Breastfeeding after planned c/s

[buttercupbabe]

With ds I was in labour but then had to have an emergency c/s under general due to his cord being wrapped around him several times leading to fetal distress. I had no problems breastfeeding him.
I am 32 wks pg with dc2 and will be having a planned c/s at 39 weeks. I have been worrying a bit about breastfeeding after reading somewhere on here that you can have difficulty breastfeeding after planned sections as you haven't been in labour to trigger the hormones that stimulate milk supply. Is this true?
Anyone had a planned section and gone on to breastfeed? Did you have difficulties? Do you have any advice? Thanks in advance from a keen breastfeeder!

[mankyscotslass]

As far as I know it's the removal of the placenta that triggers the hormones for breastfeeding. I asked the same question years ago! I have BF my last two after Csecs, both been fine. You need to make sure you have a comfy cushion/pillow to place baby on, and possibly will find the rugby ball postion better for a while while baby is small, altohugh I never got on with it.
Make sure the Mw supports you, you will need a lot of help over the first few days, they need to know you really want to bf!
Good luck!

[JuneBugJen]

it is really not a problem!!

Have BF after both (emerg and elective cs) without a care in the world. Just need to make sure that you call the nurses if you want to have the baby picked up for you as it is the twisting and picking up that is a problem.

Agree need v-shaped cushion and dont forget to take in your own pillow to lie on (if you are there a few days it makes sense to be comfy!) with preferably garish pillowcase so you dont forget it.

[heron22]

hi, i am going to have a section as well and really hope to bf successfully. what kind of pillow did you use? is it the one that is horse-shoe shaped?

[sandcastles]

I bf dd2 after a planned section. It has been going well so far [almost 5 weeks]

My milk didn't properly come in until the next day, after expressing to encourage it to happen quicker...mainly because dd lost over 10% of her birth weight in 24 hours. The midwife told me that if we didn't get her weight up a bit the dr's would be getting to top up with formula.

I have been fine wrt pain, I had pressure on tummy for a few times as she fed lying across it, but I held her more to the side after the midwife recc it.

[LiegeAndLief]

I had a cs with no labour at 34 weeks and managed to bf ds until he was nearly 2. As others have said, removal of placenta stimulates milk prodution, so you should be fine - can be uncomfy around the scar area but as you've already bf after a cs you probably know all the tricks already!

[ILikeToMoveItMoveIt]

When you're in recovery, as the MW to help you initiate bf'ing, as the sooner the better.

BF can be harder to establish after a cs because of circumstances, as it can be hard to lift the baby and hold them for long periods of time. So make sure you get the mw's and your visitors to help you with bringing the baby to you as much as possible.

Also, you are given IV anti-biots after a csection, so you are more at risk of nipple thrush. So read up on that in advance and know the symptoms.

None of this should affect your milk supply as long as you bring the baby to the breast as much as possible.

Good luck

[buttercupbabe]

Oh thanks so much for all the replies and advice - brilliant. I'm feeling much better about it now.
I used my v-shaped pillow last time - v good for taking pressure off wound. Also a God send for sleeping (ha ha) in the last few weeks of pg! I shall pack it with all my other bits and bobs when the time comes.