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Infant feeding

When does the milk come in?

10 replies

chocolatechipcookie · 26/01/2004 17:44

Is it normal for the milk to come in two days after the birth with a first baby? I thought it was three days, but have been feeling lots of pain and breasts very full since halfway through second day and baby struggling to feed ever since. Pain unbearable now

OP posts:

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SenoraPostrophe · 26/01/2004 17:49

Yes - this happened to me.

It may help if you express a little, or for me simply massaging my lumpy boobs helped, and then I sort of squeezed them into a comfortable shape for dd (and ds). It gets easier!

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aloha · 26/01/2004 17:51

I don't know - mine came in later, but have you tried expressing a little to relieve the engorgement? Also encourage the baby to feed often. My ds never got off which was a bit overwhelming,but I never got engorged. Congratulations on your new baby!

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hercules · 26/01/2004 18:34

i WAS TOLD THE MORE YOU feed the quicker it comes.

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mears · 26/01/2004 18:40

It is normal to come in 2-4 days after birth. Feed as pften as you can to keep the milk moving. The swelling is not all milk also swelling of blood vessels etc. Paracetamol can help as can savoy caggabe leaves in your bra. Keep the cabbage in the fridge and put new cold leaves in to relieve you as needed. It will
get better.

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fisil · 26/01/2004 18:45

Also, can I just add, I was told "breastfeeding is really painful" so put up with the pain as I was told it would get easier. After two weeks I called it a day, my reasoning being it hurt more than childbirth, and I wanted to be able to hold my baby. It was only then that I discovered breastfeeding was never meant to be that painful. So please please please tell people exactly how awful it is, and don't think it is something you have to put up with, cos that's what breastfeeding is like. If I had been more discriptive someone might have noticed that I had thrush & mastitis and I could have got it sorted before I had to stop.

(I know I've said all this before - I am on a mission, and I am determined that I will breastfeed for more than two weeks next time by being less of a hero)

And congratulations - the best days of your life!

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aloha · 26/01/2004 20:16

Fisil, I'm really glad you posted that as breastfeeding was never painful for me beyond the initial few seconds of 'ouch' with latching on and I feel a freak for saying it. I have to say I was incredibly pedantic about the latch and would detach ds endlessly to get it right. I know I was probably lucky too, but I am proof that the feeding itself doesn't have to hurt.

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Clarinet60 · 26/01/2004 22:54

DS1 - no pain latching on or feeding.
DS2 - excruciating agony for 12 weeks, which no-one could explain or solve.
No two pregnancies, births, lactations or babies are alike.
(I'm not going for number 3!)

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mears · 26/01/2004 23:08

chocolatechipcookie - a friend of mine has written a book that might be helpful to you. It is like a handy hint breastfeeding book and you can get it as an e.book at www.authorsonline.co.uk

The site seems to be down at the moment but hopefully it will be working soon. The author is Sharon Trotter and you will see it scrolliing down the right hand side. It costs £3.25 to download.

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aloha · 26/01/2004 23:20

Droile, I would never say that nobody experiences pain when breastfeeding - I know that's not true - but I do think some people are put off because they assume pain is inevitable, that's all.