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Infant feeding

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

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Original poster

Breast crawl after c-section?

21 replies

theUrbanDevil · 15/10/2007 09:31

my bf is due her 3rd dc in November, but she is having an elective section as she had sections with both her other dc. she ff-ed both her other kids, but wants to try bf-ing with this one. knowing the poor bf-ing advice available at the hospital she's going into i've been reesearching breast crawls and natural latching, as i'm worried she's going to be a bit spaced out after a section, and more inclined to go for a bottle as it's what she knows. how does a breast crawl work after a section? if you can't do a breast crawl, what are the other options?

TIA

OP posts:

DaisyWhoooo · 15/10/2007 09:34

I think I'd be worried about little legs using a sore tummy for leverage when scooting around looking for the breast. I guess it will depend a bit on how long the baby is, how sore she is etc.

What about feeding lying down? I found this very helpful immediately after a section as I didn't need to sit up or worry about pillows and things. Lots of skin to skin will help either way. Maybe worth phoning a breast feeding counsellor before the birth to discuss it?

Lulumama · 15/10/2007 09:36

skin to skin, immediately. as soon as baby is delivered and is ok, skin to skin as if he wsa born vaginally...would be difficutl to do the breast crawl as for around 40 - 60 mins after birth , she will still be being operated on.

JackOLANTERNstini · 15/10/2007 09:39

I fed dd a lot lying down after my CS too, (was surpised how it was ok for me to lay on my side but it was fine!) just popped open her babygro at night for extra skin to skin

Original poster

theUrbanDevil · 15/10/2007 10:15

she's been told she can't have skin to skin straight after her section?

OP posts:

dal21 · 15/10/2007 10:35

I had skin to skin after my section and my LO was wriggling all over the place trying to find my breast...i was into recovery quite quickly and the midwife moved me onto my side and lay DS down next to me where he proceeded to suck for 45 mins! After that initial feed though - it took a good few days for DS to begin to latch on again for any length of time - so despite the initial feed in recovery - it took a lot of perseverance in the following days.
Ask your friend to get assistance with Bfeeding when in recovery and prepare her that despite having a good feed when in recovery - it may not come together for her immediately. But to persevere and not lose heart as it does all come together eventually.

Lulumama · 15/10/2007 14:10

yes, of course she can

with c.s birth,there is a greater risk of problems with baby starting to breath, as they have not had the journey down the birth canal to squeeze the fluid out of their lungs... however, once baby has had Apgars, been checked over, which should not take long, Apgars done at 1 min and 5 mins post birth, and all is well, no reason at all baby cannot be returned to mum for skin to skin, and popped under her nightie and/ or towel...

ChubbyScotsBurd · 16/10/2007 09:10

If this is helpful, I talked to the MW on the day of my section to explain that I wanted skin-to-skin. She said that space was possibly a problem while still in theatre (I'm short and have big boobs!) but at the very least she'd get him onto my chest in recovery. The whole op took under 30 mins, he was on my chest within 30 mins of birth and travelled back to the ward rooting all the way, then was latched on (with help) less than 60 mins after birth. Loads of help between then and discharge 2 days later, but mainly because I was sore from the surgery. We haven't really looked back and I do feel that the whole process was assisted by the early skin-to-skin, so it is possible without instant skin contact on birth. But worth being assertive with the MW on the day.

LilBloodRedWantsGore · 16/10/2007 09:14

TBH - there wasn't much room for skin-to-skin, what with the screen and wires and stuff, but DH had skin-to-skin and I had DD on me within 40 minutes

lomondgal · 16/10/2007 09:22

that she was told she can't have skin to skin! I had a section 17 weeks ago and was encouraged to have skin to skin as soon as I was out of theatre. I was feeling very sick in theatre and after a quick cuddle had to hand her to dp to be sick!

They even questioned me when I got to the ward who had stopped the skin to skin was it me of staff? (it was me!) As they are meant to encourage it for as long as possible and not even allowed to interrupt for weighing etc.

