If it takes a few days for your milk to come in..

Alexz067 · January 2013

What do you feed your baby until then? I heard starting them on formula 1st makes it harder for them to take your milk? I'm confused..

SarahRae85 · January 2013

Colustrum production starts immediately. A newborn's stomach is actually quite small and does not need much.

By the time your "milk" comes in to replace the colustrum, their stomach has grown considerably and they need the larger amount of food to feel full/

Annabelle7 · January 2013

Colostrum! Their tiny stomachs are only the size of peas when they are born so it's enough. Imagine what mom's did before formula, colostrum is enough.

Happy2BPregnant · January 2013

Annabelle7:
Colostrum! Their tiny stomachs are only the size of peas when they are born so it's enough. Imagine what mom's did before formula, colostrum is enough.

This! Colostrum is full of nutrients to sustain the baby.

lightgetsin · January 2013

Definitely colostrum. If you did feed your baby formula before your milk came in, your milk may take longer to come in and you may have supply issues. Your baby will be FULL from the formula and not want to put out the effort it takes to eat from the breast. So...don't feed your baby formula before your milk comes in! Not that you were going to, I know you were just asking

watermellens · January 2013

tmsgrl:
Definitely colostrum. If you did feed your baby formula before your milk came in, your milk may take longer to come in and you may have supply issues. Your baby will be FULL from the formula and not want to put out the effort it takes to eat from the breast. So...don't feed your baby formula before your milk comes in! Not that you were going to, I know you were just asking

My milk didn't come in until day 5. DS was nursing fine, but was losing weight and the doctors got nervous, so we supplemented AFTER nursing with formula. It was no biggie...only for a few days and he had no problem nursing even after taking a bottle.

lightgetsin · January 2013

watermellens:
tmsgrl:
Definitely colostrum. If you did feed your baby formula before your milk came in, your milk may take longer to come in and you may have supply issues. Your baby will be FULL from the formula and not want to put out the effort it takes to eat from the breast. So...don't feed your baby formula before your milk comes in! Not that you were going to, I know you were just asking
My milk didn't come in until day 5. DS was nursing fine, but was losing weight and the doctors got nervous, so we supplemented AFTER nursing with formula. It was no biggie...only for a few days and he had no problem nursing even after taking a bottle.

My last pedi wanted to do that but it was my 3rd child and I knew he would be fine once my milk came in. He was also large at birth so I knew he had a little extra meat on his bones to make it to day 5 and he did no problem. I guess it is the Dr.'s job to worry but I find that some of them worry way too much (probably about being sued) and jump the gun on these things.

rm2013 · January 2013

Agree with PPs. I'm a FTM, but I want to bf exclusively and have been advised by current moms to make sure the hospital has written instructions on your file to not give your LO anything. Not formula, water, sugar water, etc. This is to help with LO latching on and nursing overall.

mrsmcdonald · January 2013

Like everyone else said, the baby gets colostrum.

Not to sound at all snarky, but you might want to take a breastfeeding class or read a book on it to get this basic information. Breastfeeding can be really difficult and not at all as natural as you think it should be; the more educated you are, the more likely you are to be successful.

jmayamama · January 2013

rm2013:
Agree with PPs. I'm a FTM, but I want to bf exclusively and have been advised by current moms to make sure the hospital has written instructions on your file to not give your LO anything. Not formula, water, sugar water, etc. This is to help with LO latching on and nursing overall.

This! My hospital was pushing formula and I had to push back really hard to get them to leave us alone bc EBF was so important to me.

wittyschaffy · January 2013

mrsmcdonald:
Like everyone else said, the baby gets colostrum.
Not to sound at all snarky, but you might want to take a breastfeeding class or read a book on it to get this basic information. Breastfeeding can be really difficult and not at all as natural as you think it should be; the more educated you are, the more likely you are to be successful.

I second this wholeheartedly. Your OB's office may have some pamphlets for you to start with. Your local library probably has a copy of the Le Leche League's Womanly Art of Breastfeeding which covers pretty much any question you have about breastfeeding as well.

watermellens · January 2013

tmsgrl:
watermellens:
tmsgrl:
Definitely colostrum. If you did feed your baby formula before your milk came in, your milk may take longer to come in and you may have supply issues. Your baby will be FULL from the formula and not want to put out the effort it takes to eat from the breast. So...don't feed your baby formula before your milk comes in! Not that you were going to, I know you were just asking
My milk didn't come in until day 5. DS was nursing fine, but was losing weight and the doctors got nervous, so we supplemented AFTER nursing with formula. It was no biggie...only for a few days and he had no problem nursing even after taking a bottle.
My last pedi wanted to do that but it was my 3rd child and I knew he would be fine once my milk came in. He was also large at birth so I knew he had a little extra meat on his bones to make it to day 5 and he did no problem. I guess it is the Dr.'s job to worry but I find that some of them worry way too much (probably about being sued) and jump the gun on these things.

I totally hear you on that!

epona3 · January 2013

SarahRae85:

Colustrum production starts immediately. A newborn's stomach is actually quite small and does not need much.

By the time your "milk" comes in to replace the colustrum, their stomach has grown considerably and they need the larger amount of food to feel full/

This.

I was so worried that DD wasn't getting enough when she was born, b/c my milk wasn't in and she hadn't peed. Right as they were getting ready to give her formula, she peed and pooped, and spit up a big glob of colostrum. Gross as it was, it was very reassuring that she was actually getting something!

They do usually lose a little bit of weight in the first couple of days, but they gain it right back and then some!

ann_jeremiah · January 2013

You just nurse.. If you don't nurse, you'll have production issues.. Like PP said, a newborn stomach is TINY.

DanandVan · January 2013

I've had 2 babies at 2 different hospitals, and both tried to get me to supplement with formula "for the first few days". If I wasn't hell bent on exclusively breastfeeding, I may have let them convince me to allow it. For some reason, breastfeeding is not as supported/understood by a lot of medical staff. I would use the time before baby is born to read as much as possible about breastfeeding and talk to as many breastfeeding moms as you can. I found out its not something you can walk into blindly or depend on Dr's advice for. (Same with childbirth, but thats a WHOLE different story!).

MrsKeene12 · January 2013

Look into what classes are offered by your hospital. Mine offers a lot on many baby topics and most are free. DH and I took a free breastfeeding class a couple of weeks ago and it was great for FTM's. They also gave us free samples of nipple cream and breast pads. And tons of resources to do our own research/ get help with EBF.

Lovebug315 · January 2013

I'm a postpartum nurse & we strongly encourage exclusive breast feeding. We use Ameda Belly Balls to educate new moms on baby's stomach size. The first day, it's only the size of a shooter marble. As long as you feed every 2-3 hours and the baby has a wet & dirty diaper in the first 24 hours, baby is getting enough. Colostrum is full of protein & calories & will sustain a newborn without the need to supplement. I second what several others have said, if you desire to exclusively breast feed, steer clear of formula feeding in the beginning. Also, ask your postpartum nurse to see a lactation consultant if they have one. Even if things are going ok, they can be a wealth of knowledge to answer questions, help with positioning, latch, feeding cues, etc. Best of luck!

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