Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Infant feeding

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

Flip

Original poster

ELCS - when to expect milk to come in?

21 replies

cravingcake · 29/12/2013 19:55

I'm due to give birth to DC2 in 3 weeks time by elective c-section. I had a traumatic long labour (4 days from waters breaking to DS arriving) which ended with a 4th degree tear. I successfully managed to breastfeed DS for 16 weeks with a lot of help from midwives at the hospital initially. My memory is a bit hazy but i think it was day 3 or 4 after the birth when my milk came in.

I am now wondering when i might expect my milk to come in this time as i wont be going through labour. My friend mentioned about expressing beforehand but i'm not sure how much/often or when to do this if at all to help encourage my supply.

Can anyone shed any light? Most people have told me it'll be very hard to feed after c-section but after what we went through last time we are fairly confident that once established it should be easier or the same.

OP posts:

Kelly1814 · 29/12/2013 19:56

I had colostrum instantly but no proper milk until about day 7 or 8. One of the many reasons I FF.

AHardDaysWrite · 29/12/2013 19:58

I had colostrum immediately and bazooka boobs full of milk by day 3. I actually found establishing bf easier after my elcs than after my vb, but it might have been because the elcs was dc2 and I felt more confident/knew what I was doing. Lots of skin to skin as soon as you feel able to really helps.

AHardDaysWrite · 29/12/2013 20:00

I think if "most people" have told you bf will be hard after a cs, they're scaremongering. Lots of my friends had them and bfed with no problems, like me. Milk production is triggered by the removal of the placenta, so happens naturally after a cs in the same way as after a vb.

UntamedShrew · 29/12/2013 20:03

I breastfed after my CSs - one for twins and one for a singleton, so 2 very different experiences but both elective and both had the same milk pattern - colostrum that day, milk on day 3. Fed all of them fine from the get go really, I imagine if you have breastfed before you will be absolutely fine as that would have more of an impact than the mode of delivery.
Good luck and hope you have an easier time this time around.

zebdee · 29/12/2013 20:03

Day 3 no problem here

BobPatSamandIgglePiggle · 29/12/2013 20:03

I had an emcs 5 weeks early. Pumped colostrum immediately - milk came in day 4. I was a first timer and had already been discharged. DS was in scbu so i was pumping what i could - pitiful for the first week then plenty. I am usually calm, collected and really laid back - i could tell you when my milk came down to the hour because i went crazy. Honestly, i was inconsolable and virtually suicidal for about 3 hours. Breasts became totally engorged in this time but i had no idea as i was raving. As soon as i pumped i was fine.

Totally normal according to the midwife when i told her - body wasn't ready to part with DS apparently and the hormone rush that came with the milk pushed me a bit too far.

Yama · 29/12/2013 20:05

I had both my dc by elcs at 39 weeks and breastfed straight away. No problems either time.

crikeybadger · 29/12/2013 20:05

I don't think it always follows that your milk is delayed with a section -hopefully others will come along and share their experiences.

Can you get any skin to skin in the theatre? That will help get all the right breastfeeding hormones going. Get the baby latched on as soon as you feel able and keep skin to skin once you are on the post natal ward.

I actually think antenatal hand expression is a good idea-not everyone does, but it gets you used to the feel of your breasts and how to express. It also means you will have a little bit of colostrum in the freezer / fridge should you need it. You can start from about 36 weeks and don't worry if you only get drops out to start with, it will build up. I used a syringe to collect it in.

Hope all goes well for you

Original poster

cravingcake · 29/12/2013 20:14

Thank you for your quick responses. I'm hoping we can have skin to skin as soon as possible (missed out on that with DS until about 2 hrs after birth).

Its reassuring to read all your responses.

OP posts:

HappyAsASandboy · 29/12/2013 20:16

I had colostrum before my ELCS and milk came in on day 5. I breastfed my twins until they were 2yrs6mo and 2 yrs 9mo.

My twins lost 11% of birth weight and didn't regain until day 11, but they were feeding well and having plenty of wet and dirty nappies, so I didn't go down the route of top ups.

It was hard work establishing Breastfeeding, but I don't think the ELCS made it any harder than a vaginal birth would have made it.

Good luck for your birth and Breastfeeding :)

leedy · 29/12/2013 23:07

EMCS after long labour with DS1, EMCS after no labour (had pre-eclampsia) with DS2, milk came in on day 3 both times, absolutely no BF problems. As someone said above, the trigger for milk production is not having a placenta in you any more, not labour. The only thing I'd suggest is get a good BF cushion (I like the My Brest Friend one) to avoid pressure on your scar.

I've heard a lot of people say that "C-sections make breastfeeding difficult" but only a tiny handful of people for whom it seems to have had any noticeable effect.

Featherbag · 29/12/2013 23:11

My milk came in on day 4 or 5, but got colostrum straight away, DS latched on at 45 minutes old in the recovery room and hasn't detached himself since DS is now 5wo and feeding is well established, he's having weight very well indeed!

oscarwilde · 29/12/2013 23:14

Day3-4 after EMCS but was chock full of drugs after long labour included pethidine which I think combined with utter exhaustion didn't help

PassTheCremeEggs · 29/12/2013 23:16

I've had two sections - first emergency and second elective. Had colostrum from the start both times and milk came in on day 3 and day 2 respectively. As people have said, milk production is triggered by placenta removal and so you have just as much chance to successfully breastfeed as you would if having a natural birth. Good luck!

PeanutPatty · 29/12/2013 23:26

Two CSs and both times had colostrum straight away. Huge mega boulder boobs and milk came in on day 3/4. Plenty of skin to skin and let the baby feed as much as he wants to get things going.

BlueMoonRoses · 29/12/2013 23:26

Had elcs with dc4. Milk came in day 3 and I bf her as long as the other dcs. I had more mw attention because of the elcs though. But this was overseas, not UK.

MajesticWhine · 29/12/2013 23:36

Have had EMCS, ELCS and natural deliveries. It was the same with each one. Colostrum after delivery and milk after 3 days.

Ohhnoooo · 30/12/2013 14:38

I had ELCS 8 weeks ago and bf was and is a breeze compared to when I had my vb. Anyway colostrum straight away and milk came in full throttle on day 3.
Good luck.

delasi · 30/12/2013 17:34

Just to add to everyone else. Good friend had EMCS followed by a relatively easy time bfing and could easily express and mix feed later without problems to her supply. I had a fairly easy VB but no milk came in at all. I would imagine that having done it before, especially in quite stressful circumstances, then this time around it should be at least the same if not easier and you have the advantage of prior experience. Best wishes and congrats!

fhdl34 · 30/12/2013 19:43

Day 4 after 1st birth by emcs, day 3 after 2nd birth after elcs.

HabitualLurker · 31/12/2013 15:50

EMCS under GA, no skin-to-skin (not with me anyway) and I had no real problems breastfeeding. Or at least no more than 'normal'. Milk on day 3 and plenty of it.

I don't think you have any reason to think it should be a problem. Or at least, not because of the CS.

Good luck!

Flip