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Infant feeding

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

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Original poster

Bf & c-section

20 replies

Squiglettsmummy2bx · 10/01/2012 05:40

I booked my elcs for 3rd of feb so not long now & am making all my final preparations. I didn't bf my 1st 2 dc through lack of support & lack of perserverance but am adamant this time so any advice would be gladly received. I haven't bought any bottles, steriliser etc as I found this made it too easy to quit when the going got tough. I have loads of pillows for my hospital bag so I'm comfier holding my baby, I've bought lasinoh cream incase I get sore nipples, clothes that make boob exposure easy, bf bra etc. Other than that & my boobs what do I need? Any special tricks after elcs? I have already said I want skin to skin straight away. I have 2 friends who breast fed who I am happy to turn to & be manhandled by if necessary.
Thank you in advance

OP posts:

organiccarrotcake · 10/01/2012 08:21

Manhandling is best avoided :) but I know what you mean.

Do your friends know how to BF lying down? That would be a great one to practise before your baby arrives as it's excellent for post CS.

What happened with your last two? May be worth looking at those to see if the same issues could be avoided.

organiccarrotcake · 10/01/2012 08:23

Re manhandling - I'm not being flippant BTW. What I mean is, a lot of BFing problems occur because of well meaning but misinformed midwives pushing babies onto the breast (for instance) which can really upset the baby. Hands off help is usually better, although what I think you meant is that you are comfortable being "all out" with them around, and them touching/guiding you if necessary?

loopydoo · 10/01/2012 08:25

I'd suggest using lansinoh from the start so keep the nipples soft; rather than waiting until you have a problem. Just a little will keep them soft; that's key in preventing cracks.

Make sure that if you have attachment probs, get help asap. You're entitled to get your midwife over in the first 10 days, even if they are not scheduled to visit.

Use a v-shaped pillow to rest the baby on to protect your cs scar. Hold thr wound when you cough and sneeze etc e

fhdl34 · 10/01/2012 09:02

i had an emergency c-section and the support i got in hospital afterwards was excellent. Had my latch checked several times as i thought she wasn't attaching properly, could ask questions anytime 24/7, they'd pass her to me and put her down so i didn't have to keep climbing in and out of bed. I'm on the large side and my wound is covered by my belly so good for breastfeeding but not for healing - on ABs at present for infection. Good luck, am sure you'll do great

ChunkyPickle · 10/01/2012 09:14

I found rugby hold best until I figured out how to feed lying down - no heavy baby on tummy.

get out of hospital as soon as safe - feeding in a hospital bed/chair was way harder than on my settee/bed at home.

HereIGo · 10/01/2012 09:14

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

jocie · 10/01/2012 17:08

2nd rugby hold and feeding lying down, also have you got a bedside cot as i found that having to sit up and lean over to get baby out of cot was agony.

I had emcs and it was only on the last night that i was in that they gave me a cot that clipped on to side of bed instead of one of thewheeled ones. That was soooo much easier as it ment i could just ' pull' baby over to be and feed lying down and then position baby baxk in cot, rather than having to climb out of bed and lean over the cot (ow!)

igginezerscrooge · 10/01/2012 17:41

Just to say not to panic if it doesn't seem to work out right away. My ds just wouldn't feed, and for 4 days I was expressing milk (in hospital) and giving it to him in a cup. On the 5th day something just clicked, and we fed for evermore till he turned 2

UsedToBikeAndRunAndSki · 10/01/2012 17:51

I also second lying down and rugby ball holds. I loved my hospital bed. I used to get it to the same height as DD's crib, lean over and hoist her out by her baggy sleep suit. Not sure this is strictly good advice...

otchayaniye · 10/01/2012 19:28

i had two electives (one was at 36 weeks) and easily bfed first for three years and am currently feeding second right now.

top tips would be a boppy type cushion, stretchy wrap to feed in while on the move), rugby hold and learning the ability to feed lying down.

take it easy (tho i never did, was out eating dinner in restaurant on night three or visiting the zoo .... ) and best of luck. there is no reason why a section should. stop you.

agree about the manhandling. i had my first baby in singapore where the nurses used dive bomb technique. sent my sleepy jaudiced baby into shut down mode in the first few hours. but all was well and we both took to it.

good luck

otchayaniye · 10/01/2012 19:30

i never had a problem getting the baby from the cot. basically i don't thi she ever went in the cot apart from a few hours at night. was out in 30 hours anyway.

