Two weeks postpartum, no milk?

[Tracy11360]

I gave birth two weeks ago and am still producing what looks to me like colostrum. It's yellow and I produce it in small amounts. I'm pumping and feeding my baby at the breast using a syringe and small plastic tube that fits in her mouth (along with my nipple) so that she'll get formula along with whatever little bit of colostrum (or could it be yellow breast milk?) that she can get from my breast.

Has anyone ever heard of this happening before? Is it possible to continue producing colostrum indefinately without breast milk ever coming in? Could I just be producing very small amounts of yellow breast milk? (sometimes as much as one ounce per twenty minute pumping session, sometimes quite a bit less than that)

Any feedback would be well appreciated!

[twins+1]

Originally Posted by Tracy11360

I gave birth two weeks ago and am still producing what looks to me like colostrum. It's yellow and I produce it in small amounts. I'm pumping and feeding my baby at the breast using a syringe and small plastic tube that fits in her mouth (along with my nipple) so that she'll get formula along with whatever little bit of colostrum (or could it be yellow breast milk?) that she can get from my breast.

Has anyone ever heard of this happening before? Is it possible to continue producing colostrum indefinately without breast milk ever coming in? Could I just be producing very small amounts of yellow breast milk? (sometimes as much as one ounce per twenty minute pumping session, sometimes quite a bit less than that)

Any feedback would be well appreciated!

Is the baby swallowing when you nurse her? Can you weigh her before/after to see how much she is getting? Its very possible to have yellowish breastmilk.

[pjabslenz]

I can remember my milk being a golden color in those early weeks of nursing. Is there a reason you are supplementing formula while you nurse? Because breastfeeding is supply and demand, I would suggest you latch baby on to your breast only. I can recall my bm changing colors when baby was around one month old and was always so amazed that my milk could be such a golden color....hence the term, "liquid gold". It's sounds like you're doing great. Congrats on your little bundle.

[mysticmomma]

is baby gaining weight?

[mysticmomma]

oh, and pumps are not a good indicator of supply.

[MamaJenese]

Just wanted to chime in on what Mysticmama dais. I have nursed two kids past the age of two and have never been able to pump even a single ounce.

[FullMetalMom]

You should consider whether you have retained placenta. If you have even a little bit your body could think it's still pregnant and your horomones would not shift. *I* would call my hcp and get checked out asap, just to make sure.

[Tracy11360]

Thanks everyone for your replies.

I'm formula feeding because my baby lost 14.5% of her body weight by day three after birth. She was getting hysterical every time I put her to the breast seemingly because she wasn't getting much nutrition from me. When we started giving her formula through a syringe (while she was latched to the breast) she calmed right down and became peaceful while suckling.

Weighing her before and after feeding sounds like a really good idea. I am looking into how to obtain a scale (don't currently have one). She definately swallows while she's nursing at the breast when she's getting formula through a tube, but I can't really tell if she swallows when she's on the breast alone. It's difficult to get her to stay latched to the breast if she's not getting the formula supplement. If she's hungry she gets frustrated very quickly with not getting enough milk. If she's not very hungry she tends to lose interest and sleep or just lay there with the nipple in her mouth, not sucking.

It's good to know breast milk can be yellow. I've been waiting for my milk to come in, hoping I would finally get a better flow then, but maybe it's already here and I'm just dealing with low supply...

I haven't had her weighed in over a week, so I don't know for sure if she's still gaining, but she looks good to me and last time she was weighed her weight was coming back up.

I want to say about pumping not being a good indicator of supply.... I would dearly love it if I was producing more than I'm able to pump, but my baby's reactions seem to suggest otherwise... ? I'll keep trying to nurse her at the breast alone (without tube feeding the formula), but it seems like she has to be in just the right mood to cooperate with me on that.

Regarding the retained placenta -- my mom had mentioned that it could be that. I've been trying to find out what the symptoms would be. So far my body seems to be returning to its pre-pregnancy state pretty quickly, so I'm thinking it's unlikely. I don't know what else I'd be looking for. I'm hesitant to go in for a check at the OB's office 'cause it's an hour away, and I'm finding long trips away from home to be very draining right now. It feels important to recharge my batteries after these last couple of very trying weeks...

Thanks again for your responses, it helps not to feel quite so alone.

[mysticmomma]

Is she gaining now?

[Tracy11360]

She looks like she is gaining, but I don't know for sure. I don't have an accurate scale at home. She is getting plenty of formula, so I'd expect her to be gaining, yes.

[BirthKathy]

My milk was yellow for about 3 weeks, and then it turned white.

[MissMommyNiceNice]

I would second (or third?) the fact that by giving her formula you are not giving your body the chance to produce the amount of milk it needs. She will stop nursing earlier because she is full on formula, thus leading to less milk being made.

My milk was almost always yellow, for a long time. I know it seems frustrating, but babies are resiliant and breastfeeding is a relationship that needs to grow mutually. It is a skill and doesn't come naturally to everyone. You need to practice. And practice and practice.

I've seen medical shows on TV where they don't feed babies for 48 hours or more trying to figure out what is wrong with them. Not that it's ideal, but I wouldn't worry too much. Every baby gains weight differently. And losing a pound or more after birth isn't super uncommon. It's a shock being out in the world! Being born is hard work. I wouldn't encourage her becoming a lazy nurser by making it easy for her to get formula. I've seen too many nursing relationships ruined by this!

And I jsut wanted to add that I know a lot of people/mws say not to even start pumping until at least 2 wks pp to allow for your supply to regulate.

[KnitLady]

If I were you I'd try to get in touch with a lactation consultant to make sure everything is okay.