Probably a really thick question, how much do newborns get in the first few days?

[dejags]

Hi All,

Hope somebody can answer my silly question.

Basically I am intending to try and breastfeed after a breast reduction - I was told before DS1 was born that it wouldn't be possible by my midwife so gave up pretty easily.

This time round I have researched it more thoroughly, spoken to my surgeon and am convinced that I can at least give my baby some breastmilk.

Before a mum's milk comes in - how much colostrum does a newborn get? i.e. is it ounces or is it just enough to quench thirst?

Probably too much information but if I gently squeeze my boobs now I can express a few drops of colostrum (been like this since I was 16 weeks pregnant). I am still scared that my baby will starve though in the first few days before my milk comes in and I can get a better idea of how much he is getting... any ideas?

Thanks...
Dejags

Well done you. Colostrum comes through in tiny amounts, I don't think newborn stomachs can take much more. There's a site here that describes it as "teaspoons". Interestingly it also says that it starts to be produced at 16 weeks, so you're bang on schedule! Your baby won't starve, don't worry

Thanks for that link Tamum.

I am really hopeful that I will be at least be able to provide some of his nutritional needs when he is born but am realistic that I am more than likely going to have to combine bf with bottlefeeding. At least it means I won't have as many bottles to wash and DH can help out with a feed before bedtime.

One thing I find amazing is that after DS was born a midwife basically forced a bottle on him less than 3 hours after he was born - I was panicking that I couldn't feed him and was flapping a bit. He had a terrible time with constipation and a sore tummy for the first two weeks after he was born - I wondered why at the time... now I know. His poor little digestive system was simply overwhelmed with a four ounce bottle only hours after he was born... ...

IIRC the average newborn's stomach is the size of a walnut - so can take very little indeed! In any case, unless the newborn is in some way ill they don't need much at all. Many babies don't feed for several hours after they are born.

Hi dejags, I only produced a small amount of colostrum in the first few days. I think the milk came in around day 3 or 4. It is also not uncommon for bf babies to lose a bit of weight in the first week until bf is established (that happened with my ds and I have read several accounts of this on MN), ie. an ounce or so. It actually took four weeks for my ds to stop losing weight and by week six he actually started to gain weight. However, mine is a more extreme example as ds has a tounge-tie.

I would have thought if you are producing breastmilk then I don't see why that can't be his main food as breasts produce the amount requested by the baby, eg. after a few days of feeding every 2-3hrs the breasts have gotten used to the demand and produce enough to satisfy it. If you still have milk ducts then I would have thought you could produce enough. Best let one of the bf councillors confirm this for you (mears, tiktok?)

HTH and good luck

dejags - why is this a silly question????!!! It's a perfectly sensible one.

No one can say if you will be able to bf your baby fully - it may depend on whether the previous surgeon sliced through your ducts. You can find lots of help at the breastfeeding after reduction site

Many women do bf fully after reduction.

You will certainly produce some milk. Colostrum is needed in no more than small quantities, and feeding your baby often, with lots of skin to skin contact, in the hours and days after birth gets things off to a good start. It may be more often than 2-3 hours - just go by what the baby is 'telling you' and more often than that if he is very sleepy.

Grrrrrrr at the midwife who told you you wouldn't be able to feed and who gave him a bottle....

This seems to be my day for pottering around on bfeeding threads. Must get some work done...

FWIW, my three babies were all big (9lb +) and got pretty p*ssed off at the quantity of colostrum on offer for the first few days (and I'm not exactly small in the boob department). They were very fretty, wanting to feed and suck constantly and only really settled once the milk had come in properly.

So I think you don't need to assume you reduction is responsible if they seem to be not getting enough for the first few days. If you can get through it by letting them suck as often as you can bear, and giving them a finger to suck in between, you might surprise yourself once the milk comes in. I guess by day 5 you would have a better idea of how much milk you could produce.

Well my boobs have gone into overdrive in the last couple of days. They leaked so much this afternoon that it went through my bra and marked my shirt.

Probably really sad but I am getting all excited that this means I should be able to feed (30 weeks pregnant now)...

Does anybody know if this is a good indication of how things will go post delivery?

bump

Why would you think you would be unable to feed if you didn't leak, djags? Women's breastfeeding experience is hugely related to post-natal issues....whether they have enough support and info, whether the baby is healthy, whether they are able to have the baby close to them at all times, for instance.

Leaking in pregnancy is very variable and there is no evidence it has anything to do with what happens afterwards...no reason why you won't be just fine, but the leaking will have no impact either way!

Tiktok,

Thanks for that - just because of the reduction - I got a bit excited that there was something there. Thought that it was proof that the ducts hadn't be irreparably damaged...

Will have to wait and see...

Oh, didn't realise you'd had a reduction. Didn't connect you with the original poster, sorry!

Reductions don't ever sever all the ducts (as far as I am aware) , and most women manage to bf....have you see the website on this?

it's here