Marie Davis wrote:
Several months ago I attended a lecture by Kittie Frantz where she said, in
passing, that babies get really fussy the night before the *milk comes in.*
I
am not sure if this is a given for LC's but it was a new concept to me.

Elizabeth Davis writes of day 3, " By day three, the difficulties in
integrating baby care with ordinary life have become evident and emotional
outbursts are common. This coincides with the milk coming in: it is very
common and appropriate for the mother's tears to flow at this time. And
since the baby will be adjusting to breastmilk, he/she will probably have
some indigestion and crying spells. This will usually evoke some strong
emotions from the parents, which you should be prepared to discuss. The
father may be about ready to collapse in a heap, especially if he has been
running around trying to do everything. This may leave the mother feeling
stranded; if so, encourage her to ask for help from friends and relatives."
from HEART & HANDS: A MIDWIFE'S GUIDE TO PREGNANCY & BIRTH, 1987  (2ND ED)
p.136

And an LC, I might add for those in hospital.

I ususally discuss these feelings prenatally with clients to prepare them
and remind them around day 3 or 4 with let down often comes tears, cranky
baby, feeling like a wet blanket, and they usually respond, 'oh yes, I've
been crying all day, I need a shower, baby is cranky, my body aches and so
on.

I think the most important piece is to remind the parents that this
completely normal and to be expected.

Marie, I think you are correct that it's a hormonal shift as it seems that
this is the day when the magic- pain-numbers of natural childbirth wear off
as well. Some women  describe it as feeling hit by a train, milk dribbling
everywhere, tears rolling down and the baby is crying alot, the sheets are
soggy, the breasts are full and tender and fob is back at work. And the
house is crying out, clean me! Is the babe responding to mom's feelings or
mom to babe's or both? I'd love to do a study around this. Any suggestions?

Lisa Boisvert-Mackenzie, Midwife
East Caroline Islands, Pacific Ocean

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