[PurseFanatic]

Sorry if this sounds stupid but I really don't know!

If it takes a few days for your milk to come in after the baby is born, do you just give them regular formula and then wean them off of it?

Sorry I don't get my first paycheck until the 20th, so I haven't bought any baby books yet!!!

[lulumylovely]

go to this site it has a wealth of breastfeeding info

http://www.llli.org/

you really do not need to buy books, it is all on the net and/or go to a baby resale shop they always have the baby books second hand or the library!

congratulations

[capulet]

Before your milk comes in (which normally takes several days), your breasts produce something called colostrum, which has lots of nutritional value and is usually sufficient for your baby's needs without formula. It took four or five days for my milk to come in--I had a c-section, and it often takes longer in that case--but DD did fine until then. Well, she didn't nurse at all the first 24 hours and lost more weight than normal as a result, but she was almost back to her birthweight by the time we were discharged four days after she was born, and that was all on colostrum because my milk hadn't come in yet and I never gave her formula. If you give your baby formula too early it can sabotage your milk production, so if you want to breastfeed it's a good idea to make sure your hospital is on the same page as you are about (not) supplementing with formula. There are times it's necessary, but it's not something that should be routine.

I never bought any books specifically on breastfeeding, just read what was in the regular pregnancy books and online, and also took a class (which was probably not necessary, but I figured every little bit helped). And the nurses and lactation consultants at my hospital were really helpful. We are still going strong at eight months!

[sea0fyears]

^^ Exactly.

[*spoiled*]

capulet hit the nail on the head.. i was going to type almost the same exact thing..

oh and my milk came in in about 3 days

[Sanguar]

I had a c-section on Thursday at noon and my milk was in Saturday around 8 am. Tess is and was a big eater and was more than satisfied with colostrum alone. I wouldn't recommend giving formula at all (unless by a dropper) if you plan to breastfeed, as it can hurt the nursing relationship. Another good website for info is kellymom.com

[anusa]

hmmm i have a six month old daughter still bfing full time even my mature milk came in by 4 day and my daughter was more than satisfied with cholostrum
plus in the first few day a table spoon full of feed is all babies need at the begining if it is cholostrum
they will also tell that for first six days the bm diaper should be like
1 day--atleast 1
2--2 diapers
3---3 diapers
4---4 diapers
5---5 diapers
6---6 diapers and then more or less four to six for fist 4-5 weeks
this will indicate your baby is getting enough of nouroshment required

[PurseFanatic]

Thank you guys soooooo much!!! That explains alot!

[Selena]

Both my boys nursed on colostrum exclusively until my milk came in (about 2.5 days). Totally satisfied. Dont feel like they arent getting enough. Remember, woman have breastfed there babies from the beginning of time. Civilization survived! Formula is a relatively new invention! (based on how long we have inhabited the earth). The body is made perfect to feed your baby. The colostrum is the most important few days of your babies life. It has so many nutrients and antibodies to protect your baby, its "Liquid gold".

[ChristyR143]

ditto what everyone else has said!

A lot of moms get really antsy when they realize their newborns are losing a bit of weight in the first couple of days (before the milk comes in) but that is all completely normal. Once your milk comes in, they gain it back sooooo fast!

[Mrs. MC]

I believe the contrary sorry ! I gave both of my babies formula until my full milk supply came in. I feel like otherwise they would be dehydrated and not get enough nutrition, every nurse on the until completely agreed with this. I wasn't going to let my baby go for days without an adequate feeding, that is just me.

[ChristyR143]

^ While it's certainly okay to do that, it's most definitely not necessary, and in fact, if not VERY careful, it can totally sabatoge the breastfeeding relationship. I'm not knocking what you chose, but just want to make sure that the OP knows that newborn babies bodies are designed by nature to survive on colustrum alone for the first few days, and they get many health benefits from it. (Not to mention that the more a newborn nurses, the faster the milk comes in)

[twochubbycheeks]

I was told that the first couple of days of our newborn babies, they tend to sleep more... so that's why they kinda lose weight AND that is normal accdg to the doctors. What I did was I still breastfed my babies eventhough I know I don't have THAT much milk yet because I know my colostrum will come and that IS the MOST important part of breastfeeding. I didn't want to miss the opportunity of giving that to my babies.

I remember with my 1st born, I had to pump milk because she was in the NICU and I was still trying to recover from surgery.. once I was able to pump out that first milk, although it wasn't that much yet.. about less than 2oz.. I had my hubby bring the milk down to the NICU so my daughter could have it.

Eventhough you think you don't have milk coming in yet.. just continue to breastfeed your baby. Your baby's sucking will stimulate your breast to produce more milk.

[kcf68]

The doctor told me to feed the baby formula because he wasn't gaining enough weight and they would not release the baby to go home. I breastfeed during the day and one bottle at night. Believe me when your milk comes in it pours in!

[ChristyR143]

^ Again, this is really not the norm. Yes, there are some occasions where this happens for differing circumstances (the baby loses an unusual amount of weight and dr. recommends supplementing with formula to regain some before discharge) but this is definitely the exception, rather than the rule.

I am sorry if I am coming off pushy or whatever, I am not trying to. It's just that it is SO important to me that when people are looking for information about breastfeeding they don't get 'misinformation', if you will. There is so much of it floating around and wrong information and lack of support are the 2 main reasons women don't succeed at breastfeeding. It's so sad!

Anyway, to the OP: If you want to breastfeed your baby, all you need to do in the first couple of days is nurse as often as you can or as often as the baby wants. Your body will do the rest!! Don't worry about anything UNLESS your doctor tells you that there is a problem, which is HIGHLY unlikely to happen.