Day 6 and no milk yet...?

[shelle65]

Hi, I was wondering if it is unusual for the milk to still not be in 6 days after birth? My poor little bubs sucks at my breasts 24/7 and gets nothing, we have to give her formula or she would starve.

Is it too late, am I one of those women who just never gets any milk?

[mumo5]

Hey Darling. I have 5 kids and have not properly fed one of them. I fed my 4th one for 6 weeks and he only put on 260grams. They should put on average bout 160 a week. But I really wanted to feed him.It wasn't meant to be and I put him on the bottle. He thrived and that's the most important thing. But with my 5th I didn't think I could again. But by day 10 my milk started coming through properly. He was 5 and half weeks early and I had to express for 2 and half weeks but once he came home and started feeding my milk picked up. My suggestion to you is to try expressing and see how much you get out. Then you will have a fair idea of how much your baby may be getting. And don't forget that your baby will always get more milk out of your breasts than an expressing machine will. On the other hand... some babies feed every hour. A friend of mine had a baby in january the same as me and my baby fed every four hours and hers was feeding every hour because she was just a little guts. She is the chubbiest little thing now 2 mths later. While my baby ended up wih colic and I had to put him on the bottle and he's smaller than my friends baby. So maybe your bub's just a thirsty little monkey.. goodluck. I hope I haven't confused you.
P.S. My sister went to a breast feeding clinic and she said it was so helpful and learnt things she never knew with her first baby. :fingerscrossed:

[shelle65]

Wow, thanks Sara, that helps a lot! :hugs: It gets frustrating every time DP has a cuddle he calls out - "she's hungry!" I know, but what else can I do? Anyway, if she ends up on a bottle then I know I gave it a shot.

I've been told to express an hour and a half after each feed, but she is usually still going at that stage! Perhaps she's just like your friend's baby...

:hugs:

[Africamum]

Hi,

My milk did not come in until after day 6, one side came in first then the other side.

My DS was given a bottle in hospital (I had a choice a bottle or a NGT!).

I comp feed for four months and was expressing for 10-15 minutes after every feed and was feeding every 2 hours for the what seemed like ages at the time but was probably only 6 weeks and then I feed every three hours.

Each feed was taking between 45 minutes and a hour.

I was able to build up my supply and completely stop the comp feeds - it wasn't that hard DS doesn't like formula anyone (still doesn't). The MCHN's tried to get me to give up DS's bottle in hospita (dramatic weight drop - bad idea) and then again as soon as I got home. I didn't rush anything (I had to move house and country and so was already under enough stress) and was gradually able to cut out the bottle in my own time without fearing that I was starving DS.

It was hard work but we got there in the end. Dont feel discouraged yet. It is possible to comp feed for a while and end up with a totally breastfeed baby.

My advice - some days in bed with just feeding the baby and watching DVD's - no house work. I know it is easier said that done!
Talk to someone at thye ABA
There are some great lactation cookie recipes floating around on the hub (some even with choc chips)
Many of the girls use Feengruk? (sp?)

Formula is there are your safetynet.

Goodluck and I hope it all works out for you.

[Ashleigh<3]

You may not be noticing the colostrum which is rich in nutrients and it will keep the baby okay until the milk comes in. It is an oragney-yellowy colour.

Feeding for 45 minutes on the breasts is normal for that age, you need to keep influencing the suction, it seems like babies aren't eating but they really are eating something, they get something out no matter how unreal it seams.

My milk came in around day 4, but it wasn't untill 4-5 weeks would I hear a real gulp.

Do you have an electric expressor or maybe a manual pump, it will stimulate your milk flow. Don't fret about bubs not getting enough milk. The first week is usually the hibernation period.

If you are worried call the ABA, they can assist you over the phone, VERY HELPFUL!

Goodluck!

[♥Heaven Sent♥]

Hi there,
With my first i didnt have breast milk until 5-6 days after i gave birth it took ages to come in.I HAD to comp feed dd because she had low blood sugar levels when she was born.I expressed and then gave colustrum in a bottle then i gave her formula to top her up.I breast fed dd for 4 months and then when i had an opperation my milk dried up so i had to stop feeding.

If i had of known what i know now i would have successfully bf her.

With ds my milk only took 2-3 days to come in and i had lots of colustrum i could get 10mls out of each breast,with ds i put him to the breast as much as possible and didnt give him any formula.I was lucky that he was a very settled baby though(opposite to his sister).A couple of months ago when i got AF back my breast milk slowed down alot so i had to go on Mottilium and it has worked great,i have to stay on it until ive finished bf ds because every time i stop it it slows down and have no milk.

I would suggest also to goto ABA they should be able to help you.Or go and see your doctor.

xoxo Jac

[AM]

Please call the ABA for peace of mind. They will be able to reassure you that your milk will come in, and baby is just fine on the colostrum until then. It may seem as though baby is feeding constantly, and getting nothing, but I assure you, colostrum is incredibly concentrated, and will be doing the job. It is completely normal for a newborn to almost LIVE at the breast, and the best thing you can do is simply sit on the couch, or even better, lie in bed with bub, and just let her feed, feed, feed. She is stimulating your supply in these first few days and weeks, so trust your body, and your baby, nature is very clever.
You are doing fabulously :thumbsup:

QUOTE:

ABA Telephone Counselling
All capital cities and some other areas run a Breastfeeding Helpline on a roster system. You can also look under Australian Breastfeeding Association in your local White Pages (Some books may still have us listed as Nursing Mothers' Association of Australia). The Helplines are available 7 days a week. Counsellors are answering calls in their own homes so please take this into consideration when calling.



BREASTFEEDING HELPLINES
ACT/Southern New South Wales (02) 6258 8928
New South Wales (02) 8853 4999
Queensland (07) 3844 8977 or (07) 3844 8166
Townsville (07) 4723 5566
Cairns (07) 4058 0007
Toowoomba (07) 4639 2401
South Australia and NT (08) 8411 0050
Northern Territory counsellor contact line (08) 8411 0301
Tasmania (03) 6223 2609
Tasmania - North (03) 6331 2799
Victoria (03) 9885 0653
Western Australia (08) 9340 1200

[M O P]

Do what everyone's said but also tell your Dr.
My Obs put me on some meds to help bring in my milk more at day 5.
I was also expressing as much as I could as often as I could to build up supply.
You are doing the right thing though by still hanging in there!

[Lozie]

Drink heaps of fluids, i drank milk everyhour until my milk came at day 7 dont worry u'll get there:thumbsup: might help to see a Doc too.