What to do about under supply, but engorged breasts?
Hi everyone! I hope my question will make sense. This is my first post here and I’m a bit desperate…
A bit of background:
I had my first baby 4 days ago and I was really hoping to breastfeed, but it’s not been going well at all…
The first few days, I couldn’t express anything… no colostrum, no milk… nada… So, my son was given formula by hospital staff. I was told that my c-section may have delayed my milk coming in. After I went home (late on day 3), my breasts suddenly started producing a bit of milk and there was some leaking. So, I immediately tried putting him to the breast, but barely anything was coming out. So, I tried pumping with my cordless breast pump and I got less than 5mls. Now, it’s the next day, my breasts have become very full and uncomfortable with red blotches. I’ve barely slept and I’ve tried using warm compresses, cold compresses, massaging in various ways, I keep trying to breastfeed, and pump, but nothing seems to be getting much milk out. I also never really saw obvious colostrum. It felt like I went from nothing to a minimal supply of runny milk that barely wants to come out.
Has anyone had this happen after a C-section and did your supply still work out? Any tips and tricks from the conventional to the unconventional?
I’m feeling really overwhelmed and guilty about him not having gotten the colostrum and still not getting breast milk. I would love to hear how it worked out for you if this happened. I just feel like nothing is working and I want to cry. I’ll be going to the doctor tomorrow if I can’t fix this today… but, with having just had a c-section with a lot of nerve pain, I was hoping to avoid another car ride this soon. Please, any advice would be greatly appreciated.