Maternal perception of lactogenesis time: a clinical report.

A study evaluating the time between delivery and the surge in milk production (lactogenesis time) determined whether lactogenesis time (LT) is affected by parity, factors in pregnancy and delivery, and especially cesarean section. Forty-six primiparous mothers and 81 multiparous mothers reported the time of sensation of milk production after delivery. The mean LT in the entire sample was 50 +/- 15 hours. The mean LT in 46 primiparous mothers was 59 +/- 14 hours, and in 81 multiparous mothers 45 +/- 12 hours (by student t test, p < 0.01). Mean LT did not decrease as parity increased in the multiparous mothers. By multivariate analysis, mean LT was 44 hours in multiparous mothers who delivered vaginally without medication, 11 hours longer if primiparous, 6 hours longer if delivery by cesarean section, and 13 hours longer if sedative or pain medication were given during labor.