My Milk Never Came in After Birth

This page shares stories from mothers who struggled with delayed breast milk supply or whose milk never came in. If you’re experiencing something similar and wondering why your milk isn’t coming in, you may find helpful information and support here:

• When will my breast milk come in
• Interventions that hamper the breastfeeding relationship
• Is my baby getting in enough milk
• Find a helpline in your area

If you discontinue your breastfeeding journey, please don’t allow anybody to make you feel guilty. It is your body, your choice, and your mental health comes first. Only a happy mommy can genuinely be there for her baby.

Stories of Mothers Whose Milk Never Came in After Birth

Please Do Not Feel Discouraged – Renee’s Story

To every mom who tried to breastfeed but couldn’t — please don’t be discouraged. Your love for your child is what truly matters, and that love is enough. Your baby loves you just the same.

I have a beautiful six-week-old son, and I’ve been there too. My milk never came in. The most I was ever able to pump was 10ml total.

Even after speaking with my doctor and multiple lactation consultants, no one could pinpoint a reason. Maybe I’ll never know why I couldn’t produce milk — but what I do know is that I can still be an amazing mom to my baby. So, to all the moms out there feeling down or defeated: please don’t be. You are doing an incredible job.

Sheehan’s Syndrome – Milk Never Came in – Claire’s story

My milk never came in after my son was born because of a prolactin deficiency. It turns out my pituitary gland was damaged during labor, not from heavy bleeding, which is the usual cause of Sheehan’s syndrome, but because my blood pressure dropped too low for too long after I had an epidural.

If you had a tough labor and your milk isn’t coming in, don’t brush it off. Ask about having your hormone levels checked or consider seeing an endocrinologist.

I Feel Like My Heart Is Breaking – Annie’s story

My daughter was born through an emergency C-section. I lost a lot of blood, and she spent several weeks in the NICU, very sick and fighting hard.

My milk never came in, even though everyone at the hospital kept saying it would. I tried everything—pumping, herbs, teas, medication—again and again, hoping something would change. But it never did.

For months, I kept pumping just to get her a few ounces a day so she could nurse once at night. She won’t nurse during the day anymore; it’s too hard for her, and she gets so little.

Now she’s six months old, and I finally decided to stop pumping. I was spending so much time and energy trying to make it work. My milk dried up overnight, and my heart feels broken and I feel so alone. I wanted to breastfeed so badly, but no one—online or in the doctor’s office—talks about how this can happen.

I Tried and Tried and Tried, and It’s Okay – Lauren’s story

Because of the medications I was on, I couldn’t start breastfeeding right away, so my daughter began on formula. Once I was cleared, a lactation consultant helped me start pumping. I pumped nearly nonstop. I stayed in the hospital for seven days after her birth, and during that time, I only produced enough colostrum to rub on her lips.

The nurses told me that every little bit helped. I knew my milk should have come in while I was still in the hospital, but they reassured me that it doesn’t always happen within the first few days—so I stayed hopeful. But by day 14, I was still only getting tiny drops. Then on day 15, I noticed a change in color and assumed my milk had finally come in—but I didn’t feel any of the sensations that other moms talk about.

With my son, I had formula-fed from the beginning, and he did just fine—no issues, no complications. I didn’t hesitate to give my daughter formula, but I really wanted to be able to breastfeed this time.

I stocked up on storage containers and got ready for the milk to flow like everyone said it would. But it never did. The most I ever pumped at once from both breasts combined was just under half an ounce.

My doctor suggested two herbal supplements and one medication. The medication came with a risk of depression, which I wasn’t willing to take. I tried the herbs—no difference. And while I’m sad that breastfeeding hasn’t worked out, I’m not depressed, and I want to keep it that way.

Now, five weeks in, I know I’m close to stopping. My nipples are cracked, bleeding, and sore. I’ve never been able to pump enough to fill even one full bottle.

