Is It Possible for Breastmilk Not to Come In?

My breasts never got bigger (and my little self was looking forward to it!) until day 3 after birth when my milk came in - then for the first time in my life bras were too small. Try not to stress. Everyone has different pregnancy symptoms, and some never happen for you.

My boobs didn't get noticably bigger. I have BF for a total of 32 months and posted my "wisdom" here. I would recommend you reading it since you seem very passonate about being able to BF:

http://community.thebump.com/cs/ks/forums/thread/25559948...

It is very rare for a new mom to just not produce milk.
I also did not get large breasts or had any signs of milk coming in before giving birth. My milk came in 5 days after giving birth and by that time I was really worried, since my daughter was small to begin with and had lost a full 10% of her birth weight... HOWEVER I had wonderful, knowledgable providers (pediatrician and midwife) who were incredibly supportive and never had to supplement a drop of formula. My one best advice is to find a pediatrician who is BOTH knowledgable and supportive of breastfeeding. My duaghter was always on the slim side (as is not unusual for breastfeed babies, around 10%ile) and my pediatrician ALWAYS told me not to worry about it as long as she was developing fine (which she was).
I breastfed for 19 months and loved every minute of it.
Sometimes you just have to trust that everything will work out fine.
Good luck!

Unless you are reading a Dr Sears, Le Leche League or IBCLC authored book - do not take in what you are reading please. Most mainstream breastfeeding books and pregnancy books are geared toward formula, bottles, cesareans and traditionally incorrect laboring on your back methods.

Colostrum is there upon birth of your child - this is for THREE DAYS. All your baby will need is this think golden fluid. Their stomach is smaller than a marble - so don't let medical staff guilt you into feeding it formula.

About 3 days of colostrum, which aids in sealing the immature stomach and gut systems and providing the ground work of antibodies your baby will need, then the actual white milk comes in. Do not feed formula at all, your baby will not need all that.

Please check out www.kellymom.com, www.llli.org, www.drsears.com, and www.drjacknewman.com These links are the best available!!

It is possible that your breastmilk might not come in, I've had two friends that this happened to. I have very small breasts and mine did get a tiny bit bigger once my milk came in, but before my babies were born, they didn't look any different. Once my milk came in, it would literally spray out like a hose and I went through nursing pad after nursing pad until my body regulated itself. With my first child, it took a few days for my milk to come in, but with my second, my milk was in within 24 hours. Colostrum is all your baby will need anyway for the first few days so don't worry that your baby won't be getting enough. Also, while you are in the hospital, request that a lactation consultant come and see you so you can talk about any concerns that you are having, especially about your fears that your milk won't come in. I couldn't tell if my daughter was actually drinking or just sucking and the lactation consultant came in and showed me what to look for and it made me feel so much better to have talked with her. Don't take too much stock into what you read in books. They are usually just talking about the average. You have so much to deal with in the next few weeks and you don't need the added stress. Don't worry, your baby will be fine whether you BF or formula feed.

Yes it is possible. My breastmilk never came in. I didn't know it and spent a very long night with a screaming baby who was starving. Thank God the aftercare nurse came to our house that next day. I was extremely mad because I had taken a breastfeeding class and they didn't mention that as a possiblity, plus my doctor told me (after) that it happened to her on her 3rd child (again not in the hospital but when I saw her at my follow up appt). There are some medications and natural remedies. So if it doesn't come in feed your baby formula and talk to your doctor and you can see if you can get it to come in. I never got my milk and gave my baby formula and she is just fine. You will probably get yours but if things don't go according to your plan don't beat yourself up about it. Take care of your child the best way you can and all will be fine.

My wife's breast swelled up but the milk never fully came in. There is a very real chance that you may not be able to nurse your baby. My wife would produce some milk but never a full bottle. We supplemented with formula until we realized that is was healthier for the baby (and my wife's sanity) to switch to 100% formula. And our baby now is the most wonderful in the world!

