Tell me about the relationship between IV's and Delayed Lactation...

[mommyofatoz]

This has just been brought to my attention and I was wondering about everyone's personal experience and what you have read while researching...I would like to avoid an IV, and after hearing about this, I want to even more and it was one of the "aha!" moments because I have had trouble with my milk not coming in until at least day 5, and I have got an IV each time in labor...therefore, this time, I want to avoid it. Of course, my doctor is going to push an IV, and so I have been trying to do research on this. If anyone has any references for me, I would appreciate it!

[kitkat5505]

I haven't heard anything about IVs delaying milk coming in. I had IVs with #1 and #3 and not with #2. #1 and #2 milk came in after just 1 day, #3 within 2 days.

[felix23]

I had a c-section and my milk came in after two days. I've never heard that IV's could delay milk coming in. I've heard it about c-sections, but I didn't have a problem.

[leighann79]

I don't know if there is a connection or not. All three of my babies have been great nursers.
#1- had IV - milk came in day 3 or later (don't remember for sure)
#2- had IV (longer) - milk came in day 5
#3- no IV (after first bag) - milk came in under 48 hours. That was the first time that my milk came in before leaving the hospital.

[mags]

Well, if they put some medication that may delay lactation, I would say that is probably what is causing it. However, an IV for just general IV fluids should not delay lactation from what I can tell. It's basically to keep you hydrated. I had IVs for both of mine, first baby took over 5 days for milk to come in, b/c he was not a good nurser and I didn't know what I was doing either, second baby, milk came in by day 3, which seems to be pretty typical for most women.

[dancindoula]

The only relation I have ever heard of between IVs and lactation is that the IV can over-hydrate/hypersaturate the mom's body and cause swelling so that the babe has a difficult time latching on until all the water weight is shed. I've never heard of it impacting the actual milk coming in. Where did you hear about it? Is it possible whoever said it was referring to swelling and not production?

[kate3]

I'm also not aware of any connection between IVs for labor/birth and delayed lactation. I had 3 inductions (so 3 IVs) and with all of my babes my milk was in by about 36 hours. No problems. Great nursers.

[Hollin]

Never heard of that before. I had an IV (just fluids, couldn't keep water down) and my milk came in 24 hours after delivery.

[boscopup]

#1 - IV (fluids, abx, and magnesium sulfate for 4 days prior to labor) - milk came in around day 5
#2 - no IV (out-of-hospital birth) - milk came in between days 4 and 5.

I'm just a late lactater. It's not a real problem for me though. When my milk does come in, it's plenty of milk! First son was in the NICU, so no harm to him with my delayed milk (he was too early to eat orally yet). Second son was fine until he went all night not nursing at all because he had difficulty latching when my milk came in. But he was fine up until that point. Even at day 4, he was fine.

[MyBoysBlue]

I've heard of IV's inflating the baby's birth weight because of all the fluid. Then you might be pushed to supplement becasue the baby looses too much weight according to their scales.

[OceansEve]

Hadn't heard that theory, but I had IV w/ DD2 and had no lactation problem.

I intend to avoid an IV just because I feel it made me tense up last time. If I wanted to shower I had to tape it up and keep it dry - big pain. You don't have to have anything to back up any theory, just tell them no.

[boysmom2]

Originally Posted by MyBoysBlue

I've heard of IV's inflating the baby's birth weight because of all the fluid. Then you might be pushed to supplement becasue the baby looses too much weight according to their scales.

I've read about this too. It's really easy to over-hydrate the mom and therefore the baby. So, as the baby pees out all that extra fluid over the next few days, they can lose more than 10% of their birth weight - which is the magic number at which everybody freaks out that the baby has lost too much weight. Then they'll insist on supplementing which can definitely mess with your supply.

Originally Posted by OceansEve

Hadn't heard that theory, but I had IV w/ DD2 and had no lactation problem.

I intend to avoid an IV just because I feel it made me tense up last time. If I wanted to shower I had to tape it up and keep it dry - big pain. You don't have to have anything to back up any theory, just tell them no.

You don't have to agree to anything. Make THEM be the ones to prove to you YOU with actual research that you need one. Not just "standard procedure."

[grniys]

I had an IV for a short time during labor with ds1. Actually, I'm not sure exactly how long I had it. I didn't even realize I had one until it fell out when I was in the shower and the nurse tried to put it back in and I refused to let her touch me. But I didn't have a problem with my milk coming in.