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Infant feeding

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

Original poster

Unable to breastfeed because of csection

66 replies

PeppersTheCat · 03/08/2017 18:00

I'm 36 weeks and have just found out my baby is breach. I've heard a lot of mums say they couldn't breastfeed because they were recovering from a section (couldn't bend over to pick up baby, etc).

I'm so very upset because I breastfed my previous 2 kids for 2 years each (both vaginal births).

I won't have a lot of support after the birth as I've just split with my partner.

OP posts:
SuburbanRhonda · 03/08/2017 18:19

You'll find a way. I had two Caesarians, two babies both well over 10lb and breastfed for 14 months for the first and 2 and a half years for the second.

No family help and DH went on a week-long business trip when the first one was three weeks old.

grannytomine · 03/08/2017 18:20

I breastfed for six months after an emcs. I had a 9lb baby and had no trouble bending or picking her up after the first couple of days, initially she got passed to me by my husband if he was there but I managed when he wasn't. I do think I found it harder to establish than with my other babies but that might have been down to her having had a rough time, me having a rough time, or the scar or because she was never very interested in feeding.

SchnitzelVonKrumm · 03/08/2017 18:20

They make you get up and walk around the next day so you don't get DVT. They will tell you this, but it's better to take the drugs and move freely than be a martyr with restricted movement - pulls everything back into place and speeds recovery.

Triangularsquare · 03/08/2017 18:21

Actually I think if you won't have a lot of help, breastfeeding might prove the easier option. You can camp on the sofa with baby and go nowhere. No need to go to the kitchen, make up bottles etc.

Penfold007 · 03/08/2017 18:23

Two EMCS and two breastfed DC. Pillow and rugby ball hold worked well for us. The tips above re moving around are really useful, it's hard but so worth it. Good luck Flowers

Lillygreen · 03/08/2017 18:25

I breast fed after emergency cesarean... Only the first 24 hours I needed help with baby being lifted to me. For the next 3 weeks it's was difficult and painful, but absolutely doable

5moreminutes · 03/08/2017 18:27

As everyone else says, the mums who have told you they couldn't feed due to c-sections are misleading you. Lots of people can't breast feed or find it hard of course, but not due to c-sections.

I breast fed all 3 of my kids for around a year and they were all born by c-section. I only needed somebody to pass DC1 to me while in hospital because I was physically tied down by drains and drips :( My first section was unplanned and an absolute mess which saw me taken back into surgery and having multiple blood transfusions, but it didn't interfere with breast feeding. My two planned sections were far calmer and breast feeding was absolutely no problem.

You'd only need somebody to pass you your baby if for some reason he was on the floor.

The only thing that a c-section makes horribly difficult is going to the toilet the day after Blush

Lules · 03/08/2017 18:28

I found breastfeeding too hard but that was more that I was too exhausted after a bad labour. If it's planned you won't have that. As others have said, yes you'll need someone to pass you the baby while you're still numb but after that you should be fine even if moving is a bit painful.

namechange20050 · 03/08/2017 18:28

It's the removal of the placenta that allows the milk producing hormones to kick into action. C section interfering with breastfeeding is a myth.

SharkBastard · 03/08/2017 18:30

I breastfed my daughter for 14 months following emergency c section. I'm now 17 weeks into breastfeeding my son after failed induction c section.

Go for it

Alexkate2468 · 03/08/2017 18:32

I didn't breastfeed dd1 after a vaginal delivery as I just couldn't make it work despite trying for 6 weeks.

Ds was born by section and I managed to feed him. I picked him up myself. The hospital had a crib that attached to my bed. It wasn't easy but once I'd worked out how to pull myself up and manoeuvre without twisting, it was okay. Within a couple of days, I was moving around fairly easily (when taking painkillers) and able to feed my boy with very few problems.
Don't believe all the negativity - prepare yourself mentally for it to be tricky but not impossible. Hope t all goes well x

PandasRock · 03/08/2017 18:33

3x csection here - 2 emergency, one elective. I breastfed all 3 dc, none for less than 18 months.

The only one that was hard for me to establish was dd2 (middle child, second emergency section) but that wasn't due to csection per se, but I was stuck on an old broken bed - wouldn't prop up at all, so I was laid flat - virtually impossible to get up from in the initial hours following surgery, and also the midwives disappeared off with dd2 overnight - 6 hours away from me Angry - because that was easier than answering my constant ringing for help reaching her (due to broken bed - rails were also broken, so they couldn't even tuck her in safely with me).

