STMs and Breastfeeding

alitria · May 2016

I planned to breastfeed my first son but between some medical issues of my own, combined with premature delivery and not getting to see/hold him for 10 days my milk never came in, despite pumping, lots of trips to lactation consultants, herbs, foods, supplements, etc etc. I have been diagnosed with hypoplasia and I'm open to trying to nurse this time (even if I'm also supplementing) for at least the first little bit just to transfer antibodies. I feel like I've made my peace with how it works out, but for those who did nurse the first time, how quickly did your milk come in, how did you know your supply was increasing to a normal level and what tricks made it easier for you? I'll have a lactation consultant again this time at the hospital and it's noted in my records that I'm going to need some help, but I'm curious about what other moms have to say as well. It's totally up in the air for now because it's impossible to know how much any one of the difficulties we had contributed to things just not working. I'm hoping that while I may never have a full supply of milk this time, being able to hold and nurse my baby immediately after birth as opposed to pumping and not being near him will help increase my supply at least some. My husband and doctor are both on board with supporting my decision either way but it seems like it is worth trying, if only because I bought a container of formula to have this weekend and was reminded how much cheaper this would be to just make it myself!

Emztron500 · May 2016

It took me about 4 days I think for milk to come in? I was nursing before that obviously; there just wasn't a whole lot there until that point. Normally it's not like a steady increase in supply, it's a sharp jump where you get engorged and have way too much and then it tapers down to match how much baby is actually taking. Nothing is more helpful at that point then just nursing lots and lots and constantly having that milk taken out so your body knows how much baby needs. If you are not anticipating any complications that will lead to a long hospital stay, I would definitely recommend seeking out recommendations for a great lactation consultant that you can see after you've taken baby home as that is likely when problems will arise. They can help make sure that any issues with latch etc are dealt with because if baby is having trouble emptying the milk, no amount of supplements or galactagogues are going to fix the issue.

Also, if you end up supplementing really early on, I would try to pump every time baby has a bottle to try to keep/build your supply. If you're only nursing half the time, your body will never even try to make more than half the calories that baby needs. Good luck!!

alitria · May 2016

Thank you! I'm really lucky that my husband is a teacher so hopefully he can help with bottles of formula while I pump if necessary. I pumped every two hours last time and I wanted to die, so I'm hoping we can figure out something else pretty quickly this time. The lactation consultants I see at the hospital are part of the larger women's health center where I get all of my care, so I can have access to them in the hospital and then at follow up appointments as needed. That's what happened last time (as well as having a post partum doula who was a lactation consultant who came to the house) so at least I have that part down! Fortunately, I really liked them and they were really supportive in helping me try all sorts of things and really great when, at 6 weeks, I was still getting no more than a few ounces a day, suggesting that I'd given it a good try and a nap and a switch to formula may be the right call. I know people think I'm crazy for even trying again but so much went wrong the first time with establishing my supply that it doesn't seem like it was a fair chance.

likeabel · May 2016

My milk came in within two days of giving birth. The nurses were a little surprised it came in so fast because I had a CS and it usually takes longer for your milk to come in when you have a CS vs vaginal birth. It's hard because the only way you really know if LO is getting enough milk is if (s)he is gaining weight. I was super engorged and leaked milk everywhere, all the time, so I wasn't too concerned over my milk supply.

Good luck this time around! Sounds like you're setting yourself up for success and I bet having immediate access to breastfeeding will make a big difference.

Rosehip15 · May 2016

With my first my milk came in fully at 4-5 days. I honestly don't remember with my second - maybe a bit sooner, but I'd been nursing my oldest through the pregnancy (though the milk dwindled to almost nothing). In the beginning, I put them to the breast all.the.time. Essentially every time they so much as squirmed or whimpered. Which of course you couldn't do given the medical issues. I think it may well be a totally different ballgame with a healthy mamma & full term, healthy baby, which I hope is your story this time around. Good luck!

alitria · May 2016

Thanks, ladies. It's nice to hear something other than I'm crazy for trying and why stress myself out about it instead of just going straight to formula. My son is healthy and happy but we had a difficult time finding a formula that worked for him and spent a lot of time (not to mention money) holding him while he screamed in pain from gas and digestion issues, so there could be stress either way and if I'm able, why not at least give it a try?

HeartLikeMine3 · May 2016

I had my son Thursday night and Sunday night my milk came in so 3 days. Like pp stated it usually just comes all at once I felt like I got a boob job all the sudden! The baby is getting colostrum right from the get go. Just keep track of the wet and dirty diapers to know if your baby is getting enough. Also your pediatrician will keep track of babies weight and growth to make sure they are getting enough. GL

vulpini · May 2016

My milk came in after 3 days both times, pretty much all at once (suddenly huge, hard, and achy boobs). On day 2 I could see the colustrum getting thinner and less yellow, so I knew milk was coming in soon. I had colostrum I could see/express from the very begging both times too, but more of it the second time. During this second pregnancy, I had drops of colustrum coming out in the shower at about 30 weeks, which I didn't have with my first. The nurses and lactation consultants that I mentioned this too said it was typical for things to go a bit faster the second time around since milk producing breast tissue is already matured all the way from the first pregnancy.

vulpini · May 2016

I also want to add that my nursing experience so far is night and day comparing my 34 weeker first son in the NICU and my 36 weeker who got to room with me at the hospital and come home after 48 hours. My first barely latched, had no stamina, required me to pump round the clock to establish milk supply, and eventually had nipple confusion from having to suppliment with bottles in the NICU and never took the breast again so I had to just pump. My second nursed immediately after birth for an hour and a half on and off and has been nursing well since. He had a strong and very good latch and passed all feeding-related hospital tests that they did because he was 36 weeks (blood glucose, weight checks, diaper counts) with flying colors. So don't lose hope!

alitria · May 2016

@vulpini I'm so glad to hear that about your experience! It makes me think I'm not completely insane for trying again with a later baby. Your 34 week experience sounds almost exactly like mine, so it makes me think being a preemie really could have contributed to my problems.

Also good to know that everyone seems to be saying your milk comes in all at once. I never had anything remotely like that happen, never felt "full" or had any leaking or soreness, my breasts have never really changed cup size other than to go to a slightly fuller D cup. Even now, I'm wearing the same bras as when I got pregnant. So, we will see, but this gives me a good idea of what I should be expecting and when to expect things to happen.

NLewis1 · May 2016

I never had that "oh my god my milk came in!" Moment where I was suddenly engorged and rock hard and my son was a fantastic nurser and I had an awesome supply. It was a couple of weeks before if he went longer without eating I felt rock hard and miserable! My LC said the best way to tell if they are getting enough is to count diapers, weight gained, and do the occasional weighted feeding.

gdjoken · May 2016

I wish you so much luck the second time around! I also had a tremendous amount of trouble the first time -- for the first five weeks my baby nursed for half an hour every 45 minutes ALL DAY. We could set our watches by her feeding schedule. I was exhausted! Then I went back to work and was trying to pump every two hours as much as possible to try to keep up and/or increase my supply. It was so challenging! I live rurally so I don't have access to lactation consultants, and it was so stressful. I'm planning to try again with this little one despite the troubles I had with the first. Here's hoping it works out for both of us!

Want a personalized experience?

STMs and Breastfeeding

Re: STMs and Breastfeeding

Mrs. H

Crohn's Dx: August 2008

Endometriosis Dx: May 2010

Married: 05/19/2012

TTC #1: June 2013

BFP: December 2013

DS: Born 08/29/2014

TTC #2: July 2015

Choose Another Board

Search Boards