To the moms out there who are struggling and feeling low, I want to say this:

My son was completely formula-fed, and our bond is just as strong as any I’ve seen between breastfeeding moms and their babies. Formula feeding also gave my husband the chance to take part in feedings, which helped him build a deep connection with our kids.

I remind myself daily: making sure my child is fed and healthy—no matter how—is what matters most. It doesn’t make me a bad mom. And it doesn’t make you one either.

I know I Shouldn’t Feel Guilty. But I Do – Jennifer’s story

During pregnancy, I felt all the breast changes. I bought nursing bras, pads, freezer bags—I was excited and ready to breastfeed.

But at 36 weeks, I developed preeclampsia and was put on bed rest. Two weeks later, I had a C-section. I never went into labor. My daughter was born a bit early and small—just 5 lbs 8 oz—and the epidural made her sleepy. After the surgery, I didn’t get to hold her for over an hour, even though that’s when breastfeeding is supposed to start. When I finally did try, a rough nurse forced her onto me.

At one point, they weighed her before and after a feeding and said she took in 4 oz. I was overjoyed. But after that, nothing. I tried every position. Her latch was checked. I saw the lactation consultants.

They brought in the pump—still barely anything. I tried hand expression too. Nothing worked. Before we even left the hospital, her weight had dropped to 4 lbs 11 oz, and we could see the indentations in her soft spot.

At home, my milk still didn’t come in. The most I could pump was 1 oz combined. I tried herbs. I tried a prescription. Maybe a slight improvement, but not enough.

Eventually, the lactation consultant told us we needed to supplement with formula—but not from a bottle, because of “nipple confusion.” So we ended up doing two separate feedings every time: one with what little breast milk I had (usually under 1 oz), and one with formula through a syringe and a tiny tube taped to my finger. She would suck my finger to eat.

But the milk from the syringe came too fast. When we tried the breast again, she got frustrated, pulled away, and cried.

After six exhausting weeks of feeding her like this, I asked for birth control. I specifically requested one that was safe for breastfeeding. I was told it was—but it might reduce my supply. That was it. That was the final straw. I stopped everything that day—pumping, breastfeeding, syringe feeding.

We gave her a bottle, and she gulped it down like she’d been waiting for it all along. It was one of the most beautiful things I’d seen—my baby, full and content.

To this day, I don’t know why my milk never truly came in. I didn’t even get engorged when I stopped. No one had answers. And even though I tried everything, I still feel like I failed somehow—like maybe I missed something or could’ve done more.

I know I shouldn’t feel guilty. But I do.

Finding That Your Body Doesn’t Work – Suzie’s story

My milk never came in, and I still have no idea why. The breastfeeding counselors were no help—they just kept repeating the same advice about demand feeding and proper latch, even when I told them I was already doing all of that, and more. They didn’t listen.

I pumped for weeks and never produced enough to even cover the bottom of a bottle. I tried everything. It’s soul-crushing to feel like your body just won’t do what it’s supposed to.

I cried about it every single day, all the way through weaning.

I’m planning to have a second child, but honestly, I’m scared. I’m terrified it’ll happen again.

Final Thoughts

If your milk hasn’t come in—or didn’t come in—you’re not alone. These stories are proof that many mothers face challenges with breastfeeding that no one prepares them for. Struggling with milk supply doesn’t define your worth or your bond with your baby. Whether you breastfeed, formula-feed, or do both, what matters most is that your baby is loved and cared for. However your feeding journey unfolds, you are doing your best—and that is enough.

Resources

• Postpartum Depression Support International
• Find a breastfeeding support group near you.
• Milkology Breastfeeding Class – Affordable, video-based online course to help you master breastfeeding at your own pace.
• Feeding Without Guilt – Fed is best

Other Pages Like This One

• My milk never came in
• I failed at breastfeeding
• Switching to formula
• I tried to breastfeed
• Feeling like a bad mom