Encouraging breastmilk before baby's born?

Question

Hi lovely ladies! 
So with my first baby,  it took 3 days before my milk came in, my heart ached for her because I desperately wanted to feed her and not resort to formula.  I know stimulating the breast can cause uterine contractions so at this point in pregnancy it's harmful. But what about as after 37 weeks,  would it be okay to pump for about 5 minutes every day or something that's not excessive? Or what could I do at 30 weeks,  would massaging my breast encourage some kind of milk flow at all?

Answer

3 days is completely normal for milk to come in. They don't need a lot the first few days, that's why your body only has the colostrum. Don't start nipple stimulation at 30 weeks. That can put you into early labor and your milk still won't come in until you've given birth. My milk waited 3 days to come in with my son, and we bf with zero formula for over a year.

Answer

Baby's are made to wait a few days before milk comes in. I know how hard those days can be- my milk didn't come in until day 4 or 5 with my daughter and it was unbearable heartache until it did- but nature made it so the baby's will survive that wait (within reason)! Trust your body and believe in yourself and the process- don't try to rush it.

Answer

It's INCREDIBLY important that your baby receives colostrum before breastmilk. I'd try getting in contact with a breast feeding support group about what is normal and healthy. La leche league and breastfeeding USA is a great place to start.

Answer

Never do this!! My sister 'leaked' from 30 wks and just let it happen. Turns out she had too much milk and donated it to the hospital for other moms. The doctor said do not ever encourage early breast milk production because your baby needs to learn to suck first before the milk actually squirts out so forcefully, they need the time and as other posters said it is colostrum that first comes in that baby needs anyways.

Answer

Its not suppose to come in for about 3 days the first 72 hours you produce colostrum you might want to talk to a breast feeding counselor they are free thru your hospital

Answer

You don't start lactating until you deliver your placenta... The baby needs the colostrum the first few days... That is super healthy for them.

If it helps each pregnancy for me my milk came in faster. My last one my milk was spewing 3 hrs after delivery...  But I'd encourage you to pump in the hospital after delivery too!

Answer

I expressed before the birth of my first due to gestational diabetes. It was under careful guidance from my obstetrician and was highly successful. Talk with your doc first!

Answer

Pumping can induce labor and is not suggested unless you want to go early and bottle feed because it is colostrum that comes first it takes a few days for milk to come in and colostrum is essential for new babies they need that not milk right away and their tummy's are really little

Answer

I think this is a good question and would/will ask my doctor about it at my next appointment.

Encouraging breastmilk before baby's born?

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