No breast milk

[Giina]

My daughter-in-law had an emergency caesarean and has no breast milk. Are there milk banks in the UK?

How many days PP is she? I had an ELCS with both my children and with the first, it took more than 72 hours for my milk to come in.

It took me almost a week after a section for my milk to come in but I then managed to BF for a year. Is she getting midwife or HV support? Keep offering the breast to stimulate milk development but top up on formula for a short while. I was really nervous to do this as everyone tells you how important BF is at the start, but if there’s no milk the baby will need an alternative. I wish I hadn’t felt so bad about this at the time!

Baby was born 21st August. Mum was put on intravenous antibiotics after caesarean.

After a cs often milk takes a while to come in /or sometimes doesn't

Same with a lot of blood loss and transfusions

Body has had a major trauma so will take a while to produce

It's a shame nurses and mw don't tell mums this

I often mention to my clients (mums I'm a maternity nurse) and yes it's fine to top up with formula as obv baby needs feeding - there should be no guilt about using formula

Is mum putting baby to the breast regularly? If baby latches and feeds it lets the body know that milk is needed.

Her body has had a major trauma and will prioritise healing, so milk may take longer to come in, but frequent latching and expressing will help the body to remember to make milk.

Is mum able to call the National Breastfeeding Helpline? They will be able to talk and listen to her and help her make a plan.

Does mum want to breastfeed? Will she speak to a breastfeeding counsellor? Try LLL, NCT or ABM.- they all have trained counsellors who can help and can do loads over the phone. But they need to talk to the mum and she has to want to do it. It's not too late

I donated milk. The coordinator was attached to a big NICU nearby and my understanding was the milk all went to babies there, or in other NICUs across the region.

I was on IV antibiotics after an EMCS and am still feeding 2 years later. It is possible, can a lactation consultant support? Is she expressing colostrum? Is baby having skin to skin?

Many thanks to all for such helpful replies. I have passed the info on....