My suggestions are to try to not stress over it. It took a while for my milk to come in after having my twins but eventually it did happen. Stress can play a part in slow production of milk, so relax... it will happen for you. Most hospitals have a lactation consultant, or nurses who can assist you after you give birth. Another suggestion is to PUMP!!! My twins were little when they born so their "suck" wasn't very strong. So I was advised to pump alot in the beginning to get my milk going. When it eventually did come in, my babies had plenty of milk. And lastly, if nursing is something that doesn't work out for you and your baby - its OKAY! Giving a baby formula is not a bad thing! Give nursing your best try and then decide what is best for YOU and your baby. Don't let anyone tell you that formula is not okay! You're the mommy.... you decide :) Best wishes

While it is "Possible" not to produce milk, it is truly a rare abnormal condition. I am small breasted, my breasts did get slightly heavier when my milk came in, not before, but never grew even a cup size, a barely filled a "A"! yet I breastfed all my 7 kids, 3 yrs each, even tandem nursed at times. I had plenty of milk, where it all hid, I don't know. I guess I was just making enough for immediate use, and not storing it up ahead.
Certain foods & herbs can help make more or less milk, so it is good to read up.
Also, just as in labor, you have to relax to let the baby out, (whether you consciously use relaxation techniques, or get drugged so that you're not fighting the ctxs,) during nursing, you have to relax to let the milk down. If you get all uptight about it, it is hard for your milk to let down & get to baby. Nature tries to cooperate, but sometimes our fears interfere! I would NOT assume nature is going to let you down, I would assume it is going to work. Are you afraid your heart will suddenly stop beating? Your body's working is an awesome thing, it is amazing how everthing all works togehter. God (nature, whatever you believe in) is a great architech! producing breastmilk is just another part of your bodies mysterious capabilities. Remember our bodies are programmed for survival of the species. Birthing & breastfeeding is part of its inherent design!

My breasts did not change much in pregnancy. And yes, you won't produce milk for about a day after delivery. Remember that the more the baby nurses (sucks) the more milk you will produce so try to nure a lot so the milk gets established. Pumping in between feeding can help you make more milk and is a strategy for upping production. Don't get disheartened if if feels like no milk is coming out, just stick with it.

I always recommend that pregnant friends consult a lactation consultant or at least have one on speed dial since nursing isn't always easy for some women and the hospital nurses aren't always helpful. However, even if it doesn't get go smoothly at first, with the some persistence and help, you will do great. I nursed my two daughters for 13 and 18 months respectively. And my first daughter lost weight for several days because it went so slowly at first.

To answer your basic quesiton, I believe NOT being able to nurse (make milk) in pretty rare. Some women struggle to make enough for their babies and supplement. Some women aren't able to or don't want to nurse frequenly enough to keep the supply up. And some women with previous breast history (like implants) actually can't produce milk. However, I have even heard of adoptive mothers being able to stimuate milk production.

Hi L.,
I shared your very concerns when I was pregnant. I just gave birth to my baby girl last week at 36 weeks and I have a lot of milk. I am not blessed with large breasts at all, 34A (B on a good week, lol). And throughout my whole pregnancy, my breasts did not grow at all. I was 112 lbs prepregnancy and gained 55 lbs so everything got bigger except for my breasts - not fair, I know. So I was definitely concerned my milk would never come in. I did a lot of internet research about it and found out that some women actually don't get milk and that made me more paranoid. I also didn't have colostrum during my pregnancy.

As soon as I delivered my baby, I put her at my breast. I couldn't tell if she was getting anything. And my breasts still didn't get any bigger until the 4th day postpartum. But from the moment she arrived, I kept nursing her, unsure of whether she was even getting anything. She lost quite a bit of weight when she checked out of the hospital 2 days later so I'm sure she wasn't getting much. But on the 4th day my milk came in - my breast got swollen and warm and when you squeeze it, milk came out. (They still aren't very big though) So don't worry - your milk will come in! My doctor said that unless you were anorexic or severely malnourished, your milk will come in. If you want to make sure of it, theres a tea they sell at whole foods called Mother's Milk Tea (with Fennel and Fenugreek in it). My friend gave me some when I was afraid my milk wouldn't come in. Other than that, don't worry about your milk, I'm sure you have a lot of other things you are worrying about already (I know I did). =)

Relax! Seriously--your milk comes in best when you are relaxed. It also releases a hormone so you and your baby relax because of nursing. When you give birth, get that baby latched right on and love him/her! Relax and enjoy that he/she's there! Your body totally knows what to do and will do it when it's time. You can't just say, "I'm ready!-Go boobies!" and expect anything to happen. It's an involuntary response--like your heart beat.

