BF Newborn post c-section

[smallwonder]

DS was born by ELCS a few days ago. He is DC4 but I can't remember how I felt with the others TBH. I want to ask:

• How often should he be feeding at this stage (Day Four) - my milk is now in.
• If he comes off and sleeps for a while, should I return him to same boob or the other one? How long is normal at this stage?
• When he falls asleep, I wake him gently (tickling chin etc) and he returns to feeding, often have to start him again as latch is no good. How can I ensure he feeds rather than comfort eats, he seems happy just to stay at boob regardless. How do I know he's had enough? I hear a lot of 'he's hungry' whenever he cries 'he needs more' when I'm pretty sure he's had enough and just needs winding more etc..
• any useful tips on b/f after c-section?

Thank you in advance.

Congratulations :)

You sound like you're doing fine, and it's great that your milk have come in - I found it much easier to feed once the baby had milk to swallow.

If you're not having any nipple pain, I'd say keep baby on the boob as much as you can. I used to tickle chins and feet to keep them awake long enough to feed properly (30 mins or so?), then let them sleep and put the back to the breast when they woke.

I would alternate sides each feed, or if the feeds all blur into one, maybe switch sides every two hours or so? The milk is all the same whichever side it comes from (there really isn't any reason to worry about fore and hind milk if baby is happy) so switching is really about making sure your supply is stimulated on both sides (hopefully equally so you don't end up wonky!).

Good luck and keep feeding :) You're doing a wonderful job :)

Keep feeding - this is when milk supply is established. A good feed is 30 mins to an hour I think, but it is normal at this age for them to get both food and comfort from bf. he's still very young - they'll be plenty of time when he's a little older to establish a pattern that gives you more 'time off'.