C-section tomorrow. Is their a way to help my milk come in?

[Doingitover]

As the title states really, I'm booked to have c-section tomorrow due to complications in last labour. However I've heard that having a c-section at 39 weeks means your body isn't naturally as prepared so there may be a delay with milk coming in.
I really want to BF, I couldn't with my first and it had a huge impact on me. (It was over 10 years ago and it still upsets me).
Do any of you know of any way I could give my milk/hormones a shove along?
Midwife has basically told me to stop worrying but she has also admitted there could be a delay.
Have any of you had to give bottle and then successfully swapped to boob? Thanks.

[Roomba]

I've had two CS (one at 35 weeks and one at 38 weeks) and my milk came in just fine both times, although it took a day or so longer the first time around. DS1 needed formula for a couple of days as well as breastmilk, but they tube fed him instead of bottle feeding. If it does become necessary to give your baby formula, I would ask what alternatives there are to bottles as they should be able to help you cup feed or syringe it in? That would avoid nipple confusion.

I know fenugreek tablets are known to increase milk supply but I wouldn't take anything beforehand as it may interact with medications you need for your CS.

Best of luck for tomorrow and hope all goes well with the breastfeeding!

[IAmAPaleontologist]

Just feed, feed, feed on demand. Ask for skin to skin in theatre if you are feeling well enough so you can snuggle while they see you up as that will help. If no skin to skin in theatre then as soon as possible in recovery. The main thing though is to feed. It is known that milk transfer is lower for post cs babies in the first few days but after that it catches up so don't stress.

[ILoveAGoodBrusselSprout]

I e had 1 natural birth and 3 c sections. There's been no difference in my milk supply with any of them. The same hormones will be released. It's amazing what your body how's how to do.

Good luck

[Bear2014]

I had a massive bleed during my section which I think delayed my milk coming in, as well as a jaundiced baby who wouldn't latch. There is no reason why it should be a problem though, all being well. Good luck!

[Doingitover]

Thanks everyone. It helps to know that late milk isn't the norm. My aim is immediate skin to skin as I didn't get this last time. This pregnancy has gone so well that I'm starting to panic about the last bit!
I've got some little disposable Aptimol bottles on standby but I'm really hoping I don't need them I've only got 6 would you take more or do I need to take sterilised bottles in with me incase my milk doesn't come in? Should I take a tub of formula or will the hospital have some? I'm happy to take whatever I need but it almost feels as though I'd be admitting defeat.
I can't believe the panics that are suddenly running through my mind.
I have my pre-op in a couple of hours so hopefully that will calm my nerves. Thanks again.

[ILoveAGoodBrusselSprout]

Don't worry about taking much formula in. In the unlikely event that your milk doesn't come in, the hospital will have some, then you can send someone out to buy more if you need it. I bet you won't

[blackteaplease]

If your section goes well you will be home be for your milk comes in. I wouldn't take any formula if it were me.

The best way to get milk flowing is to feed feed feed and don't worry, colostrum is just right for tiny babies. Also, don't panic on the 2nd night if your baby is feeding all night andwont settle. All 3 of mine did this, just keep checking your latch and it will all be fine.

[Bear2014]

Skin to skin immediately after a section is a weird one. I was desperate to do this, but when it came to it, the surgical drape was virtually up to my chin and they put my 9lb baby basically on my face. I was already struggling to breathe normally as a CS makes you feel pressure all up your torso, so I told my partner to just hold her and had skin to skin in recovery.

You don't need to take formula to hospital, even if your milk is delayed the baby will get the colostrum. If you do end up needing to top up it would probably be after you were discharged from hospital. Just keep trying and hopefully all will be well.

[WellErrr]

What stimulates milk production is the placenta coming away. You'll have milk

I've had an EMCS after labour and one without labour (early). Milk was slightly slower coming in with second - like 12-24 hours. But you shouldn't need formula. I wouldn't even take it in then you won't be tempted. In the very unlikely even if you having no milk whatsoever, the hospital will provide.

Just trust in your body, leave the formula at home, and feed feed feed. If a newborn is unsettled, 99.9999999% of the time it's hungry, so just boob boob boob and it will come.

Good luck and relax.

[SuePerkins]

I had an emergency cs at 38+1 due to failed induction. No problem at all with supply, as others have said, just fed on demand and boobs will catch up very quickly! Good luck x

[Rinceoir]

I had a complicated emcs, followed by PPH/infection. I didn't lay eyes on DD until she was a few hours old and she had her first feed at about 6-7hours.