Knowledge is power--yes! Get more and more, but the power is not all-powerful--you are not growing your baby inside you--your body and God are doing that. So, as with all that goes with babies--nursing, diapers, discipline, tying shoes, choosing college--trust your body/instincts and God, and go along for the ride. Enjoy it and Relax! :)

I am sure you will be fine - just make sure to see your lactation consultant/la leche league person regularly after your baby is born to make sure things are working out all right! Not to scare you, but sadly some women have real issues with not having enough milk but it is RARE! I was one of those women and I was really unhappy about it. My breasts did not get much bigger with both my pregnancies. I was very anti-formula at first and when my son was born it was 5 days later that I realized he was crying nonstop bc he was so hungry. I felt so bad and angry at my lactation consultant bc some people do tell you never to try formula and yes your milk will come in. I did get a little milk with constant pumping (8-10x a day) and feeding by baby on the breast. First I had to use these little syringes and supplemental feeders with little tubes you attach to your nipple. With a ton of work I partially breast fed for 6 months but then dried up. I was incredibly sleep deprived! With my daughter I thought things would go more smoothly but they were worse. After a month of pumping etc I only had about 1 ml of breast milk coming out. I ended up giving up after about 6 weeks. The lactation consultants tried to be helpful but they seemed at a loss for what to tell me about why this was happening. I just wanted to tell you so you know what my happen...although just about everyone I know did just fine breastfeeding. Some friends had problems at the start but then things went smoothly for them. Don't worry!

My breasts never got bigger during pregnancy. Instead they got bigger when my milk came in, around day 2-3 for me. Even if your milk doesn't come in until day seven, your baby has everything it needs to thrve for that long when he/she is born. The tiny drops of colostrum that comes out helps the merconium to move through the digestive system. I'm currently 26 weeks pregnant with my third child. I breastfed both of my other babies for a year each. I also had a breast reduction ten years ago. The body is a wonderful thing and can do so much!! So try to relax and let it do it's thing :)

Yes, it is very possible. Many people will say it's not, or that it's so incredibly rare. I was told b a consultant, that it's not as rare as people make it seem. My breasts never grew and milk never came in. I have a tissue problem and am prone to infections. I never produced a drop of milk. In my case, there was nothing we could have done to produce milk.
You could be different. Contact LLL now and see, if they can start working on your production before birth.

Don't stress about it right now, but do take a breastfeeding class, if you haven't already done so. The most important thing to focus on wll be proper holding a latch.

Yes, it is possible for milk to never come in. My breasts also never grew...I am on week 24 of my 3rd PG, and I am still awaiting this glorious rack I have dreamed of my whole life. I haven't been successful BFing either of my kids, but I pray this time will be different.

There will be some moms on this site who will tell you that EVERY woman can BF, and thank God that almost all can, but there are true instances of insufficient milk production due to insufficient mammary tissue. Hope and pray that you are not one of these, don't stress about it in the meantime, but in the end, if the milk never comes, don't beat yourself up about it.

My 4 yo and 18 mo were both formula fed, both are very healthy with no sign of allergies.

Best of luck to you!!

You need to make sure you drink enough water/juice/fluids, especially in the days right after birth. Your milk production will be hindered if you don't give your body enough fluids. And no caffeine, no diet drinks; those can decrease lactation.

Remember, it requires almost 3000 calories a day to produce breastmilk with all the essential fat, vitamins, and protein. Your breastmilk is only as good as your own diet, so stay away from crappy fast food or overly-processed pre-made food.

I am not sure about the answer to your question, but have some reassurance for you. I successfully breastfed my child for almost a year. When my milk came in, I was still only a very small 32 "B". Technically, I was probably a full "A". but didn't find any nursing bras that small. I was told by many people that I couldn't breastfeed because I didn't get bigger in size (breast department). That did not have anything to do with it....I have a friend who became rather well endowed and she couldn't breastfeed. Don't worry about it...if you can't breastfeed, then you can't. It won't change the miracle you are about to receive!

That's why we should probably not read books.... ;) as if that's possible!! I am sure that everything will go well. Make sure your pediatrician is supportive of breastfeeding and utilize the lactation consultants while in the hospital. They are also usually available by phone anytime after you leave the hospital, too. Both of my babies lost more weight and/or did not gain weight as fast as they should but with the support of my pediatrician and lactation consultants I bf my 1st for 8 months and am currently bfeedng my one month old without problems.

Make sure you have a good latch as that ensures they will demand and get enough milk. Use the lactation consultants in the hospital and watch some videos on drjacknewman.com. The websites listed by Pamela and Raven were helpful to me!

