Did nursing make you tired? I am struggling to stay awake but not because I didn't get sleep last night. My eyes feel heavy and I could doze off right now!
Did nursing increase your Pp bleeding? I feel the uterine contractions and then pass more blood (not noticing any clots). Assuming this is normal.
How did you know your milk was in?
I'll ask my nurse today but right now I'm curious!
cantaloupe / 6397 posts
@Mrs. Jump Rope: not sure about the tired thing because I was just always tired haha. But the contractions/bleeding thing, I'm going to say that's normal. The breast feeding definitely triggers the contractions to shrink your uterus and clear it out!
persimmon / 1273 posts
His poop changed to yellow when my milk started to come in. I couldn't tell for another day when I was super engorged.
blogger / coconut / 8306 posts
@sslm: was it white? I've been leaking clear coluatrum for weeks. Today my breasts hurt but they aren't what I would call engiurged. The slightest touch makes them leak, and it's thin and white.
grapefruit / 4819 posts
Not sure about the tired thing, but yes, the uterine cramping is so much stronger with each subsequent pregnancy, and that would explain the additional bleeding as well I would think! ETA: the hormones produced when you're BF'ing are the same hormones that cause uterine cramping, so yes, there is definitely a correlation!
Can't remember how I knew my milk was in but I think I woke up one morning and felt very, very full, albeit not quite engorged.
ETA: thin and white sounds like fore milk to me - I'd say your milk is in!
pomegranate / 3355 posts
I don't remember being tired from nursing, just tired from having a nb 
The contractions are normal and mine only lasted for a few days. I didn't really know when my milk came in either b/c I didn't get engorged BUT I could tell that LO was drinking and was satisfied and like PP said her poop changed color and consistency. My milk took 5 days to come in.
wonderful pomelo / 30692 posts
@Mrs. Jump Rope: Thin and white sounds like milk to me - foremilk!
I didn't know that my milk had come in until I was at the pediatrician's office getting latching help and she showed me how to do a hand compression and I squirted milk across the room, haha.
wonderful cherry / 21504 posts
It definitely made me really sleepy. I think it's a rush of feel good sleepy hormones. There would be nights where I couldn't fall asleep so I would actually want c to wake up and nurse just to get that sleepy feeling to help me fall back to sleep. Its a different feeling from the constant "I have a newborn and haven't STTN since I was six months pregnant" fatigue feeling.
Not sure about the bleeding. I know nursing triggers uterine contractions but I don't think mine were as strong- but I only have one baby.
Milk coming in- I woke up with melons on my chest one day that were leaking white milk, as opposed to regular engorged boobs leaking drops of bright yellow colostrum.
squash / 13764 posts
I'm pretty sure hormones are released when you nurse that relax both you and the baby, so it's normal to feel more tired (especially coupled with sleep deprivation!)
I definitely cramped while LO nursed.
I knew my milk was in because my boobs were swollen to the size of cantaloupes and I was uncomfortably engorged. I could also hear LO sucking and swallowing more.
pomegranate / 3983 posts
Yes and yes! It sounds like you milk is in. BF definitely causes the cramping and thus bleeding. And those feel-good hormones that people talk about definitely made me sleepy.
blogger / coconut / 8306 posts
@Adira: YAY! I am so happy! I didn't have a good nursing relationship with Chloe. Charlie is great at it and it sounds like my milk is in! I figured she was getting something since she has tons of wet and poopy diapers.
I'm 2 days PP. This seems early for the milk to come in?!
I just saw my nurse and she said the bleeding and cramping is normal and it's just my body doing it's job.
The sleepy thing... I remember putting Chloe to breast and being instantly thirsty. This time I'm super thirsty and am SO exhausted. We slept well last night and this is definitely directly related to nursing.
I forgot to ask the nurse but I will ask later!
cherry / 115 posts
Yes!! with first baby after breastfeeding I would be famished. I would go from no sensation of hunger to I NEED FOOD NOW!
with second baby breastfeeding made me crazy sleepy.
squash / 13764 posts
@Mrs. Jump Rope: My Lo was born Thurs afternoon and my milk was starting to come in by the time we were discharged on Saturday afternoon, so I don't think 2 days is too fast! That's great that it's coming in already. Keep up the good work!
wonderful pomelo / 30692 posts
@Mrs. Jump Rope: I'm so excited for you that things are going smoothly with breastfeeding so far!! And I suspect that your milk comes in earlier for subsequent babies, so I don't think 2 days PP is too early! Good luck to you! And congrats again!! 
cantaloupe / 6397 posts
@Mrs. Jump Rope: M was born on a Sunday morning and my milk came in overnight Monday. 2 days is normal!
persimmon / 1129 posts
@Mrs. Jump Rope: Oh my goodness I got SO tired when I was nursing! Those hormones are no joke
blogger / coconut / 8306 posts
@My Only Sunshine: I'm glad it isn't just me then! I'm alone so I've been a bit nervous and trying to keep myself occupied so I don't actually doze off!
