I am due any week now and plan on breast-feeding. I have heard of many women starting to where nursing pads before their baby is born because they are already producing milk... I haven't had anything come out except this orange-ish colored residue. I was wondering if this natural/common and if some woman just start producing milk later on after giving birth?
2007-10-23 13:06:16 · 14 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Newborn & Baby
This is colostrum. It's the first "milk" that your infant will need. This is very important and holds many antibodies. Congrats! You are producing what you should be. Your milk will come in several days after the baby is born (usually 3-7 days). Until then, you will sustain your baby with this small amount of high calorie and fat rich colostrum. This is all the baby needs to sustain in the first few days of life! No worries!!
2007-10-23 13:13:11 · answer #1 · answered by Jen n 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The first milk to come out won't look very much like milk. It will be yellowish in color. This first milk is called colostrum and it is full of your anitbodies to build up your baby's immune system. This milk is very important for the baby to have. After you begin nursing, within a few days of nursing milk will begin to produce that is whiter and has more fat and other nutrients in it. This is also when some women begin to feel engorged (breasts are too full). During pregnancy some women will begin to have some leakage during pregnancy and others won't at all. I leaked a lot with my first from about the sixth month on but didn't at all with my second. You will really notice the difference when your milk comes in because you will feel your breasts get heavier and fuller. Sometimes you will also feel a dull ache in your back or under your arms.
Since you want to breastfeed I wanted to also let you know that when you first begin nursing you may also experience some cramping in your uterus. Milk let down is triggered by the same hormone that causes contractions and so at first you may cramp when you nurse. It doesn't last very long, maybe a day or so but when I first experienced that it took me by surprise. Good luck with the breast feeding and congratulations on having a baby. Hope your delivery is easy.
2007-10-23 20:19:10 · answer #2 · answered by SadieB 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's not milk you're producing right now, it's colostrum. It's basically pre-milk and it's 100% normal. It's full of nutrients, antibodies, and other "good stuff" that your baby needs. Your milk won't come in until the baby is a few days old and has been nursing. DO NOT try to pump or express it to "bring your milk in before you deliver. Your baby NEEDS the colostrum, and it will naturally change to breast milk on it's own without you doing anything except letting the baby nurse. You can certainly wear (not where) nursing pads if you're leaking to protect your clothes, but you don't need to do anything else.
2007-10-23 20:18:24 · answer #3 · answered by ♛Qu€€n♛J€§§¡¢a♛™ 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No this is perfectly normal.I did not produce any milk until after the birth of my first child.I did with my other two.When baby arrives and starts to suckle it'll all fall into place,honest.When Breast feeding is established even hearing your baby cry can cause milk to seep so it's best to keep nursing pads in at all times.The joys of motherhood.lol Best of luck with the birth.
2007-10-23 20:14:03 · answer #4 · answered by Misty Blue 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
what you have now is called colostrom. its like pre-milk and is very rich in vitamins and antibodies that are really good for the baby. and not everyone starts leaking before giving birth. i have had three kids and only had the colostrom. and even when nursing i never needed pads because i had a supply issue. but some people have to wear double pads. i think its a size issue. every woman i know with bigger breasts had a big problem with leaking and i am smaller and never needed pads.
2007-10-23 20:12:57 · answer #5 · answered by Dan D 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
What you have coming out now is normal. That is what your baby will drink until your milk comes in about 3-4 days after giving birth. Don't worry, you are doing fine!
2007-10-23 20:19:27 · answer #6 · answered by honeybear 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I didn't produce any milk at all until after I had my son, I was able to successfully breastfeed for over a year so I would think that its natural for some to produce some before or some after. Good Luck!
2007-10-23 20:11:41 · answer #7 · answered by Pumpernickle 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
totally normal, some women don't have their milk let down until 3 days after birth, the colostrum, that you are seeing will feed the baby.....good decision to breast feed, the breast is always best....
2007-10-23 20:09:47 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
honey.....please please tell me you know what that "residue' is???
you are due this soon and you don't know that that is COLOSTRUM??
geez.....women that wear nursing pads during pregnancy are experiencing the same thing you are....yellowish or orangish colostrum leakage
your milk will be in about 3 days after the birth....baby drinks colostrum too
you should probably go get a breastfeeding book and take a class offered by your hospital's lactation consultant before you give birth'
good luck
2007-10-23 20:15:03 · answer #9 · answered by ? 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I have never heard of this before. The colored residue maybe the pre-milk (can't think of the name of it) Hope all goes well!
2007-10-23 20:10:47 · answer #10 · answered by Amy 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