How to encourage my supply to come in as soon as possible?

[mclisa]

This will be baby #6, but it still takes a while for my supply to come in.  I think with #5 it was day #3, but by that time we were suppose to be leaving the hospital and they were worried about his weight loss.  With #3 I was at a different hospital and they made me so paranoid about lack of supply that I let them give her some formula.  We've paid the price ever since because she is allergic to most foods.  I was more aggressive with #5 and so they let me S&S him with some water.

I do the usual: room in the entire time, feed every 2 hours, drink water.

Should I use some teas or such during the hospital stay?

Other words of advice?

[carepear]

I would just stand your ground that weight loss after birth is normal.  You'll follow up with your ped anyways.  My milk didn't come in until day 4 or 5 but we were released after 24 hours.

Their only concern at the hospital was that she was latching.  And my understanding was that it is normal for milk to not come in for a few days and that all the baby needs is colostrum anyways.

Congrats on baby 6!

[Megan73]

My milk came in really fast this time despite an emergency section and I think two things made a big difference - 24/7 skin-to-skin with baby and expressing and spoon or cup feeding colostrum after each feed. An ordinary plastic spoon or a little medicine cup both worked well for me.

[fruitfulmomma]

3 days is totally normal. Weight loss after birth is normal.

I've had two hospital births and no one ever asked about my milk supply. They only offered help if I needed it.

Is there a reason you were in the hospital so long? If not I would get home asap so that there are no more distractions from the staff and the two of you can be left alone to nurse as much as needed.

[maddymama]

Hi Mama,

According to The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding, having your milk come in on day 3 is still on the early side.  The colustrum your milk produces in the first few days of your baby's life is important and not to be rushed.  Also, some weightloss after birth is normal- your body helps your baby bulkup a bit before labor so that your little one doesn't need more than colustrum for a few days.

If you want your milk to come in quickly.... do what others posting above have suggested- skin to skin contact, staying hydrated yourself, and frequent nursing... more than every 2 hours if you wish. 

Good luck,

~maddymama

[averlee]

In 3 different books I have, it says to expect the milk to come in on day 3-7 postpartum, and until then, all your baby needs is the colostrum. And that newborns should regain their birthweight after about 2 weeks. So, the newborn should be weighed at birth and again 2 weeks later, there's no need for the hospital to be weighing the baby in the first few days. Also, one book points out that supplementing with formula does not prevent weight loss in newborns, just like breastfed babies, those using formula should regain the birthweight in about 2 weeks. 

Edited to add: Nursing on demand, offering the breast frequently, keeping baby within reach at all times, and also "mother's milk" teas, alfalfa and oatstraw, and oatmeal, plus drinking tons of water/juice, also many mothers claim having a good dark beer brings the milk in. 

[Llyra]

I think a lot of when your milk comes in is an individual physiological thing. Take me, for example: I've had three births. One of them was extremely preterm, and DS1 didn't survive birth. My milk came in on the 6th day. We assumed it was late because there was no baby suckling, right? It seemed reasonable at the time.

But then I had DD1. She latched about a half hour after birth. She nursed about 12 hours out of 24, for that first week. My milk came in late on the sixth day.

Then there was my twins. DD2 latched within a half hour. DS didn't latch until three hours, because he wasn't stable enough to try-- he had some early breathing issues (Twin Bs often do.) They nursed literally without pause-- 24 out of 24 hours-- the first day, and then very, very often for the rest of that first week. My milk came in late on the sixth day.

So I have concluded that while there is plenty you can do about getting the breastfeeding relationship off to a good start, the time when milk "comes in" is not something you have much control over. Between 3 and 5 days is typical. Some women find it happens earlier, and some like me find it happens later.

Weight loss is normal. Up to 10% is considered expected, but plenty of babies lose more (DD2 lost 20%) and are still just fine. Baby should be monitored in the second or third week, to make sure that loss has stopped and baby has begun to gain. Baby should nurse at least 10 to 12 times in 24 hours, during that time. I don't understand how any hospital or medical professional worthy of the name wouldn't know that 3 days is EARLY. I'm sorry you've been needlessly worried.