GOLD / papaya / 10206 posts
@Mrs. Jump Rope: I would totally get tired too, and even now, almost 6months PP I become ravenously thirsty the second my milk lets down! Wtg mama and Charlie!
wonderful cherry / 21504 posts
@Mrs. Jump Rope: the iPhone is your friend, in terms of staying awake during nursing. Or master side lying nursing and doze away! I was too nervous to do that when c was teeny tiny but now it's my favorite and I'll do t way earlier with the next baby. Not sure if it's harder right after a c section though. Have the LC show you exactly how to get positoned before you leave, that helped me tremendously.
wonderful clementine / 24134 posts
Sounds like milk starting to come in!! Nurse as much as you can to help establish supplies!
pear / 1696 posts
@Mrs. Jump Rope: I def got really sleepy nursing in the first few weeks. I believe it's all the oxytocin that's released and your body's natural way of getting you to sleep when baby sleeps!
cantaloupe / 6692 posts
I remember nodding off during the first days of BFing. It still makes me sleepy but I don't almost pass out now. Haha! The nurse at the hospital said it's the hormones and is totally normal.
Yes the contractions suck and BFing makes it worse. But it doesn't last long!
It'll turn from yellowish to white and your boobs will explode. Haha. You can't miss it.
I know everyone has answered your questions already but I just wanted to throw my 2 cents in. Lol 
papaya / 10343 posts
No idea about the tired because I wasn't sleeping so I was exhausted anyways!
Yes your milk came in, yay fast!
Yes the first week (maybe 2?) I would feel cramping when I BF and I would pass more clots. Unfortunately this did not decrease my total time of bleeding like I hoped haha.
Congrats on your new littlest little!
persimmon / 1343 posts
Nursing made me SOOO tired for the first few months - I felt literally drained.
I do think that most of my periods are heavier while breastfeeding but they are also shorter like maybe my uterus is more efficient because of the contractions? Never thought of that until you mentioned it!
I knew my milk came in because I was trying to pump to make it come in and I started actually pumping a couple oz and then soon after that I got engorged (so I stopped the pumping so that I wouldn't get oversupply)
Good questions!
watermelon / 14467 posts
I was super sleepy while BF for quite a while, and it did make me pass more clots/blood. Even now that my cycle has returned, I pass more blood during my period when I am pumping/nursing. As for my milk coming in, I could tell because I started to get engorged on my 2nd day, and by the end of day 3 I was in a lot of pain from engorgement.
Even my husband was like, "Dang, your boobs are getting huge!"
blogger / watermelon / 14218 posts
I constantly nodded off while nursing (or pumping)!
Nursing definitely speeds up your uterine contractions postpartum, which makes for heavier bleeding and quicker recovery!
When your milk comes in YOU KNOW... omg... so much pain, so much engorgement! I had to wear ice packs for 24 hours. Ouch. Second time around not so much but still very very noticeable. Literally hard nodules all around your breasts, where the milk ducts are.
cherry / 207 posts
I got SO tired when nursing. I am not the type of person who can nod of just anywhere either but there I would be doing the head bob. I could not stay awake.
grapefruit / 4418 posts
Nursing made me sooooooo tired! I believe that's normal from the hormones released. So, be careful where you nurse that if you fall asleep, you guys are in a safe place. stay in the middle of a big bed vs. couch/chair.
The cramping while nursing is normal - took maybe a week or two before it subsided?
blogger / coconut / 8306 posts
@mrs. wagon: thanks for the description. I've felt lumps today and it worried it was a clogged duct. Sounds like it's normal though!
blogger / watermelon / 14218 posts
@Mrs. Jump Rope: that's also what it can feel like when you have a clogged duct! and it never hurts to treat it like one in case you're worried. Mastitis is by far the sickest I have ever been in my life. If you treat it like a clogged duct (heat, massage, pump/nurse, repeat) it will just get your milk flowing faster!
wonderful pomelo / 30692 posts
@mrs. wagon: @Mrs. Jump Rope: Just wanted to chime in about KNOWING when your milk comes in. I definitely DIDN'T know. I didn't experience the engorgement that everyone talks about it! Perhaps because I was nursing every two hours around the clock to combat jaundice? I only knew when I was getting help with latching and hand compressed and milk came squirting out. The doctor was all "I guess your milk is in!"
blogger / coconut / 8306 posts
@mrs. wagon: I did. I was so sore today I used a warm compress, massaged, nursed, showered smd nursed. I feel better now but not 100%. My breasts are still firm and sore but I do feel lots better just after she nurses.
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