My Milk Hasn’t Come In Yet, What Should I Do?

Dear Judy.
My daughter was born four days ago. Unfortunately, I had to have an emergency c-section because I suddenly showed the symptoms of preeclampsia (forcing an induction) and the baby’s stats didn’t look good. We found out later that she had a calcified placenta, so that’s why she is so tiny.

I was wondering if you could give me some breastfeeding advice.

Because she’s so tiny and she was dehydrated, the doctor asked us to supplement. I breastfeed her first and then we supplement. I think this shouldn’t cause a problem like nipple confusion because (so far) she’s sucking and eager to breastfeed first. She’s not a big fan of the bottle. But I’m concerned that my milk hasn’t come in yet. She was born four days ago and although my breasts look bigger and fuller, I haven’t had any sort of let down or flow of milk. I still produce colostrum.

I’ve been pumping and taking warm showers to get my milk to come in, but nothing has worked. Could you suggest any new ways to get my milk to come in? Should I be concerned, considering tomorrow is the 5th day?

Thanks for your help.

A Concerned New Mom

Thanks for sending in your note and CONGRATS on your new baby girl! I am so happy for you!! I’m sorry about the complications, but glad that everything worked out well in the end.

For supplementing – I would say nurse, nurse, nurse and don’t supplement – your body needs all of the stimulation you can give it to help your milk come in nice and strong. Lay down with your baby skin-to-skin and try to keep her attached to your breast as much as possible. Every time she drinks from the bottle, that is needed stimulation that your body isn’t getting to tell it to make milk. Five to six days for your milk to come in is pretty common. My milk took six days to come in with my son. If you feel you need to supplement, use a supplemental feeding system (your pediatrician can probably give you one). This will allow your baby to still be nursing while she is getting the supplement. So that even though she is getting a supplement, your breasts are still getting the needed stimulation for them to produce milk.

Thanks so much, Judy. You’re totally right. I kind of ditched supplementing today and left her on my breast all day. It looks like it’s working, because I feel like my milk has come in, but I don’t feel the let down sensation as strongly as I did with my first child. Is that possible? It looks like she’s eating and satisfied, I just don’t feel a let down.

Yes, it is very possible that you wouldn’t feel the let down sensation. To be honest, I have never felt one. When I used to pump, I could tell when my milk was letting down because I could see it in the pump, but I have never felt it – some women feel it more than others – and I think it is perfectly possible that you would feel it differently with one child vs another.

I’m so happy that you guys are doing better after spending the day nursing today. Please call or email me anytime. I am more than happy to help.

Thanks for all the breastfeeding advice over the weekend. I basically sat in bed all weekend, with the baby at my breast. My milk came in Saturday night/Sunday morning and she was very happy and I was very relieved. She’s got her days and nights mixed up, so we’re hanging out now. She’s breastfeeding, of course.

She’s really small because her placenta was calcified, thanks to my preeclampsia. The doctor says she’s probably going to eat 24/7 to make up for the slow start. That’s very true so far.

Your advice really helped because I didn’t realize that I may not feel the let down. I don’t feel it now, but I used to feel it when I nursed my son. How weird.

Thanks for e-mailing me and and for all of your advice … That’s why I ordered from your store … a real person on the other end of the e-mail.

Some other great posts you may enjoy:

• Ask Judy: What Type Of Solids Should I Be Giving My Baby?
• Ask Judy: Is It Too Early To Start My Baby On Solids?
• Ask Judy: Should I Pump?