Elective section for breech baby. I'm scared I won't be able to breastfeed

[Tallyra]

I was all for having a home birth up until my 37w appointment, where the mw said that the baby was breech. -ignoring the annoying fact that the student mw missed it at the previous appt,- I had a discussion with dh and we decided to go with the path of least stress for the baby, no ecv, and elcs. I was expecting it to be after 39w as they discovered it so late. but oh no, the only date they have is Monday, when I'll be 38+4. I'm jus about getting my head around it.

my worry though, is that it's my first baby, and I've been showing no signs of boob leakage etc, that I'm going to have trouble feeding. has anyone got any advice or experience that could help? I don't really want to hear about too many failed horror stories, but anything that you think went wrong that could have changed things?

[blackteaplease]

What a shock to get a date earlier than you were expecting. I am sure some experts will be along soon but I think that boob leakage and successful breastfeeeding aren't linked. I have had 2 sections and have managed to breastfeed both dc.

Can you have a look at the kellymom website? It's a great resource for al breastfeeding info.

[tomthecabinboy]

I've had two c-sections and have breastfed both babies. I've also had a vaginal birth, and breast feeding, milk coming in etc was just the same as it was with the c-sections. Also never had any leakage before babies were born! Good luck for Monday!

[schmalex]

I've had two CS, one elective for breech and one emergency (15 days ago!). I BF absolutely fine with both of them. Didn't have any milk apparent before delivery either time.

An elective is very calm and relaxed. I got to BF my DS as soon as we went through to recovery (about 30 mins after he was out). I also found that because I had to recover from the CS I had a good excuse to sit around being waited on and just focus on feeding the baby!

Good luck with it OP, I'm sure you will be fine. CS are not as bad as lots of people try to make out.

[RockCrushesLizard]

I just wanted to say don't worry! Leaking, although common, is no indication of anything.

Equally, although your milk can be slower to come in with a section, it makes no difference to your baby: their tummies are the size of a marble when they're born, so colostrum is plenty until then.

Being determined to breastfeed, and being prepared to put a bit of effort in in the early days and having decent support is far more important than delivery method.
(after my EMCS, i didn't see DD for 18 hours, until I could walk to SCBU, but she still EBF'd, so there's always a way through!)

Make sure you have the number for the National breastfeeding helpline saved in your phone: 0300 100 0212
It's staffed by fully trained bf counsellors, so you can get good quality support, regardless of local provision.

So exciting to be meeting your baby!

[lilystem]

I had an emcs with no boob leakage before and I've just finished breastfeeding at 13 months. I won't lie - the first week was really hard. My milk didn't come in untill day 5/6 BUT my body had dealt with a 2 day and 2 night labour with no sleep and an emcs. However, I did it and got through it fine. And I think the first week is always hard whatever kind of birth you have.

[SmileAndNod]

I've had three dc - vb (breech but turned), elcs for breech, emcs for breech. BF for 19.5 months, 2.5 years and still going with the third (9 months). So yes, we're living proof it can be done!

I fed dc2 (my elcs) whilst being stitched back up. She was the most natural feeder of my three - no latch problems - and it was the least traumatic birth. She was also the baby I bonded with quickly and deeply and didn't suffer PND with.

Incidentally, I didn't leak milk before hand either.

Make sure you hunt down your local breastfeeding group this week so you have their number to hand, or go and visit before your baby. They are usually so helpful and have lots of trained peer supporters.

Oh and enjoy your birth and your baby. Time really does fly...

Good luck!

[noitsachicken]

I think its when the placenta gets removed from the body (vaginally or by section) this triggers the hormone to produce milk.
It can take longer for you milk to come in after a section (up to 14 days) but the baby will have colostrum until then.
Just do lots of skin to skin and rest when you can to encourage your milk x

[cathpip]

I am currently sat breast feeding my 5 day old ds who was born via section. He is my third child (all born by section) but the first I have breast fed, he is a faffer when it comes to latching on, but persevering with him has been worth it. Super good luck on Monday, and take it easy afterwards!

[louloutheshamed]

I had ds1 vaginally and ds2 by emcs. Fed them both, never leaked before birth.

Tbh feeding was easier to establish after the emcs. After ds1 I had a nasty tear and they spent the first couple of hours after the birth stitching me up and I required gas and air again for this, so ds1 had skin to skin with dh. He was also quite sleepy and jaundiced after long labour and diamorphine so he didn't feed very frequently straight away but got there eventually.

