Breast Feeding and C-section

[Olaalo]

Would really appreciate to hear from those who have experienced breastfeeding after having a c- section. Also anyone use a breast pump, if so was it electric or manual? Thanks

I'm still feeding almost five months on from emergency section.

Bit of a rough start, he lost a lot of weight and we had to top up with formula to keep the chart happy, but that was mostly because he is a terror for going to sleep while nursing - the midwife the second night ruthlessly dripped cold water on him to keep him awake for a full feed!

I had a Medela hand pump early on, then got a Medela Swing later. Honestly unless you're planning to pump a lot you probably don't need an electric. Try manual first anyway.

I had an emcs and exclusive breastfed for almost 2 years. Bit Hard at the start as didn’t want pressure across incision site but positions like the rugby ball or feeding lying down were fine. Lots of pillows and cushions around helped to support babies weight or protect scar too

I had the same worries, as my youngest was an unexpected emergency section after 3 vaginal deliveries.

Breastfeeding was just the same, I just needed someone to pass her at first and used a v shaped pillow to hold her to stop it hurting my stomach scar

I had an emergency c section after failed induction at 39 weeks, and exclusively breastfed to around 9 months when she started nursery, continuing with a few feeds a day up to almost 2. I fed her in recovery and she latched on pretty quickly. The first 6 weeks were horrendous, but that was because of tongue tie, not the section. I used a feeding pillow to prevent discomfort and lots of Lansinoh for my poor nipples. It was a bit awkward twisting to get her out of her Moses basket at night, but would have been if bottle feeding too.

Expressing wise I was never great at it. Got about a drop from a manual pump and a few oz from a hired double electric one. It was a huge hassle to me, but I bought a naturebond pump for about £12 from amazon and that was brilliant - stick it one boob while feeding on the other. DH could do an evening feed and I managed to build up a decent freezer staff so I could have a few hours away if needed.

Remember what you can express is absolutely no indication of your supply. Like I said, I struggled to get anything, but after a slow weight gain initially (due to the tongue tie) DD thrived so was clearly getting plenty.

I never experienced my milk ‘coming in’ - I only knew it did because I leaked in the mornings. Among my friends who had c sections (Both planned) one didn’t want to breast feed but as her daughter was in special care she exclusively pumped for weeks, and the other had absolutely no problems with breastfeeding but stopped quite quickly as she just didn’t like it.

I had four c-sections and bf all of them, no issues.
Be kind to yourself though, it can take a few weeks to establish BF.

I breastfed after both of my caesareans. I didn’t find any issues at all with positioning and baby was miles away from my incision site so didn’t feel discomfort there.

Due to big boobs and tiny baby, I used a rugby ball hold otherwise it felt like I’d smother them!

I found my nipples very sore for 2-3 weeks both times. No latch issues and smothered in lansinoh but so, so sore. Suddenly stopped hurting almost overnight both times.

Oh and I didn’t get on with pumping. I tried several different kinds but barely got a drop out, despite have no supply issues.

I had a crash section under GA. BF. Still am 10months later. However my milk didnt come in properly for 9days and the anasetic made baby groggy as well as being a jaundiced baby, loosing blood in theatre etc all played a part in slow milk. I had to top up with donor milk to get rid of the billireuben. We had a 3 wk stay in hospital to help establish feeding and get baby better which probally helped alot. I had alot of support.

Oh and 10m on i can still not express via pump. The hospital kept getting me to pump to encorage milk supply. It was the hardest most stressfull thing as nothing came out.think i expressed more tears than milk. Turn out my boobs just dont like astic or react to pumps.

2 sections (first emergency and second elective) breastfed the first until the second was born (3 years) and the second for another 3 years.

no issues with number 2 and the first was just small... but with fenugreek and porridge it all worked out, she is 8 years old and still 9th centile (hear that fucking male health visitor who got me to tears and tried to tell me she wasn't thriving)

I had a c section, milk didn't come in till day 4, so FF initially, then exclusively pumped for 11 months with a manual pump

Had an emergency section. Milk cake in on day 3 but he didn't lose any weight at all. Just fed frequently on colostrum until the milk came.

