Milk coming in for C-Section babies

[Anonymous]

I know this is probably a dumb question! Does milk come in at time-frame if you have a scheduled c-section or does it usually come in later? Or does your body just realize--"baby out now" and the milk kicks in at whatever rate it would have if you had a natural birth through labor?

[Anonymous]

Mine didn't come in until about 4/5 days later. Also, you'll probably be on more painkillers that could affect your milk. I had a bunch of supply issues after my son was born. I had been in labor though with my son so I'm not sure if it would have been different had I just had a schedule c-section.

[Anonymous]

not a dumb question at all. your milk will come in a few days after the baby is born. Colostrum will be produced almost immediately. Make sure to ask for a pump, just in case you need it. I did with my c-section baby.

[Anonymous]

My milk came in about 24 hours later - after the c-section. It doesn't matter. I've heard it takes longer to come in from a friend but that wasn't my experience. Best of luck! oh and mine was a scheduled c-section.

[Anonymous]

There are a few factors that contribute to delayed lactation: first-time mother, long hard labor, big baby, c-section... I had all these, and I think things finally started flowing on Day 5 or 6. I did have colostrum right at the start, though, so it was enough for baby and me to start learning the ropes.

As for how your body knows, I think the detachment of the placenta has something to do with it, even if you don't go through labor. A nurse said something about the placenta being the hormone-switchboard.

[Anonymous]

My milk came in about 48 hours after my scheduled c. I think it might depend more on the kind of baby you have (mine was a little barracuda who wanted to nurse 24/7 so that made mine come in pretty quickly).

[Anonymous]

I went into labor before the c-section so take my response with a grain of salt. My milk came in on day 4- I never needed to pump. My DS gave them a work-out though with the colostrum. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

I had a scheduled c-section on Friday, and my milk came in full force Monday afternoon. My colustrum was there right away. Like a PP said, the kind of delivery you have usually doesn't matter. The nurses helping me said that once you deliver, your body knows what to do!

[Anonymous]

I also heard it has something to do with the placenta. I had an emergency C with no labor and I think my milk came in around day 3 or 4. I don't remember exactly though.

[Anonymous]

I had a semi-emergency c-section after a long labor. My milk didn't start coming in until 4-5 days post delivery and it wasn't until almost a week after the birth that I felt "full". My baby was in the NICU though, and because of her specific issues she had to be on formula (ie the colostrum I was producing wasn't enough) so that may have contributed to the problem. I did use a hospital-grade pump until my milk fully came in. The best thing you can do is have the baby nurse as much as possible in those early days.

Good luck.

[Anonymous]

I had a c/s w/my son. Milk production is related to the removal of the placenta, which they take out during the c/s.

My milk came in on day 3. Colostrum should be all your baby needs until then. I never fed my son formula.

[Anonymous]

I had a scheduled C-section, so no labor.

My milk came in on day 3 also.

DB had lost 7% of his body weight, so we were almost going to have to give formula, but he ended up putting it back on, so there was no need.

[Anonymous]

I had a section after 30 hours of labor (induced) and my milk came in on day 6. Had to supplement for one night in the hospital (day 3) and then the lactaction consultant recommended that if the baby's weight had stabilized or was going up that we could stop supplementing.

[Anonymous]

Your body will know the baby is out. I recently miscarried and my milk came in. Nature is a strong force.