Baby won't latch/no colostrum or milk yet

jaguilar526 · June 2016

hi ladies,

I am new to this month since my baby girl decided to come June and not May lol.

anyway, I have been having serious latching issues since unfortunately I was diagnosed with chorioamniontitis after I delivered her which is a fever basically. She was sent to the nicu so that really messed up my plans of doing skin to skin and bonding so that she could feed easier. Now it's a battle we are having with trying to get her to take the boob. The hospital won't release her until she can feed without iv fluids. I'm really beside myself since I want her to come home with me but I know stressing or rushing the process won't help at all.

in the meantime I caved and decided to formula feed ONLY until my milk comes in. It seems I have little to no colostrum. Been pumping and nothing and hand expressing and barely anything. Literally like a drop of two. It's going on two days since she was born. I hated to do formula but I don't want my baby not eating or relying on an iv.

Anyone else out there dealing or have dealt with this before?? Please help!!!!

Thanks!

alileecam · June 2016

I dealt with this with my first. It ended up being a rocky start but eventually we were able to breastfeed with no problems. It probably took a good month or two though. I pumped while he was in the NICU and got next to nothing, which is discouraging, but don't let it stop you if breastfeeding is something you are determined to do--it is very possible to overcome a rough start. If you have access to a lactation consultant, I would suggest working with one to work out a specific plan for you and LO.

adiaz132003 · June 2016

Do they have a lactation consultant you can talk to? Skin to skin can also help your milk come in and really the big thing is to get baby to latch since in the first 3-7 days you may only make drops at a time but that's normal. It's why they expect a drop in birth weight (which will be a bigger drop if baby is getting IVs). It's all supply and demand so try and get baby to latch as often as you can and if you have to pump, try doing it while holding baby to your chest.

Rosehip15 · June 2016

A few drops is very normal until your milk comes in, which was about four days with my previous babies. Get help from a lactation consult ASAP, and don't think this means you won't be successful. Hang in there!

WinniethePoohsPants · June 2016

My milk didn't come in until day 3. Until then I would schedule an appointment with a lactation consultation asap.

fishwife799 · June 2016

I would also suggest a lactation consultant. They will likely be able to help with the latch issues. As for how much you are making baby hardly needs any in the first few days. Like 1-1.5 teaspoons. Their stomachs are so small. Once your milk comes in you will make more and baby will get more. Kelly mom is a great resource and has some information about this. I'll link it for you. Also remember that a fed baby is a happy baby so if it doesn't work out do NOT feel guilty. Being a mom is full of compromise and you will constantly be faced with struggles and won't be able to do things the way you imagined them and that's OK. I wish you the best of luck.

fishwife799 · June 2016

https://kellymom.com/bf/pumpingmoms/pumping/milkcalc/

june2016baby · June 2016

Oh man, that's rough. With my first, it was the same. I had very little colostrum and my milk didn't come in until day 6!!!! He was so starved, that they scolded me and gave him formula at his week old dr visit. (Milk came later that day and my supply was great!)

However, for baby numbered 2-4, milk came in much sooner, during the second night after delivery. So just know that it may be much better next time.

DSTtots4lyfe · June 2016

Second everyone else on requesting an IBCLC consult. I would suggest also posting this in May, as many more of them will have been through this. I will say that during my BFing class (taught by an IBCLC) that a rocky delivery or lack of skin to skin does not mean you won't have a great experiencd bfing, even uneventful deliveries without fluids can have tricky times in the first 3-5 days especially. Hang in there and GL!

jaguilar526 · June 2016

Thank you ladies!!! I appreciate all your support and feedback :-)

TunieBee · June 2016

My milk didn't come in until day 5 both times. Both babes lost 10% of body weight but as soon as my milk came in they shit back up! We held off supplementing both times and just had faith they nature was going to do its thing. Definitely see a LC if you can and GL! Even this time around with my second, I had a lot of anxiety before the milk came in.

=caenis= · June 2016

You can do it! I had a hell of a time at first too. My milk didn't come in until day 12. We supplemented with formula while I pumped and put him on the boob as often as possible. Thank goodness the milk finally came and by the end of the first month I could EBF and was able to drop the formula.

What we did is I'd put baby on the boob when he was hungry. Both boobs. If he was still hungry after, he got his bottle and I'd pump while my partner fed him. That helped get supply up.

Talk to a lactation consultant ASAP. I know you're going through hell emotionally right now, but getting a game plan from an expert will make you feel so very much better. Good luck!

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