does it mean i dont have milk in my breast if i haven't leaked?

Question

i am 36 weeks and still no leaking milk! do i have any? my breats are not even hard or anything..

Answer 1

Lactating is a demand and supply process. When your baby nurses or you pump, it tells your breasts to make milk. The more the baby nurses, the more your body makes. When you start weaning, and the baby nurses less frequently, your body picks up on those cues and cuts back production.

During pregnancy, your body has no demand for milk, so for many women none is produced. (Someone women do leak milk during pregnancy, but this is not the norm.) Your body does, however, produce colostrum. Colostrum is a very thick, yellow fluid that will be baby's first feeding. It is specially designed to meet the needs of the newborn. It's loaded with nutrients your baby needs just after birth, and it only takes about a tablespoon to fill baby up. Colostrum can be very difficult to express out of the breast by hand, but babies do a great job of nursing it out.

As your baby continues to nurse, your body will start to produce milk. This generally happens within 48-72 hours after you deliver. This first milk is more yellowish in color, and you will notice fuller breasts. After a couple of weeks, the milk again changes to meet the growing demands of your newborn. Your breasts will feel less full, although the milk is definitely there. The milk becomes more white, sometimes looking almost blue. The the foremilk comes out during the first part of the feeding; it is more watery. As the feeding continues, the hind milk will be expressed....it is thicker and has lots of nutrients.

The body is such an amazing thing. Your breasts are perfectly designed to be a source of complete and perfect nutrition for your baby. The milk is always the perfect temperature and always available, and it continually changes to always provide your baby what he/she needs just at the right time.

Answer 2

My breasts never changed an iota with either pregnancy until four days after I gave birth. I nursed both my children until they were a year old with no problems. Even after I started nursing I didn't leak. Some people have small, tight nipples and do no leak. Some women don't produce milk until they give birth.

Be patient and don't worry yourself unnecessarily.

Answer 3

You have colostrum, but the hormones present during pregnancy suppress the production of larger amounts. I only ever leaked once or twice during pregnant and I had tonnes of colostrum and milk.

http://www.kellymom.com/bf/supply/milkproduction.html
In the Beginning...
Endocrine (Hormonal) Control of Milk Synthesis -- Lactogenesis I & II

Milk production doesn’t start out as a supply and demand process. During pregnancy and the first few days postpartum, milk supply is hormonally driven – this is called the endocrine control system. Essentially, as long as the proper hormones are in place, mom will start making colostrum about halfway through pregnancy (Lactogenesis I) and her milk will increase in volume (Lactogenesis II) around 30-40 hours after birth.

During the latter part of pregnancy, the breasts are making colostrum, but high levels of progesterone inhibit milk secretion and keep the volume “turned down”. At birth, the delivery of the placenta results in a sudden drop in progesterone/estrogen/HPL levels. This abrupt withdrawal of progesterone in the presence of high prolactin levels cues Lactogenesis II (copious milk production). Other hormones (insulin, thyroxine, cortisol) are also involved, but their roles are not yet well understood. Although biochemical markers indicate that Lactogenesis II commences approximately 30-40 hours after birth, mothers do not typically begin feeling increased breast fullness (the sensation of milk "coming in") until 50-73 hours (2-3 days) after birth.

These first two stages of lactation are hormonally driven – they occur whether or not a mother is breastfeeding her baby.

Answer 4

With my first baby I never leaked while pregnant. You probably do have milk at least a little at first. Just wait...A couple of days after you have the baby you are probably going to be soaked and wondering why you ever thought that. I know I did. Good Luck on the baby.

Answer 5

Milk isn't produced until AFTER baby comes. Some women do leak colostrum, or premilk, while pregnant, but not all women do. Don't worry hun. Things will be fine. Best of luck.

Answer 6

As the mother of four and I breast fed them all, I never leaked before they were born. Nursing will encourage the milk to flow after your baby is born.

Answer 7

Nope, it doesn't mean that there is a problem. You aren't really supposed to leak until after you deliver. I never leaked with my first pregnancy, and I successfully nursed for 9 months.

Congrats and good luck!

Answer 8

you will not have milk until after the baby comes, the pre milk (colostrum) is thicker, and it does not always leak. If you squeeze you nipple you may get a drop or two out, but its not much.

Answer 9

I never leaked. Even after i had my son. My breast did get really hard and sore after i had him. The only time i leaked was when i laid on my breast.

Answer 10

You should be fine. I nursed 4 boys and I never really leaked until my little one was in the middle of a growth spurt.