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Infant feeding

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

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Original poster

Want to hear successful stories of breastfeeding after a C section, please.

58 replies

Martha200 · 04/12/2007 15:52

My first was an emergency section, and beat myself up like hell when deciding to go to formula though stuck as best as I could with breastfeeding initially, though things went pear shaped as my DS ended up with jaundice and was a spit away from needing a blood transfusion in hospital, his nipple shield fetish won over me in the end as he needed to put the weight back on rather than lose it

Anyway, this time around I am having a planned section and really want another stab at breastfeeding. I am hoping that because it wont be an emergency at least I wont be so dog tired as well, and that maybe things might work (well if things don't repeat themselves) so what I would love to hear are positive stories about breastfeeding after a section. I realise it can be a bit more difficult because of the anesthetic.. but please, please share some stories for me to think of

OP posts:

3andnomore · 04/12/2007 15:59

I have breastfed all my children, and with my last child I did have an emergency section...and it did took longer for my milk to come in, but, I suppose, I was lucky to know what I was doing, in a way, so, whenever he was stirring or looked like he might be responding if put on the breast, that is what I did....earned me lots of stupid comments from uninformed midwifes, along the lines...are you feeding again, was he unsettled again, etc....but I just told them that I was trying to encourage my milk to come in, and that I knew that the best way to achieve that was to put the little one on as much as possible....
He was the one I fed for the longest in the end....got up to 13 month with him
Just make sure you get lots and lots of skin to skin and get that little one on whenever you can....don't wait till the Baby cries, as then they can be fractious and often are unable to latch on....whenever your little one stirrs, just try to latch the Bubba on

Twiglett · 04/12/2007 16:01

2 elective sections

both children latched on in recovery suite

never had an issue

positive enough?

mistlethrush · 04/12/2007 16:01

Had emergency section 34 hours in as ds was not making an appearance (forceps trial - got one on and gave up - apparently lots of room round head so I'd been pushing oK but ds got stuck as rather large). Despite length of ordeal or entry into world, he had a 20min feed within first 2 hrs (in recovery room).

I found a feeding cushion (sort of C shaped that you wrap round yourself) really good. I also found that the rugby ball position was the most comfortable to start with to keep heavy ds off scar area...

Kept feeding to 22mo - stopped then through choice (only feeding 2x per day then anyway).

Good luck!

FCH · 04/12/2007 16:06

I had an em cs 3 weeks ago - baby latched on in recovery suite and we are going strong at the moment despite a bout of nasty mastitis. He is brilliant feeder. We did lots of skin to skin and are just having a brilliant experience!!

ProfYaffle · 04/12/2007 16:09

I've had one emergency and one planned section, no probs bf either time, infact dd2 was in NICU for a few hours but that didn't get in the way of her voracious appetite, she guzzled for England when she was let out

5goldrings4MONKEYBIRDs · 04/12/2007 16:12

Yup, Martha. 3 C-sections, BF after all of them (though had latch/positioning probs with all, gradually getting less difficult with each)

First two were 'emergency' sections but managed to feed (even straight after waking up from general anaesthetic in recovery room after no.1- I just asked the midwives to help me)

2nd CS much better, by epidural. Fed immediately in recovery room again and continued to do so for 9 months.

3rd (now 3 months old) the best yet. this was a planned section so I discussed what I wanted at length with my MW and with the booking in people when I went in. Had a FANTASTIC anaesthetist - who really are in charge, the obs just do the cutting/pulling! She was quite junior but consulted with her senior when I said I wanted to be first to hold my baby, that I wanted immediate skin to skin and didn't want baby washed, aspirated etc... Both of them thought this was a fantastic idea and discussed with me while doing the epidural why couldn't they do this more often etc.. I'd really recommend it cos this time round the very earthy experience of holding my newborn first (not a husband, MW or O/G) was brilliant for bonding etc...

And got him undressed again myself (with help of DH) once the MWs had dressed him and tucked him under my gown in the recovery room. Left his hat on though! This time round I would have bitten to death anyone who suggested I wasn't in charge, having read up on what is good for mums/babies/BF

He latched on straight away and sucked himself to sleep for an hour or so. they just left me to it quietly for a couple of hours while the drip of whatever it was did its stuff.

So that's chapter one of best things to do after CS. I'll post again if you need more tips for at home etc...

lucy5 · 04/12/2007 16:14

I had problems after an emergency section and ds ended up being mixed fed. He still is a year down the line. I didn't know that it could take longer for your milk to come in, I was put under a lot of pressure and had no breastfeeding support. I had previously ,successfully and exclusively breastfed dd for 17 months

On a more positive note, you do know, so forewarned is forearmed. Best of luck!

dal21 · 04/12/2007 16:16

had elective section and milk came in night of day 2. no problems establishing bfeeding and even if your bub needs to gain weight there is no reason that you cannot bfeed.

