Feeding a newborn and refusing formula

[nearlyreadytopop]

DS1 was in scbu for a week when he was born. I didnt start feeding him until day 3 but we overcame a lot if problems and he was bf until 15 months.
I am due to deliver by cs next week. Im wondering if I should expect any differences in feeding. Are newborns sleepy after delivery? A friend mentioned that cs babies can be mucosy?
Due to a family history of allergies its important that this baby is ebf from birth. My friend recently gave birth in the same hospital and was encouraged to give formula via syringe during the first night to help baby settle and let her get some sleep. If I feed on demand during the first nights is colostrum enough? I was thinking if there is a medical need I can ask for milk bank milk? I had planned on antenatal expression if colostrum but this baby is breech and doctor has said no incase it encouraged labour.
Any advice greatfully received

[Nectarines]

Hi
I had my daughter by emcs last year.
Bf was fairly heavily promoted and supported from the outset and I first fed her in recovery, two hours after csec.
Throughout the night, midwives did constant rounds and were excellent support, lifting the baby and passing her to me and offering advice, checking latch etc.
At no point was formula ever recommended as a means of aiding sleep.

In my case, my baby was given formula once as I'm diabetic and her blood sugar was low. She puked the whole lot up and is still yet to drink a whole formula feed! In the end, colostrum was enough to sustain her and raise her blood sugar!

[nearlyreadytopop]

oh thats good to know nectarines
I think im just in panic mode over the unknown!

[Booboostoo]

As far as I understand it colostrum is not only sufficient for the baby's needs but necessary for her welbeing. Encouraging the baby to latch on and suck will also stimulate your milk.

DD was a bit sleepy for the first few days after a ELCS, got colostrum for two days and then my milk came in. She never had formula.

[cathpip]

I have had all 3 of my dc by section and all 3 were breadtfed straight away, as pp said the midwifes were on call to help with lifting etc etc. Section babies can be quite mucosy but only as they have not had the mucous squeezed out during the normal birthing process, they all differ, dc3 being really bad and dc2 having very little. Incidentally it was dc3 that took the easiest to breastfeeding!!

[Writerwannabe83]

I had my DS by ELCS and my breast feeding journey was very difficult but I think this was due to poor support from the hospital. Following the CS my DS was very mucousy and was continually vomiting. He wasn't feeding well so became very lethargic so wouldn't even wake for feeds let alone latch on. He went on to have early onset jaundice, stopped urinating and ultimately lost 9.8% of his body weight in less than 2 days. At one point I was hand expressing colostrum to give to him via a syringe. He also had formula on two occasions when he was 1 say old. Due to his problems, on day 2 of life he was reviewed by the neonatal team who said they wanted him to be given formula after every breast feed. I was really upset. Breast feeding was really important to me and I wanted them to help me do it, not just tell me to give formula. My DS had formula on another 1-2 occasions but then I decided I wanted to breast feed only. Unfortunately my confidence was pretty much shot by this time, I didn't really have a clue about how to attach and it led to a very emotional and difficult time for me for about 2 months. I eventually cracked it though and DS is 5 months now and has been EBF ever since I bought him home.

I think the main thing that made it so difficult for me is that I had nobody with me the day after my CS. I was still bed bound until the afternoon and during the morning I had nobody to help me so I couldn't pick DS up or have him on my stomach or chest etc. I didn't have anyone to help me with my feeding and had nobody there for emotional support it was a really aged day and genuinely do feel that me being alone that day really affected the breast feeding journey.

So my advice is make sure you have someone with you to help you and support you through those first few days in hospital.

[hubbahubster]

I've had two ELCS and both times was really encouraged to BF. DC2 was more mucusy but took to BF like a duck to water. Remember that baby will be full of nutrients from the placenta still right after delivery, so even if you do have a few issues to start with (and there's no reason you will just becaus you're having a CS) baby will be fine :)

[hubbahubster]

Oh, nurses encouraged me to buzz when I wanted baby to be lifted to me, so don't be afraid to use the bedside bell!

[nearlyreadytopop]

Thanks for all the good advice. Feeling slightly more confident