It really is extremely rare to not produce enough milk, but some people (like me) have a hard time getting everything going. If you need anything after the baby is here, message me. I'd be happy to give you support and what knowledge I have. As far as breast changes go, I would say that it matters more if you notice an increase once your milk comes in (~2-5 days post partum). Mine were noticeable...as if I got implants...very full and balloon-like, but this only lasts a few days unless you are extremely engorged. And that is my experience so I'm not sure if that is what you will experience. The LC's told me that then you should feel slightly heavier/fuller before breastfeeding and softer after they have fed...this is definitely true for me. Enjoy the last bit of your pregnancy!

It is possible...mine never did. I tried - was pumping too and never got even an ounce of milk. The lactation consultant eventually told me to let it go and give my son formula. He was a happy, healthy baby and definitely a mama's boy - so we bonded anyway. My husband even made a joke when he was about 2 that it might have been a good thing that I didn't breastfeed - because he couldn't imagine our son being more attached to me than he already was! So definitely try - but if it doesn't work out for you don't beat yourself up about it - I did for a long time - but it just wasn't in the cards for me - and my son is FINE. Best of luck!

It's all right. Nature will cooperate. I have extremely small breasts and have been able to sustain both of my daughters. You will love breastfeeding! It's a "learned art." More then likely you will experience a couple of "speed bumps" as you get the hang of it. I recommend keeping the phone number of your local Le Leche League volunteer in case you have questions. They are wonderful ladies. I had to call them three times with my first.

Congrats on your upcoming birth!

Firstly congrats and good luck on the up coming arrival of your baby. and secondly good on your for wanting to breastfeed. I had my first baby four and half months ago and the best thing you can do right away is join a La Leche League meeting (www.llli.org). Select your state and and you will find meetings in the different areas. You will get all the support and answers you are and or will be looking for. During my pregnancy I never increased in size where I had to get new and bigger bras. My milk came in by the third day and a day after this when I looked in the mirror I was shocked - my breast were huge! After a little while they did adjust and go down a bit.

Breastfeeding has nothing to do with your breast size! Also be aware that mothers that have c-sections take longer for their milk to come in because their body is focused on healing!

Don't stress or worry, you're going to be an amazing mother and don't let what other people tell you worry you especially if it is negative comments. My son is 20 weeks today and my MIL still goes on about me not having enough milk yet my son is healthy and has been steadily putting on weight. Also not to scare you but I always felt that breastfeeding is the most natural thing in the world and both baby and mother will just know what to do when the time comes but i have to say I had flat nipples which means they would never get or stay erect so this meant my baby had some latching on issues and his mouth was so small. Everyone at LLL kept saying wait till baby gets bigger about 8 weeks and it will get better and I have to say they were so right. The first few weeks were difficult but I am glad I stuck it out as I am proud to say that I am breastfeeding exclusively. Also my son was 3 weeks old when I went for the first LLL meeting and it was so good to know that there were other mothers who had experienced the same thing and share their tips and advice. I learned so much from them like not all mothers feel their let down or see their breasts get flat/empty when baby has emptied that side. At 11 weeks I thought my baby didn't want to nurse anymore but found that since I had started my cycle my let down was actually delayed which made him fussy, I also learned that during this time of the month that some mother's milk may have a different taste. So I definitely think LLL would be a great source of help to you. Please feel free to send me a private message if you need any info.

One more thing pumping is never as good as a baby extracting milk from you. I hate pumping and at times I wont get a drop but that doesn't mean my son is not getting anything. You can also get "The Womanly art of Breastfeeding" from LLL which is like the breastfeeding bible for mothers :)

Good luck!

p.s. During my pregnancy if I squeezed my nipple then I would see my colostrum but nothing came on its own. The body is amazing. babies don't need any milk for the first 3-4 days and this is usually how long your milk takes to come in. All they need is the colostrum while you wait for the milk to come in. If you don't want a bottle to be given to baby please be sure to tell this to the nurses at hospital.

