You are right, Doreen. Contractions are only a sign that the milk has been
released and is available to the baby, but not that the baby actually got
it! 
AS you grow in this profession, you learn to trust your instincts and
experience more than what you read in books.  Good luck on the exam!

Esther Grunis, IBCLC
Tel Aviv, Israel

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanderstoep, Doreen [mailto:[log in to unmask]] 
Sent: Tuesday, May 24, 2011 10:04 PM
Subject: signs of milk transfer

Dear all:
 
I am currently studying to write the exam in July.  In one of the
lactation texts I am using, I read that one of the signs of milk
transfer is "mom has contractions"
Is this really a reliable sign, especially in the first few days
post-partum?  Oxytocin can be released by babe just licking the nipple
or even with non-nutritive sucking, resulting in uterine contractions,
but babe is not transferring milk.
Thanks for any thoughts on this, 
Doreen Vanderstoep, RN, IBCLC
 

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