.Mayhem · March 2012

Thanks, everyone! That's what I was thinking...but it's nice to have confirmation. I really should sign up for a breastfeeding class. Apparently I have a lot to learn on the topic!

kjg5445 · March 2012

Your baby's stomach is full of amniotic fluid at first. I was told (out of concern because my son was not BFing due to bruised lips) and they said it really isnt a big concern since hes still full from the fluid. he did great (i fed him whatever i could pump from a syringe)

cloud9climber · March 2012

grapeape73:
The colostrum is very nutrient dense and is all they need until your milk comes in. And that is not a dumb question.

This AND... you may need to supplement with formula. Talk to your doctor. By night 4 with no real milk, my baby was so hungry and we gave him formula. No big whoop. Formula is food after all. GL!

happyhoopla · March 2012

For a healthy newborn, the colostrum is plenty for the first 3-5 days until your milk fully comes in. Newborns have "brown fat", which is glucose dense, so the normal weight they lose in the first week is the extra stores they are born with. Also, the colostrum itself is very nutrient dense and like pp said, their tummies are very tiny, so they don't need large volumes of food. That said, premature babies, babies born to moms with uncontrolled gestational diabetes, or babies who are ill may need the extra nutrients that formula provides.

RnMom2Be · March 2012

My last baby lost a whole pound in the first three days at the hospital. We decided to supplement with formula and that worked out perfectly. I had a C-section and my milk did not come in for 5 days......my LO could not wait that long.

tessatewks · March 2012

Not only is colostrum very nutrient dense, but your baby's stomach is the size of a small marble when it is first born, or can only hold approx 5-7mL. It CANNOT HANDLE a "real meal". Anymore, comes up it spit up form. Sips of colostrum is ALL it needs!

Baby's stomach doesn't reach the ability to stretch and hold 1 oz of breastmilk/formula until it is about 3 days old. By 1 week old, baby's stomach can hold up to 2oz.

so you see, feeding any more than that, just makes the baby's tummy hurt and results in more spit up. Mom's milk usually comes in about the third day, which makes then perfect sense, because baby's stomach is just then finally able to stretch and take a full oz at a time.

tessatewks · March 2012

Also thought I should mention my son lost over a lb in the hospital. I had a csection and some complications so we were not released for four days. My milk came in while still in the hospital. DS was born at 9lb 13 oz. We were discharged at 8lb 14oz, and this is after he gained a little back due to my milk coming in. It is NATURAL for babies to lose weight, and it is NATURAL for them to feed as often as every HOUR. Yes, EVERY HOUR. If your baby is crying to be fed that often, it does not mean they are starving or need food - it means they need physical contact with mommy and the calming effect of nursing. Nursing has more to do with nutritional needs, but it is also about a baby's emotional needs. If your baby has no immediate health concerns, EVEN if he's lost a great deal of weight immediately following birth, do NOT allow anyone to coerce, bully, or pressure you into formula feeding! As long as your baby is having enough wet and dirty diapers, they are FINE! Only AFTER your milk has come in and baby is nursing frequently, but is not gaining weight (a couple oz after each feeding is adequate!!) is there reason to be concerned.

Stellar1 · March 2012

The colustrum is what they need those first few days. Your milk comes in within a few days. Your body does what it is supposed to do. My daughter was born on a Monday and my milk was in by Friday, With my second child, he was born on a Wednesday and my milk was in by Friday.

Cheerio B · March 2012

grapeape73:
The colostrum is very nutrient dense and is all they need until your milk comes in. And that is not a dumb question.

This. And this is not a dumb question at all.

sbost0118 · March 2012

When my twins were born, one of them went to the NICU where there started an IV drip when they first admitted him. He couldn't be discharged until he was able to drink enough from a bottle to keep his fluids up. They said if they took his IV out before he could drink 2 oz of milk in a sitting that he would become dehydrated from the sudden drop in fluids. It took 5 days before he was able to drink that much. Coincidentally, it took 5 days for my milk to really come in. Before that I was only able to pump about 1/2 oz of colostrum/milk max in a sitting. The first day or two I could only pump a few drops at a time. At the same time, my other twin was only getting 1 tiny bottle per day and got the rest from me.

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