If you are eight months pregnant and you are not leaking milk, and you cannot express any milk, you are not alone — and it is normal. Many pregnant women see no milk at all before the birth, and that is not a sign that anything is wrong.
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Is it normal to have no breast milk at 8 months pregnant?
Yes. From around the middle of pregnancy, your breasts start making colostrum, the first milk, but only in small amounts. Some women notice a little leaking, and many notice none at all. Both are normal.
When does milk production really start?
Full milk production ramps up after your baby is born, usually between two and five days after birth. It is triggered by the delivery of the placenta, which causes the hormone changes that switch on larger-volume milk production.
Not producing milk during pregnancy does not predict breastfeeding problems later. What happens before the birth is not a test of how feeding will go afterwards.
Never make homemade infant formula
If your baby is not breastfed, please do not make homemade infant formula. Health authorities warn that homemade formula can cause severe nutritional deficiencies, electrolyte imbalances and infections, and it has been linked to infant deaths. There is no safe homemade recipe.
Raw milk is not safe either
Raw, unpasteurised milk is unsafe for babies, and it is also unsafe during pregnancy. It can carry harmful bacteria including Listeria, E. coli and Salmonella, which can cause serious illness.
What a baby needs if they are not breastfed
A baby who is not breastfed needs a commercial, iron-fortified infant formula. Prepare it exactly as the label directs — the instructions are there to make sure the feed is safe and correctly balanced.
Who to talk to
If you are worried about feeding, before or after the birth, talk to your midwife, doctor or a lactation consultant. They can answer questions about your own situation and support you with feeding once your baby arrives.
This article is general information only and is not medical advice. Please consult a healthcare professional for personal advice.