I Had No Milk For My Baby | Flashback Friday
The lactation consultant at the hospital came into my ward 5 hours after Lauren was born. In a dopey state of mind from the sleepless night and epidural, I tried my best to pay attention while she went on about the importance of breastfeeding, the number of feeding times, how to latch on, blah blah blah. Then she proceeded to ‘show’ me how to massage my breast before offering it to the baby. By showing”, I mean she literally grabbed my breast, and work at it as if she was kneading a dough. Then she squeezed, and announced, “Your milk is not in yet”.
A pang of anxiety shot through my chest. So what now? Is my baby gonna starve? How can my body do this to her?
It hadn’t occurred to me that there is waiting time for to milk to come. I just assumed that once the baby is here, the milk would have ‘arrived’ and waiting to be consumed. So when does milk come in? Turned out, the first few days mothers produce colostrum, a thicker, more condensed ‘milk’ in a smaller quantity to nourish the baby. Even so, after years of hearing stories of how an abundance of milk leaks out or come out spraying, my insecurity overcame me. I pumped day and night only to get a few sorry drops.
I felt so helpless, guilty and despair at not producing the milk my baby needed. I surfed the internet all day for answers on how to produce more milk. I found that while most mothers feel that they don’t produce enough milk for their baby; while every expert reassures us that we do produce enough. I also learnt that instead of worrying, I should first take good care of myself. Eat, sleep and rest well are keys. I persevered and read everything I could on breastfeeding from reputable sources. I found KellyMom very useful.
I am now happy to report that my milk finally ‘came’ in on the 8th day and I’m currently still breastfeeding. Lauren is already 13 months old now 🙂
Please share your first breastfeeding experience with me in the comment box below.
HELLO! I’M MICHELLE.
Find out more about me here.
I'm so happy you have a happy ending. It's nice that you're sharing your story with others. I'm visiting from Thumping Thursdays.
I'm so happy you have a happy ending. It's nice that you're sharing your story with others. I'm visiting from Thumping Thursdays.
I do have the flashback picture etc. right after my recipe on my Post. Beautiful picture and I'm happy for you that you got to nurse your baby finally. Have a great weekend.
I do have the flashback picture etc. right after my recipe on my Post. Beautiful picture and I'm happy for you that you got to nurse your baby finally. Have a great weekend.
I had these problems with my first and it took ages for my milk to come in. When it did, my boobs were so engorged I couldn't get my son latched on. I tried persevering bit with little support from anyone and a screaming child, we switched to formula. I always felt guilty about it but it never did him any harm. With my second, I made sure I was well informed and made sure I got her on the breast as soon as she was born and I fed her until she was 2.
I can't believe that lady was so rude, she should have just told you to put baby to the breast and that would have helped your milk come out – not say you haven't got any! There's so much bad advice out there it drives me mad. It is really difficult to manual express off anything, especially in the early days. I'm glad it was a happy ending.
I can't believe that lady was so rude, she should have just told you to put baby to the breast and that would have helped your milk come out – not say you haven't got any! There's so much bad advice out there it drives me mad. It is really difficult to manual express off anything, especially in the early days. I'm glad it was a happy ending.
I understand. I had no idea breast feeding is so hard. Formula or breast milk, we are just doing our best to feed our babies. There is no need to feel guilty about it, Laura. Thanks for commenting.
I understand. I had no idea breast feeding is so hard. Formula or breast milk, we are just doing our best to feed our babies. There is no need to feel guilty about it, Laura. Thanks for commenting.
Thanks Marie, Mail4Rosey and Pinkoddy. I'm glad it worked out and hopefully, other mommies would learn from my story 🙂
Thanks Marie, Mail4Rosey and Pinkoddy. I'm glad it worked out and hopefully, other mommies would learn from my story 🙂
i was really lucky, as my milk did come in fine with both my babies. However, I did find latching on very difficult and had I not had the help and support of my partners Mum I dont know if I would have perserverd.
however, despite an awful start for you and Lauren it sounds like you are doing brilliantly and to still be BF is amazing. well done you x x
i was really lucky, as my milk did come in fine with both my babies. However, I did find latching on very difficult and had I not had the help and support of my partners Mum I dont know if I would have perserverd.
however, despite an awful start for you and Lauren it sounds like you are doing brilliantly and to still be BF is amazing. well done you x x
Hi Michelle,
I had the same problem with both of my girls. The first one I was told to supplement with formula. The second one I met with the Lactation Consultant at our pediatrician's office. Priceless! She had me drink this tea – Organic Mother's Milk Tea 6 times a day. It did not taste good, but right after drinking it, I could literally feel my milk letting down. I'm stocking up on it as we await for baby #3.
I'm glad that you were able to eventually breastfeed your daughter and still are. That's fantastic. I breastfed both of mine until they were 14 mos. Thank you for sharing this on the Thumping Thurdays Blog Hop.
Sincerely,
Karina
Hi Michelle,
I had the same problem with both of my girls. The first one I was told to supplement with formula. The second one I met with the Lactation Consultant at our pediatrician's office. Priceless! She had me drink this tea – Organic Mother's Milk Tea 6 times a day. It did not taste good, but right after drinking it, I could literally feel my milk letting down. I'm stocking up on it as we await for baby #3.
I'm glad that you were able to eventually breastfeed your daughter and still are. That's fantastic. I breastfed both of mine until they were 14 mos. Thank you for sharing this on the Thumping Thurdays Blog Hop.
Sincerely,
Karina
Thankfully I always had a lot colostrum so not enough milk was never an issue. But I still was worried when she kept crying after a feed. Looking back, I think she was crying to be rocked to sleep. Haha we get so caught up with milk production sometimes we lose sight of the full picture. Anyway thanks for linking up! 🙂
So glad that feeding is working out well for you now after that shaky start – not surprised it knocked your confidence, it doesn't sound like that particular lactation consultant was very helpful at all. Perhaps a little less of a hands-on approach and a bit more useful support and information would have been a better way forward!
So glad that feeding is working out well for you now after that shaky start – not surprised it knocked your confidence, it doesn't sound like that particular lactation consultant was very helpful at all. Perhaps a little less of a hands-on approach and a bit more useful support and information would have been a better way forward!
I've been lucky with all 5 of mine in that my milk comes in really quickly around day 2 or 3, and I have gallons. It was always clear that there was plenty. I can't imagine how depressing it must feel during the blue days thinking it's all going wrong and 'It's my fault' – even though it clearly isn't. Well done for carrying on 🙂
I've been lucky with all 5 of mine in that my milk comes in really quickly around day 2 or 3, and I have gallons. It was always clear that there was plenty. I can't imagine how depressing it must feel during the blue days thinking it's all going wrong and 'It's my fault' – even though it clearly isn't. Well done for carrying on 🙂
Thanks liquoriceuk. I hope this post brings solace and encourages other new moms to not give up on breastfeeding too soon.
Thanks liquoriceuk. I hope this post brings solace and encourages other new moms to not give up on breastfeeding too soon.
I'm so sorry that you had such a tactless LC. I love that in the end you got the support that you needed and carried on! Lovely post. x
I'm so sorry that you had such a tactless LC. I love that in the end you got the support that you needed and carried on! Lovely post. x
Such an honest post. Mum's just don't get enough information about breastfeeding and there is such a lot to it. Taking it all in when baby is born is so overwhelming. Thanks for sharing with #BFingDiaries
Such an honest post. Mum's just don't get enough information about breastfeeding and there is such a lot to it. Taking it all in when baby is born is so overwhelming. Thanks for sharing with #BFingDiaries