60 hours PP... when will milk come in? :(

[Harmony96]

Hi all,

I looked in the past month or so for this topic but didn't really see it.

I had my first baby on Tuesday night at about 10:30. It was a completely drug-free birth. I've been nursing her and her latch is fine, but she only swallows about every 10-12 sucks for the most part. I don't know when my milk will come in, but I'm starting to get worried. Her last poopy diaper was at about 4:30 pm yesterday (it's about 11:45 am now) and her last wet dipe was about 12 hours ago. And her wet dipes have been more yellow than clear.

I don't want her to get dehydrated and I keep nursing her when she asks for it, and tickle her and blow on her to try to make the nursing sessions last longer but towards the end she only sucks and doesn't swallow anymore. I've been only feeding her on one breast at a time because once she's done eating she falls asleep and nothing will wake her up. But now I'm worried that having done just the one breast at a time thing didn't give me the stimulation I need for my milk to come in? (What makes milk come in anyway?) I have an appointment tomorrow with a lactation consultant for a weight check but she's already lost 5 oz of her 7 lb 3 oz birth weight and I'm afraid she will weigh even less tomorrow if my milk doesn't come in sometime today.

I don't know what to do and am so scared for my baby. I've heard of it taking even up to 5 days for milk to come in but just want to make sure my DD will be ok if it takes me that long.

Someone give me some encouraging words so that I can stop crying.

[RootSnort]

Congrats!!!

Call the LC and ask what they think, if they think this is an emergency, if maybe they have some donor milk to supplement with if they think this is necessary. This could be just fine and normal, the LC would know best.

I don't remember how long it took my milk to come in, but it did take a while. My Ped had me supplement with (ewww) formula (I call it the "F" word) and ds hated it. I'll bet the LC has better ideas!

[Pernwebgoddess]

Up to a week is normal, but if her diapers are more yellow than clear, I'd definitely call a LC just in case. It's also normal for breastfed babies to lose around 10% of their birthweight. As long as they regain it by around two weeks (I think, don't quote me on that) it's okay.

The trigger for milk to come in is the delivery of the placenta, not the nursing of the baby. It's why the milk comes in even if you never breastfeed.
Can you express colostrum?

[sunnysideup]

It hasn't been three days since baby's birth, so I wouldn't worry at this point.

Lots of skin to skin contact helps to encourage nursing and bring your milk in. It can really help to stay in bed with baby for a day or two, both of you topless.

[mimie]

My baby was born on Monday, milk came in on Friday. I was in the hospital the whole time (c-section) and no one (nurses, peds, LC) seemed too concerned. Her urine was definitely yellow. She went from 7 lbs. 1 oz. to 6 lbs. 6 oz. I just kept nursing as much as possible - the nurses reassured me that she was getting colostrum, which was the best thing for her.

[SleepyMamaBear]

i have been told so long as by day three there has been at least one bowel movement and three wet diapers they are doing fine. it can take up to five days for your milk to come in yes, have you thought of pumping to help stimulate? after you feed her, once she falls asleep pump the breast she didnt feed from.
also. is there a way to weigh her both right before and right after she nurses? you can see how much she is getting that way.

[MamabearTo4]

Congratulations on your new baby! You must be so excited and so in love!

It's easier said than done, but DON'T WORRY! You're doing the right thing by nursing her when she needs it. It's normal for newborns to suck, suck, suck, swallow... Colostrum doesn't come in quantity, only yummy, rich QUALITY - she's getting what she needs! I WOULD NOT introduce formula to her now if you plan on bf'ing her full time. It's normal for babies to lose weight (and remember that weight loss is different for every baby), but that weight will turn around once your milk comes in. And when your milk DOES come in, you're going to have so much of it, you won't know what to do!

She was born at a nice weight and is strong on her own. Don't worry that she'll get dehydrated. I had my 4th baby in June and he went 10+ hours w/o a pee diaper also. He was nursing well, so I wasn't concerned with it. You probably don't even feel like she's emptying a breast... What she's getting is rich enough that she doesn't need a ton of it. Don't ever give her water (you probably already know this).