With dd1 and ds, breastfeeding was fine, and picking them up was also fine - ds was a big baby, but by then I was used to carrying heavy children, so I guess I didn't notice Grin

noblegiraffe · 03/08/2017 18:35

I breastfed after an emcs and an elcs. You can't get out of bed while you have the catheter in, but once that's removed the next day you'll be expected to look after the baby yourself in hospital, nappies, feeding etc. Stay in for two nights if they give you the option, it'll give you a chance to set up breastfeeding properly.

flumpybear · 03/08/2017 18:36

Just see how it goes, after my second section I had a 3.5 year old, clingy and attached to me lots, so was carrying her around in the first few days post section

Rwcovery isn't the same for everyone but I wasn't struggling to pick up either baby and had sections with both .... never really crossed my mind to be honest and I bf fine

Littleraincloud · 03/08/2017 18:37

I had an emergency caesarean under general anaesthetic and my husband gave baby formula for his first feed as when I came around I was wuzzy and scared. I then proceeded to feed him for 15 months without a hitch. My first was a forceps delivery and was much more difficult to get comfy - at least you can sit with a c section wound, a cushion under baby makes it much more comfortable

SweepTheHalls · 03/08/2017 18:38

The auxiliaries passed her to me for 4 days whenever I needed a hand! DD was no. 3, and fed brilliantly from the start. C section didn't affect it at all. Good luck.

WindowsSmindows · 03/08/2017 18:39

You don't need someone to pass you the baby after a section!! They weigh usually 7-9 lbs, you can easily pick them up in one hand!! A section will not prevent you from breast feeding on any way. As someone says above- you'll have to pick up your baby to feed it whichever method you choose, what's the difference between bottle and boob?
People do perpetuate myths about sections.
(Also, you can drive whenever you are ready to. There is no six week rule!!!)

BubbleBed · 03/08/2017 18:39

Namechange, there are several studies out there saying csections can delay milk. Whether it's due to the hormones of labour, delayed feeding due to stitches, lethargic baby from anaesthesia, that's not fully known. But it is even quoted on webpages such as la leche league that it can be a possibility.

I was told it was a myth with DS1, and felt like an absolute shitty failure when my milk still wasn't in when I left the hospital. With DS2 I had a lot more research and support, which really helped.

64PooLane · 03/08/2017 18:39

Another one here who breastfed with no probs after two sections (one emergency and one planned). Really wasn't an issue. I have never actually heard of it being a reason for not breastfeeding.

RainbowCookie · 03/08/2017 18:42

No problems here, in fact the second night I was in hospital, I got up, cleaned a massive runny poo, did a complete outfit change and breastfed all by myself. It was rather painful but as long as you're careful you'll be fine. Newborn babies are quite light!

WunWun · 03/08/2017 18:46

I had to pick DD up in the night at hospital because I rang the bell a few times and noone came and she was crying.

Elllicam · 03/08/2017 18:46

I've had two EMCS, 1 under GA and both with major PPH. Breastfeeding DS3 still at 6 months and fed DS2 until he was 3 (tandemed for 5 months). It was fine. Good luck.

schoolgaterebel · 03/08/2017 18:47

I was breastfeeding an hour after c-section, and up after 24hours. I was sore but fine.

I only found bathing baby difficult, so DH did all the bathing for the first few weeks.

5moreminutes · 03/08/2017 18:47

Bubble my milk came in early with each subsequent baby - you second baby might have been easier simply because it wasn't your first!

Milk does usually/ often come in a day or so later with first babies than with subsequent ones.

kellymom.com/ages/newborn/when-will-my-milk-come-in/

Laniakea · 03/08/2017 18:54

Someone will need to help me 24/7 to pass him to me?

No, once you are out of recovery you just have to get on with it really - there isn't anyone to hand you the baby in hospital! I had my sections at about 9am, the spinal was wearing off by the time I was moved up to the ward and by dinner time the same day they expect you get get up, have a shower & get the catheter removed. Stay on time of your pain relief, ime the second day is worst pain wise so if you could have someone with you for some of that day it would be helpful (I hope that if you are on your own in hospital the MCAs would be more helpful with the baby).

Having a clip on cot in hospital makes it easier to get to the baby than the big ones but I'm not sure that all hospitals have them.

I imagine it is far easier to sit/lie in bed & breastfeed the baby than to have to keep getting up to make bottles?

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