I had an emcs then an elcs. After the first I really struggled to feed and he ended up nearly totally formula fed and I pumped to get a supply it took 6 weeks until he was ebf. Used the Medela swing but in hindsight should have hired the hospital grade one. The second time was much easier and he latched the first night. Due to jaundice and weight loss he did have a few formula top up feeds but only for a few days. You cannot underestimate how much time at the breast and skin to skin you need to establish breastfeeding. Good luck and don't forget la leche league.

I breast fed after c section. the first few days before milk came in I expressed colostrum and gave it by syringe and topped up with formula then pure milk. There were no issues at all

Emcs after very very long labour, milk didn’t come in until day 5. Baby lost weight and had to top up with formula. Still feeding him 2.5 years later.
I had a battery powered pump it’s good but not much comes out of me with pumping.

I had no issues with breastfeeding after section! I told them I intended to bf so I was placed on my side before leaving theatre so it was easier for me to get baby straight on the boob!
I had an arso calypso pump after ds1 was born and it was fab!

It took a few days after my section for my milk to come in, so had to top up Dd with formula in the meantime. But when it did, it came in like a tidal wave 😂 I never had any issues with breastfeeding or milk production, but was really crap at expressing, and I tried both manual and electric pumps.

I've had one forceps delivery and two c sections. Breast fed all three, first for 18 months, second for 2.5 years and third still going strong at 21 months. (And currently attached!)

Both c section babies fed better in rugby hold which first baby couldn't get on with at all. C section babies can be sleepier in the first days so don't be afraid to wake them to feed regularly. And my milk was late coming in with both c sections babies, around day 5, but have faith that colostrum is all they need until milk comes in.

I met with a breast feeding specialist before the first section who recommended hand expressing in the weeks before the section to get the colostrum flowing, and not to be afraid to give baby colostrum on a teaspoon in the first hours if he had trouble latching. She also gave me some sterile syringes to express into and have ready in recovery if he didn't latch. Might be worth seeing if you can arrange a meeting if you are worried.

Be kind to yourself, eat, rest and drink well.

Also I used medela swing electric pump. I couldn't get a drop out with a manual! In the early days with all my babies my nipples got sore and pump allowed me to skip feeding from one side for a day whilst keeping up supply.

I'm still exclusively breastfeeding 5 months after my emergency c-section with no plans to stop any time soon, I was lucky to have no issues other than my daughter being very tiny which caused issues unrelated to the c-section. The midwives in the HDU were not very supportive however so I would suggest having someone to advocate for you just in case you feel pressurised afterwards. The midwives on the actual postnatal ward were great though.

Oh and I used both a manual and electric nuk pumps but found the hakka better than either.

I had a emcs did skin to skin in theatre and then as soon as we moved to recovery she latched on and bf straight away. I had a really easy bf experience and still doing it over a year later.

I didn’t pump, I had tiny boobs and it was uncomfortable I found it easier to bf than pump.

EMCS with my first and third. Most successful breastfeeding with my third actually (exclusively for 11 months). My milk came in rather quickly, but we did have some issues with tongue tie so I used a nipple shield until she had her tongue tie cut at 6 weeks. Bit of work to get her to latch on but we got there.
Very sore EMCS, especially as they decided to staple me too tightly, but having one of those v/u-shaped pillows helped massively.

Emergency CS after long labour. Exclusively bf twins for 6m until started weaning and bf till 10 months only stopped due to my health. Started bf them together as soon as back from theatre.

Csection and small nipples. Managed to breastfeed exclusively for 3 years. Make a commitment to get through the first 2 months. Have a lactation consultant on speed dial just in case. The hospital was worthless for helping with breastfeeding. The lactation consultant saved us. She made a plan that was challenging for both me and DH who had to help, but it worked and within 6 weeks we were going strong.

If you need to pump, get an electric.