I just had a baby, so why isn't my body making milk? What should I do?

If you've never had a baby before, you may not have heard that you don't make milk in the days following your baby's delivery. What you do make is colostrum. And we literally call it liquid gold, because it's gold-ish in color, there's not much of it, but it is packed with a punch. There's tons of protein, and fat, and antibodies (or disease-fighting properties) in it, and it's so good for your baby. It's also like a priming coat of paint for your baby's gut in preparation for the breast milk to come. It helps to develop good normal flora (or bacteria) so that your baby has a healthy digestive system.

But a lot of mothers feel like they're not making anything, so they don't nurse, and they just give their baby a bottle of formula. And if you don't stimulate your body to make milk by pumping or nursing every 2 to 3 hours, then your body never gets the message to turn on the milk-making factory, and so then you struggle with supply. So after delivery, the nurses at the hospital encourage you to breastfeed your baby if that's your ultimate plan and goal. And you should continue to nurse or pump every 2 to 3 hours. And this pattern is going to continue for the first 4 to 6 weeks of your baby's life. Their tummies are small and they can't hold much volume. so they have to eat small amounts frequently during each 24 hour period. Once their tummies start to get a little bit bigger and they start to sleep a little bit more through the night, then they may go every 3 to 4 hours, and this happens usually between 6 to 8 weeks after birth.

A mother's milk usually comes in on days 3 to 6 following her baby's birth. And when that happens, you'll notice a few changes. Like when you're breastfeeding, your baby has been having to suck 8 to 12 times to just get 1 drop of colostrum, so you hear infrequent swallowing, but when your milk comes in and it lets down, you hear your baby suck, swallow, suck, swallow, suck, swallow, and that's much different than it's been in the past. You may also all of a sudden feel engorged, and that can cause some pain and discomfort. So if you feel like your baby is not emptying you all the way, then have a pump available to pump the rest of it off, so that you don't have issues with clogged ducts and mastitis. You'll also notice a change in your baby's stool. It goes from being tarry, and sticky, and army-green in color to more of a yellowish color, and it has little "seeds" in it (a lot of people refer to them as like "mustard seeds"). And so these are all signs that your milk has come in. And again, like I said before, continue to nurse your baby every 2 to 3 hours.

[kingsleysam]

My gf has no milk in her breast after having our first baby.wht must i do to hv her milk back in her breast

[aname]

Using a pump for colostrum is a waste of time. It’s too thick and concentrated so will just get lost in the components. Mums will then think they’re not producing anything. Hand expression into a syringe is much more effective.

[momoclevelandboy]

My baby girl 6 days old I don’t have milk until right now I been breast feeding her all day long and night she never got full and I didn’t want give her no bottle I really wanted to give her breast milk only but she lost so much weight and her dr said I have to give her bottle 🍼 cuz she was 5.3 her weight and when she born she was tiny too she was 5.15.6 her weight can u please tell me what to do to increase my breast milk this is my 5th child but I didn’t have the problem with my other kids

[soleil]

I’m day 3 now not one drop of colostrum my breast is so soar from him sucking but no milk

[DReed]

The hospital nurses failed me. Because my milk didn’t come in right away, they shoved formula into their mouths and then my milk never came in while my babies learned to expect an instant flow from a bottle. I learned from midwives and others that you need to allow your body to learn from your baby. My milk didn’t come in until day 5 but sadly it stopped after a few days. Completely stopped.

[grinningneko]

Holy crap!! I was feeling really discouraged because I'm on day 4 and still no let down. Busted out my pump and spent 10 min on each breast, got 1 oz of milk!! Never been more excited over milk, lol

[nashialittle]

I don’t have either and it’s been three days

[youngsfamilynest]

My baby is 4 days old and My 5th child and pumping less then a oz and feeling very discouraged 😓

[gil]

Breastfeeding for me was a huge disaster for all 3 of my babies. I never produced more than an ounce or two at any feeding, and I know because I pumped. I read books on the subject, did everything possible, but still no go. I had to bottlefeed. The truth is not all women can breastfeed, and if you can't and have given it your best shot, don't feel too bad about it. The baby will thrive just fine on bottles, too, although it can be a disappointment.

[melissaneal]

I experienced TOO MUCH MILK for my daughter and son with painful engorgement. I couldn’t even sleep. Get a pump. It is ESSENTIAL. I feel bad for women in the olden days who didn’t have a pump.

[angelawilliams]

When i had my baby back in 2014. I didnt even have colostrum. The dr said it was weird. I pumped every 2 to 3 hrs and day for a month and i just gave up cause my boobs were very sore from pumping.

[HaadiyahAmeer]

I've got my period since 3 weeks and this weeks i'm getting sore breast and bumps on my nipples and when i press its like colostrum milk and im getting frequent urination is it a sign of pregnancy.can you tell me what is it please

[kayeangella]

Yes . Give bottle while u wait for milk . I did that. . Thank u very useful

[aname]

This video is all true apart from one thing which is detrimental. Medical professionals are very quick to offer formula. But there’s observing position and attachment, switch feeding, breast compressions. Then there’s assessing for anatomical issues. But no, much quicker to get the job done with formula and send the patient home.

[RoomaShahbaz]

My baby is 17 weeks old but still I don’t get milk what should I do ?

[MomAsol]

Super helpful video and tips, I breastfeed all my 6 kids. In 1-2 days no milk yet but I have a colostrum, in 3rd day my milk is out and my breast hurt and so painful specially during feeding time but it last about 1 week. After 1 week I can breastfeed okay no more pain and I have enough milk supply it last for more than 2 years I breastfeed my older kids and now I have new baby his 2 months old.

[valeridelarosa]

I had my baby early due to preeclampsia, and she’s still in the hospital, i pump 2-3 hrs and drinks lot of water like 64oz of water everyday, and is eating the cookies also and I only produce 5ml and down and sometimes I make a lot 5 ml and sometimes I make lower then 5ml, what am I doing wrong? Is my milk coming in later also im two week postpartum

[MaillilsW]

Do you have to breastfeed after giving birth? Or can you just pump and feed? Or formula

[mrs.cortez]

Usually day 4 is when your milk will let down (for first time mom's)

[MSEAD]

On day 3 postpartum and barely got a drop of collastrum every time I pump. By time I try to put it to babies mouth I accidentally wipe on my clothing or it dries. Bummed he’s not getting that even. Still no milk yet! Using donor milk until I can get some!