ELCS and breastfeeding

[Whenwillwe3meetagain]

I'm having a section on Friday and am a bit concerned my milk will take a while to come in due to having a section. Does it normally take longer and is there anything I can do to encourage it?
It's likely I'm having a very big baby so it is likely to be hungry. Should I take formula with me just in case?
Any advice gratefully received.

[HomeyIDrankTheBeer]

My milk came in exactly the.same each time - about 48 hours after the birth - emergency 1st section, no labour, emergency 2nd section, at 5cm dilated, elective 3rd section. I found no difference.

Just keep offering the breast. A lot! If your baby is very big and sleepy or not feeding much they may keep an eye on his blood sugar levels, and a formula top up might be recommended (this applies regardless of size actually, it happened with my 6lb sleepy baby too).

[Fedupofplaystation]

I had an elective section a week ago. My milk came in right on cue and, if anything, there's too much of it!

[shellbyville]

You'll already have a supply of colostrum, which your body makes dduring pregnancy and that will be all baby needs in the first couple of days. Keeping baby close to you as soon as you can after birth is the main thing as it will help tap into baby's reflexes for feeding and will stimulate your hormones, baby's tummy is only the size of a marble in these few days so small amounts frequently is perfect, which is what your breasts will be making anyway whether it be vaginal or section birth. Just try and keep close to baby and don't be afraid to trust your instincts and ask for help whenever you feel you need it! Hope this helps.

[noblegiraffe]

Milk production is stimulated by removal of the placenta, not by vaginal childbirth so your milk should come in just fine, usually around day 3.

I've had an EMCS and an ELCS and breastfed successfully both times. Check with the hospital, they might have formula rather than bringing your own in.

[Whenwillwe3meetagain]

Thanks for the replies-I feel less concerned now

[SASASI]

My milk didn't come in until day 5 after ELCS & DS had severe tongue tie.
I Han expressed in hospital alongside formula top ups then electronically expressed alongside formula top ups until day 5.

I really wish someone had told me that formula at the beginning doesn't mean your breastfeeding journey is over before it even really starts!

[HomeyIDrankTheBeer]

Oh yy, SASASI, definitely - top ups or even full formula feeding for the first few days will not end breastfeeding, I totally agree. I found it possible to breastfeed successfully even after that, when DS and I went home he was almost wholly ff, we needed the privacy of home to get bf fully established and by about 8/9 days old he was fully breastfed .

[JollyCrumbs]

DS was a VB (albeit with forceps), DD was an ELCS. DD knew what she was doing with BF and took to it immediately. DS and I were a nearly incompatible team and had a huge catalogue of problems.

DD was born on a Thursday afternoon and my milk came in on the Saturday. She fed a lot until the milk came in, so applying lansinoh was useful.

Good luck!

[leedy]

Two EMCS here (one at 38 weeks for pre-eclampsia), no BF issues, milk came in as expected (actually came in early second time round). First baby was GINORMOUS: size of baby has nothing to do with whether you'll need top-ups (remember some mums have enough milk for twins!). Do recommend something soothing for your nipples (Multi-mam compresses are awesome) at the start, and that a baby being attached to you for a ridiculous amount of time on day/night two or so doesn't mean there's something wrong/you need to top up, it means they're trying to get your milk to come in. It's exhausting but normal. Best of luck!

[mrsmilkymoo]

I had an emcs on a Sunday and my milk wasn't in until the Thursday. However, the colostrum seemed to suit dd just fine, she never had any formula, and at her 5 day weigh in had actually gained a little weight. Good luck!

[Whenwillwe3meetagain]

Thanks all c section tomorrow so hope milk comes in quickly!