Anybody else's milk not come in? - Infant Care (up to 18 months old) Message Board

ibelieve · 01-11-2008, 03:07 PM

My DD is 16 days old now. I've been pumping since delivery and am still not getting more than an ounce at any given time. I was pumping every 2 hours for the first 4-5 days, then it was more like every 5-6 hrs (I was busy with bottles and figuring out formula and stuff.) I tried Reglan and it did seem to help my supply a little, but had to stop it due to the depression it caused. I've decided I will spend this weekend pumping every 2 hours again to see if it will increase supply. If not, I guess I will have to give up.

I really, really wanted to nurse. I'm so sad. Did I do something wrong? I pumped just how they said for the first several days, and only got slack about it when it seemed it wasn't going to work anyway. Why doesn't milk always come in? Has this happened to anyone else? Tell me I'm not the only one.

liloulou · 01-11-2008, 03:13 PM

I didn't have this issue, but have you talked to a lacation consultant? I remember when I wasn't producing as much as I needed at one point and they recommended fenugreek or some herb with that kind of name to increase the supply.
Also, have you let your baby actually nurse? Maybe that will stimulate production more than a pump. Even if it means baby nurses for a little bit (get's formula) and then you pump afterwards to stimulate more production.
Also, drink a lot of water.
Hope something helps in your production.
Good luck.

baj406 · 01-11-2008, 03:25 PM

Are you only pumping or are you putting the baby to breast as well? I wasn't able to actually nurse DS so I could only pump. I was fortunate that the pump did provide enough stimulation for my milk to come in, but that's just not the case for everyone. The baby provides a much better stimulation and is very effective at getting the milk to come in. Even if your baby isn't supposed to nurse (DS needed extra calories, which is why he never nursed) you might try pumping, and then putting the baby to a "dry" breast for a few minutes to provide extra stimulation.
It's all about supply and demand. If you can figure out how to tell your body that you're demanding it, you should be able to build a supply.
Also, try taking supplements like fenugreek, fenil and goat's rue, as well as drinking mother's milk tea. Also, eat lots of oatmeal. These things are ALL good for building supply.

mjbrandon · 01-11-2008, 04:48 PM

Like you, my milk never fully came in. I was dead set on nursing, and followed everything I ever read about successful nursing, and I still didn't get enough milk. I beat myself up for MONTHS for not being able to nurse, and I ended up going through depression as a result. Please understand that you nursing or not nursing does not make or break you as a mother. Many babies are bottle-fed and are just as healthy, smart and happy as any breast-fed baby.

I tried some tea called "Mother's Milk" which contains many of the herbs previously suggested, with no results, but it might work for you. I think I got it at GNC.

Try everything you can to continue nursing, but know that if it doesn't work out you baby will still be perfectly fine, and you are still a great mom.

KeltoKel · 01-11-2008, 05:46 PM

I can totally relate to everything you are saying and it stressed me out.

My milk took 5 days to even come in at all. By that time, my son had already been in the NICU for a weekend (jaundice) and he was drinking 3 oz. of Similac every 3 hours at that time.

Long story short, my supply NEVER caught up with his demand and I never could totally rely on breastmilk to feed my son. I had a lactation consultant come to the house and she was so nice and supportive. She helped me try everything but nothing made my supply increase. I could barely pump an ounce after a month! I pumped around the clock, took herbs, ate oatmeal, drank water - EVERYTHING! It was so frustrating.

I gave my son what breast milk I could, but after about 2 months, I had to exclusively bottle feed. I really beat myself up over it for several weeks, but then I was fine.

I swear some people do not produce milk like others. My SIL had so much milk that she had an entire freezer full. She could feed my nephew off one breast and pump an entire bottle off the other.

Whatever happens, just remember that any milk you can give your baby is fine. If you don't ever produce enough, just sweat it. My son is now 14 months and healthy as anything. He has never been on an antibiotic and walked at 11 months.