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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

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Original poster

Breastfeeding and c-section - advice/reassurance needed please!

42 replies

HPSource · 14/11/2011 10:49

I am booked in for a c-section on Thursday of this week due to placenta previa. Various people have commented that as I will not be giving birth naturally I will probably struggle to breastfeed my baby as the relevant hormones won't have been triggered by the surgery

Any tips about how to increase the chances of being able to breastfeed or even some success stories to help reassure me would be great - the anxiety about surgery is enough for me on its own.

Thanks in advance

OP posts:

Newmom2b · 14/11/2011 20:14

Hi there, just to add to all the above comments!
I was booked in for a elcs due to a breech baby and ended but having a emcs 5 days earlier as the lo couldn't wait.
It was a really positive experience and I have been breastfeeding my ds with no problems at all. We had skin to skin straight after the birth and he had a little suckle in the delivery ward. We were then helped to latch on in the post natal ward by the lovely midwifes who are so supportive and who helped through the night passing me ds at feed times!
Just to add also, I was in hospital for 2 nights which was a shorter stay than most of my nct class who all had natural births....
Good luck with everything x

blackteaplease · 15/11/2011 09:20

I had an emergency c-section and dd took a little while to figure out how to latch on, even with lots of skin to skin (think it was about 18 hours) but the midwives showed me how to express colostrum and syringe feed her. I think my milk came in on day 4.

We are still going stron 22 months later. Good luck

Molybdenum · 15/11/2011 09:50

Typing this while breastfeeding my five week old baby who was born by emergency section. He is a little tiger on the boob!

PrincessScrumpy · 15/11/2011 10:05

dtds were prem and had to be fed by tube to start with but I kept expressing and at 11wo I'm mix feeding. This is because they're twins. They don't have the best latch but I truly think this is due to being prem and not cs. dtd2 was 4lb 6oz and during skin to skin in recovery she found my boob and latched on. dtd1 was rushed to scbu and she's always been slightly harder but not impossible.

ChipsnCheese · 15/11/2011 10:27

Firstly - don't worry. A CS can be such plain sailing! You might not even be in loads of pain afterwards.
Secondly - I admire you for asking the question
You have the 'luxury' of getting this sorted beforehand, simply by spending a bit of time with the midwife and discussing your concerns and solutions.

For my first CS I didn't even know there was a midwife there! Baby was dangled in front of my face and then given to Dad who was packed off to a different room with him!! Breastfeeding took weeks to establish.

For my second, I discussed this with the midwife beforehand (because you have a planned CS you will be sitting around for ages with various medics coming in to talk to you and prep you.). The midwife was absolutely amazing and made sure I had loads of skin to skin while I was being stitched up, and supporting DP to help me. Also, DP was better prepared that time.
Then we both just hung around for a couple of hours with baby on breast.

I suppose the most difficult time is when you're left to it in the ward for a few hours with your tubes still in., if this falls outside of visiting hours. Make sure you know how to raise the bed up and down before you're left alone. Essential for getting baby out of the crib!

Good luck. You will be able to do it, but those first couple of hours really are key. IMHO.

Original poster

HPSource · 15/11/2011 11:58

Thank you ladies for taking the time to share your experiences and tips. This is my first baby so I am generally feeling totally unprepared. News that we need a c-section left me feeling quite scared (I've been fortunate enough so far in my life to never even need to go to A&E let alone need an operation) and comments that, as well as not having the birth I had imagined, I may not be able to BF my child turned me into a bit of a mess. But thanks to you lovely ladies, I am now starting to feel more confident and back on track.

I also had a pre-op appointment with my consultant this morning who has talked me through the procedure, including that they will lower the screen so DH and I can see the birth and that the baby will be passed to me straight away as long as there are no complications. This seems very encouraging from a BF front given the messages you have kindly left for me. I'll be sure to tell everyone that comes to see us before the operation that I am keen to BF and ask them what they can do to help this get started - especially any midwives!

Thanks again.

OP posts:

BonzoDooDah · 15/11/2011 14:17

That sounds very positive! Good luck!

Rugbylovingmum · 15/11/2011 15:00

Hi,

just wanted to add that you shouldn't panic if you do have a few problems at first. DD was born by c-section and was a bit mucusy at first (I think that can happen quite often after a c-section). She had a feed straight after the op but then refused to take a feed for 24 hours as she was bringing up mucus when she tried. It was a bit stressful and I was concerned when the midwife gave her a cup of formula but once she had the mucus out of her system she started feeding well and I fed her for 10 months. So don't worry if things don't go totally smoothly for the first few days, just keep persevering and get all the help you can.

blackteaplease · 15/11/2011 15:05

Just to say, there's no reason to give the baby formula if you don't want to. Like I said, it's possible to express and syringe feed colostrum. But if you do give formula it won't prevent you from successfully breastfeeding.

Rugbylovingmum · 15/11/2011 15:43

Yes -sorry, I should have said that I did express at first and DD had the colostrum from a syringe but I was shattered at one point (I had lost quite a bit of blood and was exhausted after a 3 day induction) and the midwife suggested trying some formula from a cup just to give me time to rest. I was a bit worried but the midwife was great and told me that a little formula wouldn't stop me being able to feed and I'd benefit from a little break - she was right and DD latched on soon after (think we were both more relaxed).

blackteaplease · 15/11/2011 16:01

Rugbylovingmum I didn't mean to imply that you had failed in any way. Sorry. I was just trying to reassure OP in a rather clumsy way

Rugbylovingmum · 15/11/2011 16:23

Me too - no offence taken. Just wanted to make it clear that I wasn't pushed into giving formula, the midwives were really supportive.

mumblejumble · 17/11/2011 02:32

I had a crash c-section a week ago and am breastfeeding fine. Make sure younkeep topped up with painkillers, and get lots of help with nappy changing and lifting baby from the crib. Get lots ofnskin to skin, and let baby comfort suck, snuggle, use you as a dummy, feed as often and as long as s/he wants :). I have had my new ds virtually attached to me constantly, and things are going well.
Women who adopt babies are able to lactate, you will be fine

liveinazoo · 17/11/2011 02:39

agree with all the above.i bfeed 2 after c-sects with no probs.if want advice la leche are great and if you have a surestart locally they may have bfeed support group if you want share experiences or chat and a cuppa with others in same situation.feed often.master positioning and youll be fine

Orbinator · 17/11/2011 02:48

I can safely say they are talking out of their bottom chasms.
My 3.5 M/O asleep in her cot as I type would strongly disagree, and has been EBF and is in top 2% for weight.

She was EMCS and they put her on my chest afterwards for skin to skin and she latched on straight away. Then refused to stop for 2 whole days until the nurses took her off me so I could get 2hrs sleep!
Stick your norks up to the doubters

beatofthedrum · 17/11/2011 07:22

It must feel so overwhelming at the moment, there is so much to think about. I didn't even consider any bf issues arising from having a c sec - whoever has given you worries in that respect is entirely wrong. I had a traumatic emcs and bfed my baby for 25 mins whilst in high dependency unit waiting to see if i needed a blood transfusion and was encouraged to do so. There was no thought of this affecting my feeding at the time - one thing that may be helpful is to look into 'rugby grip' now, feeding with your baby along your side instead of across your tummy. I did this for the first 6 weeks. Very best of luck and happy feeding once you have your baby!

beatofthedrum · 17/11/2011 07:24

Just realised it's all happening today, lots of good luck, let us know how you get on x

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