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Postnatal health

As with all health-related issues, please seek advice from a RL health professional if you're worried about anything.

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Original poster

My breasts won't release milk

26 replies

roadrun · 13/10/2017 22:52

I've just born a little boy, while my breast may not produce a lot of milk, they are currently terribly sore and won't release any milk. I've been told to massage them but it's so painful any tips or ideas?

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Rainallday · 13/10/2017 23:01

Congratulations on your new baby son.

How long ago did you have him? It takes quite a few days for your milk to come in and it's relatively normal for it to be a bit sore on your nipples for a while just while you and your baby get the hang of it.

Nipple cream to help with any soreness and keep latching him on to help encourage your supply.

Are you getting any real life support? It can help to have a breastfeeding expert check that the latch is ok etc.

Also the best advice that helped me with bf was to try feeding lying down.

1000sundowns · 13/10/2017 23:03

Congratulations on your new arrival. It is very early days and milk may not come in properly for a few days yet. I'm afraid the soreness is inevitable for a little while - it seems quite frightening until the milk flow is properly established. If possible - especially if or when you are home - try to relax, perhaps have a bath, don't worry too much about massage, just rest with your baby on your chest. Baby won't need to feed very much just yet but he will enjoy the smell and feel of your skin and listening to your heartbeat. When you feel up for it try to establish a latch for the baby to have some early milk (colostrum) but bear in mind he will only take tiny drops - maybe a teaspoon or so at each feed. Good luck.

Rainallday · 13/10/2017 23:04

Also a hot shower or bath can help when you feel uncomfortabley full of milk. Well done OP it can take a while to get the hang of it but it's worthwhile if you're able to.

Shemozzle · 13/10/2017 23:07

Congratulations! Just to echo the others, your mature milk won't come in for a few days, usually about 5-7 days. Baby will be fine on colostrum, which you won't feel and may not see. Baby will probably feed loads to being your milk in, it doesn't mean they are starving.

nightshade · 13/10/2017 23:08

Warm but not too hot bath....soaka well and then massage from top down to nipple with your knuckles and finger tips..feel for any lumps and try to woeke them out...take two ibuprofen for swelling a glass of wine and they should start...once they do they won't stop so Muslins at the ready!!

marciagetscreamed · 13/10/2017 23:44

My milk didn't come in until two days after birth (not sure how long you had your baby)..
First time I tried massaging etc and second time I asked for some formula. Kept her happy until my milk came through.
I remember how nervous I was the first time about breastfeeding so I know how you feel.
If your milk takes a while to come through, or if breast feeding doesn't work out for whatever reason, it will all be fine. Congratulations and enjoy your new arrival

Original poster

roadrun · 14/10/2017 12:03

Hello, thank you for this. The baby was born on Tuesday; I'm still in the hospital. It was a cesarian, so I'm not bathing yet, but could try a warm water breast massage?
Where can I buy nipple cream?

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Rainallday · 14/10/2017 15:12

Lanolin nipple cream by lansinoh is good they should have it at pharmacies, supermarkets with pharmacies, Mothercare and on Amazon it's like a little purple tube it really helped me.

Rainallday · 14/10/2017 15:15

Maybe you could put a warm damp flannel on your breasts to soothe them and help bring the milk in. It took about 5 days for me I think. Keep your baby close to you and skin to skin as much as you can. And smell his head- new babies smell lovely! Well done OP it's such a shock having a newborn you're doing great.

Original poster

roadrun · 17/10/2017 17:45

Help! my Chinese nanny is very traditional and saying the baby must constantly suck day and night to try and get my breasts to let out milk, one is starting but there's not enough. My baby is sleep...cry...suck a little..sleep...cry..suck a little all day and all night, WHEN i gave him some powder milk he slept really well, but nanny said natural better..... surely a baby can survive off just powder and a little breast milk during the day? I haven't slept for 3 nights now....

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Original poster

roadrun · 17/10/2017 17:47

I'm using a pump to get the milk

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AdalindSchade · 17/10/2017 17:47

Well...the nanny isn't the boss of you but she's not wrong about the constant feeding assuming you want to breastfeed.
Breastfeeding can be very hard work at first but it should get easier. Are you seeing milk produced now?

AdalindSchade · 17/10/2017 17:48

Why are you not putting the baby on the breast to feed? Pumping milk is also very hard especially at 1 week post partum.

Original poster

roadrun · 17/10/2017 17:50

yes from one breast but a tiny tiny amount. The other breast is like a stone.

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Original poster

roadrun · 17/10/2017 17:51

yes, the baby is on the breast and enjoys being on the breast, but the quantity is tiny. the baby thinks its done ok then rests and sleeps, but then must wake and realise still wants more...

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InDubiousBattle · 17/10/2017 17:55

What happens when you put your baby to the full breast? Sometimes babies can find it difficult to latch on to a very engorged breast so you could try to hand express a little milk off and then try to feed him fro m the breast. Babies at this age only need tiny amounts of milk but very frequently. It can be very hard for the first couple of weeks. Are you getting plenty of wet and dirty nappies?

InDubiousBattle · 17/10/2017 17:56

Eat, nappy, sleep, eat, nappy, sleep........This is what tiny babies do op. It does get easier. Can someone take the baby immediately after you've fed him to let you sleep for a while?

Original poster

roadrun · 17/10/2017 17:58

So use the pump and then put baby on the breast?
Around 15-20 nappies a day, which seemed a lot...

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Flisspaps · 17/10/2017 18:00

Newborn babies do spend almost all day (and night) feeding.

It sounds like your little one is doing exactly as they should x

Original poster

roadrun · 17/10/2017 18:01

10-15 nappy

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AdalindSchade · 17/10/2017 18:03

It's all very normal! The baby's stomach is tiny, he can't fit much in so has to keep feeding oftrn. Ditch the pump, put the baby in bed with you and feed and doze.

RidiculousDiversion · 17/10/2017 18:05

Kellymom is a properly evidence-based website which you can trust, here's the page on newborns, which will help you work out if anything isn't working the way it should. But feeding and snoozing and feeding and snoozing sound like standard newborn behaviour.

InDubiousBattle · 17/10/2017 18:05

Have you been shown how to hand express? It might be worth a try just to take a tiny bit off if you baby is having trouble latching on. If your baby is latching onto the breast well then I wouldn't express at all, just let your baby feed.

DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 17/10/2017 18:08

What you get out with a pump isn't always indicative of what the baby is getting ime. Some people bf very successfully but aren't able to pump anything.

Sounds like your baby is doing really well and if you want to give your baby a bottle do so, your nanny is not the mother of your baby,you are.

Original poster

roadrun · 17/10/2017 18:12

hand express?

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