Dear Betsy, Concerning the first mother in your group of three - is there any possibility that there is a retained placental fragment? This will inhibit milk production in the dramatic manner that you described so early in the postpartum. Other thoughts that come to mind - any history of breast surgery?, or any breast trauma from an accident? You also might want to read a recent article in the JHL (June 1995, page 123, "Insufficient Milk Syndrome Associated with Maternal Postpartum Hemorrhage, by C.Willis and V.Livingstone), if this mother had any excessive blood loss during the delivery? Usually with hand expression so soon after birth and with a well-latched and sucking infant you can at least see a drop or so of milk coming from the pores of the nipples. There are other more rare causes for the hormones that support lactation, especially in this early phase, to be out of kilter enough to inhibit/not produce a milk supply - but I've not worked with a mother in these circumstances - so, you might want to check Riordan and Auerbach's BREASTFEEDING AND HUMAN LACTATION, and Lawrence's BREASTFEEDING: A GUIDE FOR THE MEDICAL PROFESSION. Good luck supporting these women! Jeanine Klaus, MS, IBCLC Oakville, Ontario