Well, it happened again.
Wonderful mom, attended my BF class pre-natally, began breastfeeding very
soon after an uncomplicated vaginal delivery, breastfed frequently from day
one, but by day two baby became frustrated at the breast. Days 2 and 3
jaundiced baby with scanty stools/urine. Mom, age 32, had increased veining
and darkening of areolae during pregnancy, although doesn't feel that they
increased in size...no history of infertility, breast surgery or trauma, or
endocrine irregularities. Lochia is getting lighter in flow and darker in
color each day---no clots and no cramping. Began using electric breast pump
day three in addition to breastfeeding at suggestion of her nursing mother
counselor. Got 1/2 ounce each time a couple of times, and breasts felt full
for a few hours that eve. But day 4 and day five breasts soft and NO milk
expressed at all. Tried using nursing supplementer, but with no signs of
her own milk "coming back", feels discouraged and is about to
stop---tearfully. Dad's great, very supportive, sad, too.
WHY? There's nothing in the literature about people who just don't make
milk for no apparant reason, is there? Yet haven't we all seen it? Very
sad.
-Debi Ferrarello, RN, IBCLC, who again wishes that all who could BF
would, and that all who would, could.
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