a question about colostrum

[sunglasses]

Having an elective c-section on Monday. Have decided to try breastfeeding again even though first time found it v. difficult at first-painful, didnt seem to be anything coming out etc (all the usual problems it seems from reading other posts!) This was after an emergency c-section and I think in all honesty I just didnt know how to really get bf established so baby just slept quite a lot initially and then woke up v.hungry!!! on day 2. My intention this time is to put baby to breast as frequently as possible-is this right? but my question is about colostrum. How much should be coming out? teaspoonfuls? Its just that first time after massaging boobs for ages-midwives, bf councillors et all! only ever saw a pinprick of colostrum emerging from my very sore nipple.
Would love to have a better experience this time so all you experts out there what can I expect and what should I be doing? would having a section affect supply?

[suzywong]

I shouldn't think so, I had 2 sections and had no issues with supply, I put babies on breast during recovery and never looked back. Colostrum is not a gush of liquid though

I'm sure someone more proper will come on and put your straight

[Mumpbump]

I know they put ds to the breast as soon as possible after he was born. I think they only get pretty small amounts of colostrum. I seem to remember from my antenatal classes that their tummies can only hold a teaspoonful at a time initially anyway!!

[sunglasses]

Thanks- feeling a bit more determined to make it work as I hopefully will be less tired than first time and baby will be born at a reasonable hour of the day so hopefully more help at hand. Just wanted to know what to expect so I dont start thinking I am doing it all wrong and give up. Stuck with it first time for 4 months so I know it can be done (smile)

[liath]

Am no expert but colostrum only comes in small amounts. If my experience last week is an indication of what to expect then this is what happened:

I put ds to the breast as soon as he was born. After that he slept then had small feeds until the first night when he fed very frequently all night - definitely get help with the latch at this point or you'll have very sore nipples. He had another feeding frenzy the night after but not for as long then my milk came in.

Had a rough night once the milk was in with severe nipple pain, had a fab midwife out the next day who reckoned the pain was due to the engorgement and showed me how to hand express before trying to latch him on to decompress the areaola area.

Has got progressively easier since but only with lots of input & help to get the latch sorted.

HTH

[liath]

Didn't have a section BTW but I'd have thought it souldn't make a difference.

[MerryMarigold]

don't worry too much about the squeezing nipples thing. the midwife squeezed (pinched?!) mine on day 2 and nothing came out! he seemed ok though and when milk came, there was plenty, in fact too much as I had oversupply. so, what am saying is don't worry if there doesn't seem to be a lot for the first few days, there will be enough for them.

[Guitargirl]

I was worried about this too. Midwife had a squeeze on day 1 and a tiny bit of colostrum came out but by day 3 and especially by day 4 breasts were very engorged. This was without baby sucking a lot as I was too spaced out to put her to breast straight after emergency section and she had problems latching on until about day 5/6. DD has breastfed fine ever since but I think next time (?!) I would put baby to breast as soon as possible and whenever he/she is awake. I was almost afraid to try with DD at first as I was convinced it wasn't going to work...