breastfeeding issue

Im not sure where to post this but dh and i want to start ttc this summer. and i want to breastfeed really bad. im determined to make it work this time. last time it took 3 days for me to start lactating. nothing ever came out til then. dd had the hardest time latching and i think part of the problem was she couldnt get anything out. i eventually gave up and tried to pump but it was the worst pain ever. it took an hour just to get an ounce out total and i would be in tears it hurt so bad. the milk also smelled really bad. no matter how much i pumped it always smelled. she drank it fine though. any idea why this happened? ive tried to google it but i cant find anything. im worried this will happen again. could it happen again?

Milk doesn't come in until 2-4 days after birth. Pumping doesn't have the same effect on the body as nursing, a lot of women can't pump. It's not really indicative of your supply.

3 days for milk to come down is actually pretty good. this time, go see a lactation specialist/consultant asap after giving birth and get all the help you can in the hospital. pumps should only be used every once in a while to store milk for babysitter or when you go back to work. otherwise, feeding directly from breast is best as this will keep up your milk supply to baby's demands. good luck, you can do this!

i didnt know much about breastfeeding at the time so i gave up. she was sent to the nicu after my c section and was given formula after being told not to so i had a really hard time getting her to latch. i tried for a few days and gave up. in the hospital the lactation consultant couldnt get her to latch either. this time im going to try harder. and i never even had colostrum come out. i thought that was normal. but nothing ever came out

Quoting ^(MallyCat)^:" i didnt know much about breastfeeding at the time so i gave up. she was sent to the nicu after my c section ... [snip!] ... this time im going to try harder. and i never even had colostrum come out. i thought that was normal. but nothing ever came out"

Make sure you really push the issue of no bottles and formula.

i dont plan on the going to a hospital this time. i really want an hbac.

Quoting ^(MallyCat)^:" i dont plan on the going to a hospital this time. i really want an hbac."

why did you have a cesarean?

Quoting ^(MallyCat)^:" i didnt know much about breastfeeding at the time so i gave up. she was sent to the nicu after my c section ... [snip!] ... this time im going to try harder. and i never even had colostrum come out. i thought that was normal. but nothing ever came out"

how are you sure you produced zero colostrum???? was it because of the pumping???

any idea why the milk smelled bad?

Quoting mama1821:" how are you sure you produced zero colostrum???? was it because of the pumping???"

im pretty sure i didnt. im not 100% it was a while ago. but im pretty sure i never did. i dont remember it ever being a different color so i thought it was just milk

Quoting ^(MallyCat)^:" any idea why the milk smelled bad?"

what kind of smell?
BM doesn't smell that great, lol

i cant describe it. it just smelled really bad. almost like body oder but not really. it was a very strange smell

Quoting ^(MallyCat)^:" i cant describe it. it just smelled really bad. almost like body oder but not really. it was a very strange smell"

well breastmilk does not smell like cows milk. im sure it was fine and you just were oversensitive to the odor of it. you can do this! dont focus on the last time and what ifs, grab the bull by the horns and just do it. because next time is going to be different.

3 days is quick compared to me. 8 days with my first, 5 with my second! Which is definitely okay, because baby bellies are SO tiny. Like, the size of a small marble. Latch right a way, watch your LO's soft spot, and check for wet diapers (and clearing out bowels the first two days). If all of those seem right, you will be fine... I can't hand express or pump colustrum OR breastmilk, and my daughter is 14 months and still nurses daily  

thanks! i hope i can do it. im determined this time. im trying to read as much i can about it and stock up on breastfeeding supplies