Breast feeding and visitors...

[PenelopeChipShop]

Just wondering how others have dealt with this in the very early days... I plan to bf my first baby (Having an elcs on Friday) but obviously I have no idea how I will get on with this or how on earth to do it discreetly!

Essentially what I'm worried about is that my ILs have said they are coming to see me in hospital on Saturday. The mws told me I won't be allowed to get up or even have the catheter removed until saturday morning so although i will be up I'm guessing will still be v sore and not terribly mobile. I'm not that comfortable with the idea of getting boobs out in front of FIL but if the baby is hungry I'll have to, won't I?!

What would u do or have done in that scenario? Do u find you aren't worried about it at the time or would u ask them to go outside for a bit? Or just get on with it shamelessly?

He he he, yep get him on the protein powder, buy a new black leather outfit and shave his head! Seriously though, in our NCT class that was a role they recommended the partner take on to help you.

Tell ILs no trainers ;)

OP, I strongly advise you to turn away any visitors you are not comfortable about seeing.

I had an EMCS and ended up having six days in hospital and I then had to go home with a catheter in for another week as I went into urinary retention.

My parents wanted to see me in hospital but as I was basically naked for most of the time with new DD on my chest and / or carrying around a pee bag, I got my sister to tell them no visits until I was ready.

C-sections genuinely are no joke and no two people's reaction to the surgery is the same. I am now STILL having problems with mine and about to get it investigated.

In my experience, a c-section does make establishing BF a bit harder because I had the tap thingey in my hand which made it difficult for me to hold DD and I was also finding it hard to shift into a position that would make it easier to feed.

Bearing this in mind, I would bolt the doors until you're ready and good luck!

OP, you've got to be assertive and tell people to excuse themselves when you need to feed your baby.

Honestly, I think I might have had more chance of success with breastfeeding if I'd have had a chance to be left alone for five minutes with DS!

think there will probably be visiting hours enforced for anyone other than your DP - and then they normally get kicked out over night (well did in my hospital).

Anyway I didn't have a section but an episiotomy etc -hospital was lovely and warm - honestly the best thing i found was shutting my curtain (or getting someone to shut it for you) then whipping my top off - baby in nappy with banket over - skin to skin and practicing feeding :)

my DD was very sleepy to start with ( maybe due to diamorphine?? exciting birth??) so i was waking her to feed her - my hospital was very good at supporting breastfeeding - you could buzz a mid wife to come check your latch - also i was in a rush to get home - but i did miss the mechanized adjustable bed which can support you in different positions - I don't know the particular difficulties of feeding with CS scar - maybe lying down position??, or one of those inflatable c-shaped cushions would help?

Personally, I got on with it shamelessly :P Although, I did have one of these tops (www.bras4mums.co.uk/seren-nursing-vest-top-1055-p.asp) so there wasn't an awful lot on show!
In all seriousness though, if you feel uncomfortable - ask them to leave! It'll all be new to you & you're more than entitled to a little privacy!!
Good luck :)

Fingers crossed and luck to the OP for today!

I hope it all went well

I had an ELCS for my twins, and told my DH I wanted noone there but him. I told my own mother the same and she was fine, happy to come to me when I got home so she could help round the house.
However MIL and FIL had different plans, and stayed at our house for the whole week that I was in hospital, and planned on coming to visit every day for literally the entire visiting hours (3pm to 8pm). They actually met my DTD at the same time as I did as she was whisked off to SCBU and I didn't see her for several hours after she was born. It was incredibly awkward trying to BF - it was just impossible to do skin to skin, they left the room when it was 'feeding time' but hung around the door waiting for me to finish (she ff all her DCs so knows nothing about bf). DH also had to give them a lift back to our house at end of visiting time so I was left alone with one brand new baby in my room, another in SCBU and unable to walk .

I totally snapped on day 3 when the MW told me that DTS had lost too much weight and that I had to top up with formula - I told DH that they could not come to the hospital to visit again. They stayed away for one day but turned up the next, and there is a photo of MIL giving my 4 day old son a bottle with the smuggest look on her face which still makes me very angry 8 months later. I never managed to ebf and still mix feed instead - I'm not saying it was their fault - I had shoddy feeding advice from the hospital too - but it really didn't help.

I really wish I had the balls to tell them not to come until I was ready. I hope you did and that they listen!