No Colostrum?

[Sammie4030]

My DS is 44 hours old. I had no breast changes during pregnancy and never leaked any colustrum. If I squeezed my nipples, a few drops would appear. I had an emergency c-section and was able to skin to skin and nurse within 30 min. of birth. He did great latching on Day 1. I let him nurse as often as he wanted: anywhere from 30 min. to 2 hours apart, usually 15 min. per side. He had 4 poops and 3 or 4 pees that day. The nurses were all very impressed with that! Then Day 2 hit and after every 10-15 min. session he would scream and suck his fists as if unsatisfied. I worked with the lactation consult. and we kept switching sides for almost 4 hours. She said he may have taken all the colostrum I produced during pregnancy all in Day 1 and now expected just as much and it may not be there. I can't hand express anything. So we have been formula supplementing with the SNS about every 4-5 hours while still nursing without it in between about every 2 hours, hoping my milk comes in soon. Not to mention his latch is now horrible. I can't get him to open his mouth wide enough and he is killing my nipples!! I'm so paranoid about not producing milk...wish it would hurry and get here! It's hard to work on good latching when he isn't getting anything out of it - very discouraging for us both and very sore nipples!
Anyone else have a similar experience? Any tips or advice? We are supposed to get to go home today but I'm worried. Hopefully I'll get to see the lactation consult. again before leaving and I'll make an appt. with my birth centers lactation consultant for his week. I just like fast answers! Thanks ladies, and sorry this post is so long! If you read this far, I appreciate it!

[tibeca]

C-section mama's sometimes take longer for their milk to come in. Those early poops/pees were most likely due to the fluids you received prior to your c-section and not actually due to your production of milk. Not leaking doesn't actually mean anything. Milk usually comes in between 2-5 days past delivery.

Is it possible you have a retained placenta? It is uncommon with c-sections, put definitely possible. It isn't too early to take herbs to help with lactation either.

[dawnp15]

This is pretty much exactly what happened to me too. It took 4 1/2 days for my milk to come in. I basically did what your doing, a little bit of formula through the sns, and we also ended up with a nipple shield. He refused to latch on day 2 after he wasn't getting much of anything. So the shield got him to latch on the breast again. It was not an easy start, but we are still going strong today! Keep up the good work mama!!

[Sammie4030]

Thanks! I was having a bit of a mama meltdown this morning, but things are looking up! I met again with the lactation consult. and she was super encouraging. Looks like even the "dry" nursing we've been doing in between supplements has been doing something. I can now hand express a few drops again and my breasts were starting to feel sore this morning and even in the last hour have started to feel firmer so maybe milk is on it's way. DS is still not latching well so maybe I will pick up a shield on our way home - I hadn't thought of that!

[dawnp15]

I totally understand, i had a good meltdown on day 3 at about 2 am. The thing i had to remember was to just keep going and that in the long run this will all be worth it! I didn't want to give any formula, but he got less than an ounce total and it kept him at my breast. That was what was the most important. I'm no expert, but i just know it's not always easy for everyone i totally understand! The heavy feeling is a good sign, i bet your milk will be coming in soon!!

[Sammie4030]

I was not happy about the formula either because I went through this same thing with DD and we just gave in to the formula in the end. But so far we have done less than an ounce as well (only 3 times so far) and it has helped keep him relaxed enough to work on latching - before he was screaming his head off and nothing was getting accomplished other than making me cry with him!

[mommy24babes]

Just had to say hang in there
Even though I am on baby nuber 4 having nursed them all I was paranoid this last time. It felt like it was taking forever for my milk to come in. I was not leaking and barely able to express a few drops on day2. Once my milk came in though it was fine just do sking to skin and nurse as much as possible. Try not to get to stressed out.

However it happens your baby is getting fed

[songbird516]

Even with a natural birth with my first, it still took 5 days for my milk to come in. you are doing great; try to relax and have confidence in the both of you

[mrjsmom]

Wow I'm always so amazed at the wonderful advice given to worried mamas in this forum!! I was going to chime in with some advice on my own but so many of you said it so perfectly. Just wanted to say how wonderful it is, thats all.

[Sammie4030]

Originally Posted by mrjsmom Wow I'm always so amazed at the wonderful advice given to worried mamas in this forum!! I was going to chime in with some advice on my own but so many of you said it so perfectly. Just wanted to say how wonderful it is, thats all.

So true! I've been so thankful for all of these mamas on many different issues! This is a fantastic resource!

And still hanging in there. Going to buy a nipple shield today to see if that will give me a chance to heal a bit. Did some pumping last night to keep up stimulation and he jas nursed twice today with some milk flow! Not a lot yet but its increasing!