How can you tell if you’ll be able to breast feed?

Question

Hello! So that may be a dumb question, but I’m 28w2d and I’m thinking about breast feeding. I had started to have noticing every so often that my nipple is leaking, so far only the left, which I read is colostrum and normal. I haven’t really noticed it in my right yet. 
I’m taking that as a sign that I am starting to produce, and I know I won’t fully know/produce until probably after birth. But when can you really tell if you’ll be able to produce? I don’t really know too much about it, I still need to read more, but I figured I could get some advice/opinions on here too. 
I’m just very nervous I won’t be able to and I want to make sure I’m prepared with a back up formula plan just in case. 
Thank you!

Answer

It is extremely uncommon to be unable to produce enough milk. More often women have supply issues because they have been given bad advice that sabotages their supply. Breastmilk production is supply and demand, the more you nurse or pump, the more you produce.

Answer

Won’t know until baby is born

Answer

You don’t produce milk until several days after birth so don’t worry! I never leaked when pregnant and don’t leak now, feeding for eight months
It’s pretty unusual not to produce enough milk. Just latch baby, feed on demand (which is about 24/7 for the first six weeks) and stay away from supplementing cos it’ll harm your supply

Answer

I never leaked colostrum, but I could express it. It’s a great sign! Insufficient glandular tissue is extremely rare, if that is what you’re worried about, and I would say even less likely since you’re already producing enough colostrum to leak. There is no real way to accurately tell how much you are producing. The best thing you can do is count the number of wet diapers everyday. If there is enough output, there is enough input. 
I’ve hit many bumps in my breastfeeding journey, and still successfully breastfed four children. You can do it if you want to. And if you decide that you don’t, that’s okay, too. There are very, very few women who are physiologically incapable of breastfeeding. The most common issues that result in low supply have to do with latch problems. Get in touch with a International Board Certified Lactation Consultant if you’re concerned. They are very helpful.

Answer

Am relaying on the fact that my mom had so much milk. 
Otherwise am 33 weeks and am not leaking. 
A friend of mine was telling me she started leaking in her second trimester but failed to breast feed because her nipples were in, and she didn't get help from nurses until it was too late.baby was so used to bottle.

Answer

I can’t remember the exact statistic but the percent of women who physically cannot breastfeed is very small. On the other hand, 54% of women have an oversupply!

Answer

Thanks everyone! I figured there wouldn’t really be a way to know until she’s here, but I appreciate it!

Answer

There is no way to know till your milk comes in and even then it doesn’t really tell you. 
Sorry not a helpful answer but tips to help ensure you are successful:
Skin to skin as much as possible. 
Put baby to breast to nurse as much as they will allow or as much as they give you cues for it. 
Drink plenty of water. Like a ton! 
Eat enough. You burn 20 calories for every ounce you produce. On average a baby can eat upwards of 40 ounce a day those first few months. Once solids are introduced then they tend to drop to 24-30 ounces a day. That means you need to consume your normal diet + an additional 500-800 calories. That’s close to 2000 calories a day you need to consume. 
Breastfeeding makes you insanely hungry. There is no hunger like breastfeeding hunger so have tons of healthy snacks. Things like nuts, oats, spinach, etc increase milk supply. 
If you take a break from baby and let someone else feed them or if you have to supplement: EVERY TIME baby is offered a bottle you still need to pump. This increases/maintains your supply. 
Added tip if you are a working mother and need a stash: pump one side and feed other. This teaches your body that you are feeding twins and you can build an AMAZING stash this way. At each feeding switch which side you pump/nurse from. 
Pumping takes practice. Look at videos of your baby when you do pump. Get video of them crying. This helps.

Answer

I think you'll know if you have trouble breastfeeding

How can you tell if you’ll be able to breast feed?

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