I'm impressed that you're on the computer, being a new mama! Get some rest, enjoy your baby and wait for that abundance of milk! And please don't worry!

[Panserbjorne]

I would see an IBCLC. They are different than LC's and will likely be far more helpful. Chances are everything is fine, and babies aren't considered dehydrated until they have only 1 wet diaper a day. It wouldn't hurt to let a professional see what you are doing though. You will feel better, I'm sure, if you take action. It will do one of two things: allow you to correct any problems before they have gotten too far, or allay your fears and let you relax. Most likely it will be the latter. Congratulations!

[_betsy_]

Don't worry - keep nursing her as much as she asks for, as long as she'll stay awake.

My baby was born on Wednesday morning and my milk didn't come in until Monday night. She lost some weight, but not enough for anyone to be concerned about. She's 12 weeks old now an doing great!

Go see the LC, and you'll feel better about it - but try not to stress or worry too much.

[Harmony96]

Thanks for all the words of encouragement. Before I left the hospital I made an appointment for a weight check with an LC, and it is in about an hour. I'll update on that when I get back.

My pedi also ordered another bili test for yesterday, and the nurse came out to our house to take the blood and the level had gone up to a 13 from the 8.5 at discharge. The pedi on call perscribed sunlight and to keep breastfeeding. Oh and the nurse also weighed Lydia while she was out, and she was still at her discharge weight. (Of course, I did feed her while the nurse was going over paperwork with me... so maybe part of that weight was the feeding. )

My milk came in shortly before the nurse came out to the house yesterday afternoon, and I have had NO shortage of poopy diapers since then. I wasn't for sure if my milk came in or not since it wasn't a big obvious change. My boobs got a little larger and a little warmer and that was the only difference I noticed on me. What made me sure that it came in was the fact that Lydia's "down" cheek when nursing was covered in milk that had leaked out of her mouth during the feeding.

To answer everyone's questions:

My "breastfeeding" goodie bag from the hospital of course had a sample of formula in it too. I did bring it home and plan on donating it to a homeless shelter or something, but I am so glad that I didn't have to use that.

I was able to express colostrum. I was surprised at how bright yellow a color it was.

I don't have a breast pump yet so I couldn't do any extra pumping to stimulate or anything. I would have been interested in weighing her before and after a feeding but sometimes it takes me a bit to latch right, then she sits there and savors her meal like it's chocolate and caviar. If I have time and someone w/ a scale that measures ounces has time then I might do that if I worry again.

[SleepyMamaBear]

do it at the LCs office.
they have scales just for that reason!
what a great ped to prescribe sun and boobs! so many i know would tell you to stick her on a bottle, and they would be WRONG! thats all she needs, boobs and sun

[2 in August]

Glad to hear everything is working out. My milk took a good 5 days to come in.

[Harmony96]

Ok so I went to the LC's office and there was nobody there. : When I made the appointment I double checked w/ her that she wanted me to come on Saturday and she said yes. Her bus card did not have any different address or weekend thing on it and when I called the # their answering machine said that my call would be returned on the next business day (M-F).

So. My next update will be after tonight after the home health nurse does the lab and weighing, etc.

Andrea

[_betsy_]

So glad things are workinng out for you! YEAH!

Wierd about the LC's office! How frustrating!

[Harmony96]

Ok her bili levels on Friday were actually 13.3 instead of just 13... but on Saturday they were down to 12.7. They want me to do more of the same today (feed her frequently and put her in sunshine.)

And if anyone who has not nursed yet is reading this thread... be careful what you wish for. Now that my milk has come in... I am FULL and engorged.

Andrea

[MamabearTo4]

Woohoo! The milk fairy has come! I'm so happy for you!

That's great advice...sunlight and boobies. The extra bili comes out through the meconium, so the more she poos, the faster the bili leaves her body. Pump 'er full! I'm sure you must feel so much better having your milk come...

I've been thinking of you over the past few days! I didn't have much support when I had my first and had soooo many questions! I did alot of reading and alot of watching my baby for cues, safe and cozy in our cabin - just the two of us and our dog. Those are some of my favorite days, and I always get a little misty-eyed when I think of them! That's another thread, though!

Get your rest and love on that babe for us!