My milk came in late on day 4. DD never had a drop of formula, and latched well from the beginning. I'm just telling you this to reassure that despite having all the factors you hear about causing trouble breastfeeding was very easy for us.

Tell the midwives you want to breastfeed, ask them to help with the feeds. And feed feed feed- as often as you can manage in the beginning. Don't worry about bringing formula in, they'll have lots. And come online for support if you need it!

Good luck!

[user1467101855]

It's completely normal for your milk not to come in properly before the third day. Baby is fine with colostrum until the milk comes in.
Countless babies have been pushed on to formula by the erroneous idea that the milk is "late" or the woman doesn't have any, or not enough, or because the baby lost a tiny bit of weight in the first couple of days (which is entirely normal)

[mouldycheesefan]

I was given meds as my milk never came in. The meds did work but I never had much of a supply, was still on the meds after two months. However I wasn't very well after the births, was in hospital for a month, so that could have been a factor.
Good luck to you 💐

[Blue4ever]

I had two c sections and no skin to skin as both times baby had health concerns and didn't see them for an hour or so. Did skin to skin soon after, and bf fine for ds2. With DS1, he was absolutely exhausted and only wanted to sleep, he didn't want to latch on and was jaundiced so the nurses gave him formula but he still latched on fine after a day and day five proper milk came. My advice as others say is feed feed feed.

[Pootles2010]

I think mine came in around the fifth day, and mine wasn't a c section - its not a problem really, they have plenty of 'reserves' to keep them going. He went for 5 days just on colostrum. Thankfully I had a sensible midwife who knew how normal it is.

[Doingitover]

Thank you so much everyone. I'm always really nervous of posting on here. But u have all been lovely.
I think the midwife thinks I should be a little more confident because this is my 2nd. (She even said I didn't need ante natel as I should know how to change a nappy, I didn't argue as I didn't want to feel incompetent)
But my first was 11 years ago. I had emergency section under GA. so I don't remember a thing. One min I was pregnant the next I had a 9lb 2 baby. I didn't get to see him for a day and I initially doubted he was mine . He couldn't bf and as their were other issues bf wasn't pushed.
This pregnancy has been great, no real sickness but I'm a little older and I have completely pushed my first birth out my mind. So I feel like a complete first timer.
Am I right in thinking I defo will produce colostrum? So as long as I can get him to latch I just need to stick with it.
Last min nerves are a killer

[Bear2014]

You should definitely have colostrum yes.

If you can afford it, I would definitely get a lactation consultant to come and visit you the day you get discharged from the hospital. Our DD had massive problems latching and was on the verge of being FF, but a lactation consultant completely turned it around for us in an hour long home visit. As great as midwives can be, they are so thinly spread and always have half a foot out of the cubicle and an eye on their next task.

[Nobrain]

I had an EMCS under GA. It took about 3/4 days for my milk to come in (using a pump) Prior to my milk coming in, they just gave her my colostrum on a cotton bud then milk in a cup until she could latch.

[sleeplessinselondon]

I've had two sections - one emergency under GA and one planned, both babies took to feeding straight away and no problems at all with either, I obviously had no skin to skin with the first and the second they took a long time to stich me up so baby was with DH for quite a while. Good luck!

[refereerendum]

I had a CS at 29 weeks and DS was in High Intensity Care - all I got to touch was his arm - and only for 20 minutes in the 48 hours after birth. I had masses of milk after 24 hours (which he didn't need). You're just nervous (which is fair enough).

[shabbychic1]

I was told at NCT it's the absence of baby in the womb that triggers milk coming in so prem/ cs etc shouldn't effect it. I do hope so! Good luck for tomorrow

[Doingitover]

Thanks everyone. Just been for my Pre-op and my c-section has been delayed until Friday due to an emergency that has happened today. I burst into tears and then told myself to get a grip! The nurse was lovely and it gave me chance to ask loads of questions about BF. The hospital is really keen on it and they have a special team that work with new mums. They even visit you at home if you have problems. She has completely reassured me. So baby delayed by 24hours but mummy is a lot calmer and much more reassured

[Sparrowlegs248]

Feed feed feed. Ds was pretty much constantly latched on from 20 minutes after birth, he was born lunchtime Friday, I woke with rock hard boobs Monday.

[Idontknowwhoiam]

It sounds like you have a great support in the hospital.
Really just feed, you might think that your baby isn't getting enough because they're constantly attached but that's just the way your body knows how much to make.
It'll be quite continuous for two weeks or so but don't give in, once you've got past that it's awesome!

[MadrigalElectromotive]

I had a c section at 38+2 and no problems with my milk coming in. Best of luck!