Tell your friend to insist upon it if this is what she wants, she will still be numb so should not be in any pain for a while and if anything it is just a bit awkward to get into a comfy position. Just ask for help with this.

lomondgal · 16/10/2007 09:24

It wouldn't have been very easy in theatre with the screen and i was numb up to my breasts anyway, wouldn't have felt very safe having her on me for too long.

phdlife · 16/10/2007 09:29

Same as what LilRed said - there wasn't much room, but they put ds on me between breast and shoulder (I'm far-sighted so I couldn't actually see him at all!) - pretty sure we were out of theatre very quickly and I spent the entire day (and night) with him lying on my chest.

I never heard of a breast crawl and I don't remember any specifics but there are photos of ds lying on my tummy feeding when we were in recovery. Never even occurred to me that anything to do with my section might get in the way of bfing etc.

I had excellent painkillers though (so much so that 12hrs after surgery I actually refused to take any more ).

Urban, what if you got hold of local LLL leader or NCT counsellor, explained sitch, and got them to visit your friend the day after birth?

GogoTheSmall · 16/10/2007 09:36

DD and I had skin to skin in recovery after my emergency CS - about 30 mins or so after DD's birth. We were left alone for a bit (dh had gone to see his parents) but I wasn't even thinking about feeding at that point, I was so spaced out.

Then to my surprise DD wriggled up, latched herself on all by herself and fed for a bit, and when she came off she looked up at me with this wonderful look of contentment on her squished-up little face... I think it's the most precious moment of my whole life!... and so totally unexpected at the time...

Original poster

theUrbanDevil · 16/10/2007 10:02

aww Gogo, you've got me all teary now! watery i really regret not having skin to skin, it was specified in my birth plan but everyone pretty much ignored that, and by the time i got to hold ds he was washed and dressed so that's the sort of attitude she'll be dealing with.

good idea about getting a bf-ing counsellor to go and see her the day after the birth, i'll ask her what she thinks about it. the trouble is, if it's too difficult, she won't bother - she knows how to ff, and she'll just do that, so i'd like to give her the best start i can!

unfortunately her dp won't be with her, as he's a total arse and won't be having his name on the birth certificate either, she's having a friend with her in theatre. i would be with her, but i'm looking after her other kids!!

OP posts:

JackOLANTERNstini · 16/10/2007 10:18

Oh Gogo what a lovely story - brightened my day (& mad me cry too).
Urban - hope there is enough encouragement on here for your bf and she gets the skin to skin she wants

FioFio · 16/10/2007 10:39

This reply has been deleted

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FioFio · 16/10/2007 10:42

This reply has been deleted

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earthmummy · 16/10/2007 16:03

Mum's have a right to have skin-to-skin in theatre, as it takes longer to suture then it is even more important to commence skin-to-skin in theatre.

Skin-to-skin helps to regulate a baby's heart rate, so as long as baby does not need any resuscitation (and mum feels up to it) then it is the best place for the baby to be.

Iv'e seen many babies come round after the section during skin-to-skin, become lovely and pink, find the breast and have a yummy feed.

If mum does not feel up to skin-to-skin then the birth partner may enjoy snuggling in with baby.

This practice is the norm in the unit where I work and all theatre staff including the anaesthetists welcome it.

jabuti · 16/10/2007 16:11

it is a lovely story gogo!

i had a c section and my DD was put on my breast when we were in the recovery room, all under 1 hour after she was born. my nice midwife propped a pillow on my side, put DD on it and off she went sucking away! i didnt ever have any problems bf her, she is now 12 weeks old.

now, who will stop your friend from opening her gown to breastfeed her little one?

kiskidee · 16/10/2007 20:49

this ought to be helpful to know later on before stitches are gone.

in combination with www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_1x5UNet_Q&mode=related&search= esp. since dp is not around and she will need as much sleep as possible right from the start. good news is, co-sleeping promotes good sleeping as well as bfing. good luck to your mate.

blueshoes · 16/10/2007 21:44

I had skin-to-skin in theatre, whilst they were stitching me up. Staff just checked ds' apgars, cleaned him up a little, then put him on. I think he latched on right away.

Still bf-ing ds more than a year later.

Meglet · 19/10/2007 16:47

this is an enlightening thread. I wasn't helped to BF until 4 hours after an emergency c-section last year. I wonder if that is why DS hated it for 3 weeks -I expressed and ff in that time. I will insist on skin to skin in the operating theatre next time .

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