What causes variation in how quick milk comes in post-birth?

[Ragusa]

Just an idle question really. It was 5 days with both of my babies and I have no idea why it was so long. First was induced at 39 weeks, second was spontaneous at 40+2. Why do my boobs take so long to get going??

[Ragusa]

Ok I should have googled first.... I see that stressful long labours (baby number 1) and large blood losses (baby number two) can cause this. Maybe that's why.

[Junosmum]

Also c sections. FWIW I had a stressful long labour with large blood loss and my milk came in on day 3.

[InFrance2014]

Also, the baby themselves is important: suckling stimulates your boobs, helps hormones etc to make milk come in. It also impacts the amount of receptors in your boobs, with importance for how much milk you make overall.
If you were advised to limit the baby to scheduled sessions (e.g. x mins on each boob every 2 hours), this could have had impact.

[NameAgeLocation]

Yes blood loss is a big one. I think mine took 5 days with one of mine. I had to stay in hospital due to major blood loss and the nurses reassured me that it was completely normal for it to take a long time for the milk to come in in that situation.

[SpeakNoWords]

It's not conclusive that c-sections in themselves delay milk production. Especially if you can immediately feed your baby, have skin-to-skin etc.

[ShowOfHands]

It took until day 3 with DD and she was born after a v traumatic labour and by emcs. Also had a pph.

DS was another long labour and emcs but no haemorrhage. Milk came in on day 2.

[DearTeddyRobinson]

I think it's just one of those inexplicable things. I've had. 2 ELCS, milk came in on day 3 and 2 respectively. DC1 was permanently attached to the boob from the moment he came out, DC2 was ill and couldn't feed so I was hand expressing colostrum and syringe feeding. But my milk came in quickly and in large quantities! Nothing I did or didn't do.

[Ragusa]

Oh thank you everyone for your responses ! Interesting to read the range of experience.

[Sandsnake]

48 hours after DS was born via ELCS. I was expecting it to be much longer but then again he was pretty much permanently suckling from birth so think that helped!

[HalfStar]

5 days here with both. 2 normal deliveries, first labour about 12 hours start to finish so not overly long, second was about 2.5 hours. Skin to skin straight away with both (well, 5 minute delay with dc2) and they both fed in the labour room and were on pretty much the whole time from then. It must be one of those things.

[Persephone76]

Day 7 with DC1 - 2000ml PPH and iron count of 7 even after transfusion

Day 3 with DC2 - 1300ml PPH and iron count of 10 with no transfusion required

Perhaps iron is the key, not blood loss?

[ShowOfHands]

My iron count was 6.5 after a large pph and transfusion with dd and milk still came in on day 3. I was a right mess though. She fed and fed and fed though and I had her in bed with me, tucked in my nightie the entire time I was in hospital.

[BettyBi0]

I think (completely unscientifically) that stress also has a big part to play. My milk took forever to come in last time and I wonder if it was in part the stress of having so many visitors and everyone playing pass the parcel with the baby when I just wanted to be curled up under the duvet with quiet bonding time and skin to skin.