Advice Needed......Does having an elective C-section affect your milk coming in?

[DaisysGotABigBump]

I'm booked in for an elective C-section in 2 weeks time which will be about 5 days ahead of my EDD....I want to BF exclusively for as long as possible this time around (various reasons made me give up at about 6 weeks with DS). A thought just occurred to me that if you haven't gone through the natural labour process where all sorts of hormones are involved which trigger your bodies natural responses, will this affect how and when your milk supply comes in?
Is there likely to be a delay?
And am I likely to encounter difficult hospital staff whi will want to insist on a bottle?

Sorry, quite a few questions there...

[mrsflowerpot]

I've had 2 electives and no problems breastfeeding either time - one was on my due date and the second at 42 weeks.

Milk came in on day 3 first time and day 2 second time, so pretty normal really. You can ask for skin-to-skin in the recovery room - I was feeding both times within a few minutes of getting to recovery.

Good luck!

[DaisysGotABigBump]

thanks MrsFlowerpot...i suppose the fact the the baby and placenta are no longer in your body will trigger the required hormonal response anyway.....

[lulumama]

make sure you have skin to skin as soon as you can, straight after birth, and lots more, let baby suckle as soon as ready

[MrsBond]

I have had an em c/s and an elective c/s - BF after both with absolutely no problems. They let the baby start to suckle in recovery room - I think the suckling starts off the milk production (though that is just a guess!).

IMO no different to after regular childbirth (I think it is V. unhelpful if people tell you it'll be harder after c/s).

I did find a V shape pillow (from Argos) very good for BF a newborn after c/s. The pillow helps support baby on tummy and makes it more comfortable.

goodluck!

[mrsflowerpot]

Yes, good point from MrsBond - take extra pillows with you into hospital. You can sort of prop yourself up with them and rest the baby on one to feed - it's really helpful in the first day in particular when you can't move yourself very easily.

[ProfYaffle]

I had one emergency and one elective c/s, dd2 went to NICU for 3 or 4 hrs but didn't have any problems bf either time.

[fryalot]

I had 2 natural births and one elective cs. Milk supply was the same with all three.

Skin to skin very important as lulu said.

Good luck

[chilledmama]

Its the placenta coming out that stimulates initial milk production so it doesn't matter how you give birth as long as your placenta isn't there afterwards! If EC then definaetly not an issue as that is obviously removed carefully for you by surgeon

[NAB3]

I had an mergency section at 38 weeks after a scan picked up a problem and my milk took 3 days to come in properly but I fed the baby fine up til then and afterwards for a good 6 months. Watch out for rock hard breasts and put warm flannels on them to get some comfort.
Any hospital staff member telling you you need to give your baby a bottle needs to be reminded whose baby it is. Unless your child is in danger there is no need for bottles of top ups and they are a slippery slope to stopping breast feeding imo.

[NAB3]

emergency

[chilledmama]

sorry should have read fully. Most hospital staff will encourage you to BF...especially in Scotland bizarrely. In the unlikely event they try to get you to give a bottle tell them to BUGGER OFF

[Amapoleon]

I had emergency and my milk was delayed.

[DaisysGotABigBump]

Thanks ladies for all your help...it was a random thought that just popped in to my head and I didn't have an answer for it.....thank heavens for MN

Boots do an inflatable BF pillow which is nicely tucked up inside my hospital bag at the moment!

[DaisysGotABigBump]

LOL chilledmama.....I think I may just phrase it a bit more delicately than that! I'm just concerned that if I'm in there for an extended stay and milk coming in was delayed, there might be the suggestion of FF from the hospital staff. I've read up lots saying that there's no need at all to give FF top ups as the baby can survive quite happily on colustrum until your milk supply does come in.

[madamenoir]

chilledmama...why did yousay "especially in Scotland bizarrely"? Why is it bizarre? Just curious

[DaisysGotABigBump]

I think she may mean that in spite of Scotland having a pretty appalling health record in general, they are more pro-active on BF. I had DS in Scotland just after the laws came out that banned discrimination of BF women in public and the hospital staff were excellent. You were actually encouraged to stay in hospital until you were comfortable with your latch....
......But maybe the appalling health record is why they are so pro-active.....trying to get everyone off to a flying start!

[chilledmama]

I meant that hospital in scotland seemed v positive while in south seemed not so positive, on the whole ime. Sorry if caused any confusion with my word choice.