With ds2 I had skin to skin straight away in theatre and he fed within 30 mins. Because of the spinal I couldn't get up all day so just sat in bed feeding and cuddling him skin to skin. It was lovely .

The most important things are skin to skin and trying to feed ASAP- but all is not lost if you don't- I didn't with ds1 and that was a vaginal birth. Kept
Going til 18m and ds2 still going strong at 7m.

[SaveTheMockingBird]

I had an emcs and breastfed just fine. I also never leaked milk during pregnancy or breastfeeding. I never needed breast pads!

[Tallyra]

thank you so much everyone. it's made me feel a lot more happy. I will go into theatre with a smile on my face and I'll try and update you all!

[TondelayoSchwarzkopf]

I BF my DS for 18 months and never had ANY leaking, before, during or after. Gave my breastpads away on freecycle.

[beccajoh]

I had both my children via the sunroof (one emergency, one elective) and had no probs breastfeeding either. My milk came in day three both times. I had skin to skin within an hour of birth both times too. The placenta detatching is what gets things in motion for milk production. This happens regardless of the type of birth you have.

[AllBoxedUp]

Hello. I had an ELCS with my DS At 39w as he was breech. Breastfeeding was fine but it did take a couple of days to establish. This wasn't too to do with my milk - I managed to express enough despite having no leakage. It was because he had s lot of mucous. Apparently it gets squeezed out in the birth canal so babies delivered by CS can have it. It was fine by the time we went home and the midwifes helped a lot. I did express a bit in the first couple of days and they helped me feed him with a little cup which doesn't confuse then Fir latching on. Feeding was one of the things that went really well for us so I don't think the CS is anything to worry about. Good luck.

[AllBoxedUp]

confuse them for latching!

[JackShit]

I had DD by emcs due to her being undiagnosed breech. My milk took 5 days to come in, but that didn't stop me from bf her for over 3 years! You'll be fine :)

[Tallyra]

I love you all. Thank you

[Meglet]

Don't panic. I didn't leak throughout either pregnancy but had plenty of milk after my EMCS and ELCS, both came in on day 3. DS wasn't great at latching after the EMCS but I had the stuff running down my legs at one point and pumped for England. DD did latch beautifully after the ELCS and I started to think she would be the first obese bf baby, she never even lost weight after birth. I was freezing surplus milk by week 2, and she chubbed up like a little michelin man. FWIW I'm thin and have small boobs, I don't look like an earth mother but my body did a great job at producing milk.

Enjoy the CS. I had great, friendly theatre staff both times.

[TheKnightsThatSayNee]

I had planned section due to breech and dd latched straight away and milk came in after a couple of days. We had skin to skin soon after the birth that my have helped. Also because I didn't miss sleep I found night waking much easier than other people I knew who were in labour for days.

[gunwalloe]

Ive breastfed all four of myn and two were emcs I never had any leakage on the run up to them being born. You will be just fine :)

[KirstyJC]

My sis had 4 CSes and BF all 4 for years. You will be fine! Enjoy your baby.

[MyDarlingClementine]

Its the removal of the PLACENTA that stimulates milk.

I successfully am still BF my second (ELC), after failing with my first, after normal birth.

look into this cot for every reason, sleep, happy baby, ease of movement after operation and esp for BF

www.mumsnet.com/reviews/nursery/cots-cribs-cotbeds/9963-arms-reach-universal-co-sleeper-bedside-cot


I have found their prices to be reasonable on ebay...and hold their value. Moses down stairs, this by the bed.

[Tranquilitybaby]

I had no leakage with either child and fed ds2 for 15 months.

Have lots of skin to skin and latch baby on as much as possible and your milk should come in in three days or so. Don't worry you'll be fine x

[nooka]

I was going to have a home birth with ds, we hired a pool and everything. Then when my waters broke early and were stained I had to go into hospital where they discovered ds was transverse oblique and so I had a c-section about half an hour later. He was 10 days early so it was all a bit of a surprise!

As others have said it was not an issue breastfeeding, the birth was very relaxed and they popped him on me fairly quickly afterward, one of the midwives helped with positioning and he was off He spent the next two days lying on me as I was too scared to get up which I am sure helped with bonding and feeding (once I was up it was absolutely fine, and after c-section no2 I got up much quicker)

Good luck Tallyra!