Don't be paranoid. I'm 19 weeks pregnant with my 4th and my breasts are mammoth size. They grew with each pregnancy and when my milk comes in, WHOA, they will get bigger! Now, my sister who had her first baby a year ago was so looking forward to having larger breasts, thinking she would be just like me! Nope, her breasts didn't grow larger in pregnancy and once her milk came in, much to her disappointment they didn't get much bigger. ALL women are different. Yes, for most women, their breasts do get larger in pregnancy and even larger yet once their milk comes in but this is NOT true for EVERY woman. If you gently pinch your breasts (nipples), you might see a bit of colostrum but then again, maybe you won't. Hormones from delivering the baby will activate your milk production and your milk will come in. For me, my milk comes in within 3 days of birth but you need to remember that colostrum is essential for the newborn so IF your milk doesn't come in right away, you still need to breastfeed as if your milk was there. The colostrum is very good for the baby. Don't be scared of things you cannot control. Your body will produce milk and if you experience ANY kind of breastfeeding problems, contact a certified lactation specialist who can work with you to make breastfeeding successful. AND, before you leave the hospital, make sure you feel comfortable that the baby is latched on properly. Do not feel embarrassed to ask your labor/delivery nurse to help you get your baby latched on. IF that nurse seems impatient or makes you feel uncomfortable, ask for another nurse. You are NOT in the hospital to make friends with the nurses but you must make sure that you feel confident that the baby is latched on properly before you leave the hospital. I've seen women leave the hospital feeling inadequate and ill equipped to nurse their babies and they in turn give formula because of their insecurity to feed their baby from their breast. I've breast fed all 3 of my babies but my third child had developed a weak suck and I had no choice but to supplement with formula. Yes, it was devastating for me because I had successfully nursed my first two children with no problems so I had my heart set on breastfeeding the next one. I am hopeful that I will not encounter any problems with the one I am carrying but if I do, I already have my lactation specialist programed in my phone. Good luck.

i've had three pregnancies/babies. with my last, my boobs were HUGE during pregnancy, (double DD!!!! ack!) but with the others they stayed pretty normal until birth. they all nursed for about a year. i had plenty of milk. breast size really doesn't relate all that much to milk production. don't worry too much.

find a la leche league or a lactation consultant and get connections there so if there is trouble you can work through it with someone you know and trust. almost all breastfeeding problems can be worked through so don't give up too easily! learn now about how to form a good latch and what kind of things you should or should not feel. in general pain is not ok. it might pinch for a few seconds when baby first starts but if it hurts more than that you need to fix your latch. some women don't know this and end up with really painful nursing because the baby is only sucking on the nipple... so. it shouldn't hurt!

you also should look into a post partum doula. best thing i've ever done for myself!! she can help as much as you need, and they are trained in breastfeeding.

anyway, good luck, nursing is amazing! and easy! and free! and healthy! :) i love it!

Mine didn't get much bigger either, it's PERFECTLY normal and doesn't mean you can't breastfeed! My daughter is 4 1/2 months now and gaining just fine. There are VERY FEW women who can't produce milk, there are just lots of women who don't have the support and correct information when problems arise. I agree with the La Leche League if you are having any problems. They can help you through more than usually even your doctor can. :)
Also, don't let some of the uninformed replies below lead you in the wrong direction. Babies tummies are tiny when they are born, so you won't produce a "bottle's" worth. That's a formula thing and it's completely different than breastfeeding. Your baby will take more over time as their stomach grows, but probably never more than 4ish or so ounces. Those 8 oz. bottles are for formula. Try to avoid supplementing with formula if at all possible, and if you do then make sure you pump for every formula bottle even if your not getting much. Breastfeeding is supply and demand based. If you start giving formula your breasts don't think the baby needs the milk and they produce less, so you supplement more and so on.

With my first I did notice my breasts getting really big and swollen right away. It was crazy!! That is actually how I knew I was pregnant. With my second, I hardly noticed any difference at all and both times my milk came in at like 4 days post delivery. I never had a drop of colostrum or milk before I had either baby. Every pregnancy really is different. I wasn't sick at all with my first, with my second I was, and they were both boys so that shot the theory that you are sick with girls and not with boys!! I don't think there is any reason to worry that your milk won't come in. I have known a couple people that it did happen to but in both cases they were people who had a hard time with their cycles and hormones before getting pregnant. So I wouldn't worry. Most likely a little after delivery you will be wondering what to do to relieve your big hard breasts!! I also watched the National Geographic program recently "The Science of Babies" it talked about how your baby is born with this layer of fat that nourishes them while your milk is coming in, along with the colostrum, it was so informative, you might want to check it out:) Take care and congrats on your new little one!