chocolatebourbon · 10/01/2012 21:44

Hello, I am 2 weeks post C-section and bfeeding is going fine so far. I would definitely ask for help with every feed in hospital but also accept you may not crack it in hospital and it is a lot easier to relax into it once you are home...so get home as soon as you can, limit visitors to those you are completely comfortable breastfeeding in front of and who won't expect you to pass-the-parcel too much with baby, consider co-sleeping or a cot that attaches to the side of your bed, and just spend as much time as you can cuddling up to baby. Having a C-section doesn't make it that different - in a way I have found it easier because you are naturally a bit less mobile so have less of an urge to rush out to the shops/register the birth/do the housework and can just focus on sitting/lying with your baby and making sure you are both comfortable and well fed.

bitbewildered · 10/01/2012 21:51

i had a hysterectomy after dc2, with a vertical wound (belly button down). i'd managed to bf dc1 after a LOT of perseverance and support from dh & midwives. if your midwives can put you in touch with your local lactation expert she may be able to help out.

it went fine with dc2 for me, despite surgery, but i found perseverance and self-belief were the most important things, closely followed by support from anyone prepared to give it. the rugby ball position worked well for both newborns, then moved on to more conventional positions as they got bigger.

hope it all goes smoothly!

whostolemyname · 10/01/2012 21:57

I know you have said skin to skin, but I would make that prolonged skin to skin, not half an hour, or an hour, but as constant as you can for as long as you can. I really really really believe it makes all the difference.

I was lucky as much as anything I am sure, but I had a prem baby delivered by c-section and I'm certain the prolonged skin to skin was key to our BF success.

Good luck!

flamegirl77 · 10/01/2012 23:35

I would practice the lying down and rugby ball holds in advance as well as pillow placement etc, I was out of it after surgery and couldn't get the hang of positioning baby at all. That was EMCS at 11pm after being up all the previous night with contractions, though, so I was very tired too which didn't help. Try to get a good night's sleep before your op!

Original poster

Squiglettsmummy2bx · 11/01/2012 07:21

Thank you all for your wonderful advice, I will be taking notes from this thread when I get back from the school run & practicing the holds/positions that have been suggested
As someone said early on in the thread I won't literally let my friends manhandle me but just really meant I am fine that they may need to see or touch my boobs & thats fine
Thank you once again

OP posts:

jazzandh · 11/01/2012 14:32

After my second CS I kept DS2 in hospital bed with me. Nestled him in pillows and under my arm. From my first experience, even though I had an amenity room, I reckoned my chances of sleeping much were pretty slim...

As soon as DS2 cried, I could pop him on, I didn't need to call anyone to help, this also meant he was really quiet and soothed for his first night.

I preferred the cradle hold as my arms were taking the weight, and could position pillow underneath. I never got the hang of the rugby hold with either of mine....

Milk came in within 48 hours.

moomsy · 12/01/2012 22:29

Am I the only freak that couldn't turn sideways for weeks after my CS?

This meant feeding lying down was a complete no until I could lie on my side.

I never got along with rugby hold either so always (and still) feed with the cradle hold with pillow under baby.

When you have the CS, because you have your hands tubed up, are sore, can't move etc etc you will need to accept help and basically ring the belll everytime baby needs a feed.

Let the nurses / midwives or your partner to help you to get comfy, place pillows and also place the baby on you. Many times I had the nurse or midwife grabbing my nipple and doign whatever possible to make sure baby was latched and positioned well.

I couldn't have done without my perseverance and their help :)

Hecubasdaughter · 13/01/2012 04:20

You're not alone moomsy I could not, and still can't tbh master feeding lying down .

I had problems with latch (turned out to be tongue tie) and was discharged ff. I would highly recommend contacting the breast feeding network if you feel like you need support (it may go swimmingly from the start btw). They have been fantastic with me and now at 6 weeks old dd is bf again and has gained weight for 2 weeks in a row :).

I would second using the nipple cream before any problems occur. My nipples were in a terrible state with dd1, this time so far so good.

That sounds good jazz, trying to get them out the bedside crib is difficult for the first 24hrs. Our hospital also had the option of cribs that attached onto the side of the bed, don't know if all hospitals do.

Original poster

Squiglettsmummy2bx · 13/01/2012 04:23

Thank you ladies

OP posts:

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