DS was borderline special care due to his weight and couldnt afford to let him lose any of his birth weight. He also didnt have the energy to suck long at the breast - so until milk came in had to top up with formula.

Would always start on breast. then would manually express colustrum and was give to him with syringe. finally topped up with formula. on day three formula was replaced with ebm and by day 5 he hadnt lost any weight and was bfeeding with no problems.

bubs birthweight made my situation more complex, c section had no impact whatsoever.

FioFio · 04/12/2007 16:18

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FioFio · 04/12/2007 16:19

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crace · 04/12/2007 16:20

Very positive experience bfing after an emergency csection, in fact I found it a lot easier than bottle feeding as she was right there with me and no need to get up and prepare the bottles!

I am having another baby in May and it will be a planned c-section but I have great confidence that it will go just as well.

Best of luck

MrsMar · 04/12/2007 16:25

Hi Martha... I had a planned cs for breech presentation 12 weeks ago and I've exclusively bf since then. My ds is my first baby so I didn't really have a clue, and they tried to show me latching on when I was flat on my back in recovery I also got no skin to skin contact at all... double . Having said that I've managed fine. I did have a blip at around 2 weeks but that was more to do with me than anything, I thought I was feeding him too long so reduced my feeding time down, so my milk supply dwindled to almost nothing. However I did get it back again with lots of skin to skin time and plenty of feeding. I also expressed to get my supply up too. I had no problems with my scar... I used a v shaped cushion on my lap. I did have a small infection in my scar which meant 5 days of antibs, which then caused me and ds to get thrush, but luckily the symptoms in me were minimal, and ds only had a tiny bit in his mouth, it was mostly on his bottom.

My milk came in 2 and a half days after the cs, so not really a big delay, and since my initial wobble it's been fine. Just make sure you get some skin to skin time early on, not easy I know when you're in theatre and you can't easily hold the baby, but with hindsight I could have easily had some skin to skin time with him once I was back on the ward, as I had more control of my arms, but I forgot. New inexperienced mother I guess!!! Good luck, I'm sure you'll be fine. Oh and I can't say anything about an emergency cs, but my elective was very chilled, and not at all frightening!

ernest · 04/12/2007 16:26

also emergency section and bf ds straight away, no problems, milk didn't take any longer to come in either. good luck

MrsMar · 04/12/2007 16:28

oh and i would echo top tip about rugby ball hold... i did and still do feed that way most of the time.... baby's feet are nice and far away from your scar!

pendulum · 04/12/2007 16:33

I've had 2 sections and BFed both mine.

DD1- elective for breech. Went into SCBU for 48 hrs and only let out on condition that I topped her up with formula (severe jaundice). Managed to ditch the formula and exclusively bf for 3 months (didn't enjoy it much, but that's another story!)

DD2- emergency after failed VBAC, then I had a general anaesth. in the delivery room because of a surgical cock-up . DH waved aside MW brandishing bottle and latched DD2 onto me while I was still unconscious in recovery. 9 weeks later, we're doing great (and enjoying it this time!)

Would second recommendation for c-pillow, I found this essential. Also beware, some of the older-school MWs might try to persuade you to top up before your milk comes in, but I don't think it's necessary if you can cope with frequent;y putting baby yo breast for colostrum & to stimulate milk.

chibi · 04/12/2007 16:39

I bf after an emergency cs (am still bf 6 months later in fact). I put dd to the breast as soon as I was on the ward, and just kept offering it to her. I was lucky in that she seeemed to have no troubles in wanting to feed iyswim.

I found feeding lying down on my side easiest, once they had removed the leg pressure cuff thingies. My milk came in 2 days after the birth I think, certainly no later.

The thing that helped the most was the help + support I got from the midwives and nurses in helping to latch on dd. I was also quite unafraid to ask for help, as often as I needed it. Easier said than done, you can often feel like you are being a PITA but remember they are there to help. I hope this helps.

jacobandlysetteandabump · 04/12/2007 16:47

had emergency section at 32 weeks. ds was in scbu for 3 weeks and was tube fed ebm pretty much exclusively after 3 days, until 34 weeks when the sucking reflex happens. when he was lazy to latch on (why would he want to try when he gets fed through a tube with no effort by him!) a wonderful nurse said "right last feed through the tube and then your bfing!". and he did. till 6.5 months. he was very hungry and i did mix feed for a while but that was later on and nothing to do with the section.

this bump will probably exit at around the same time under the same circumstances and I'm intending on bfing as long and as much as possible!

hope this is positive for you

VictorianSqualor · 04/12/2007 16:51

I had an el cs with DS and hadn't even heard it would/could be harder to bf after a cs tbh.
I bf him for the first time about half an hour after he was born, well he tried, he wasn't really hungry.

The second day I couldn't get him to feed and was worried and almost gave him a bottle but mentioned it to the mw who said he was probably just tired and not to worry, when he cried for food she helped me latch him on and it was absolutely wonderful

I didn't have any problems with feeding him until he was about 6months when I got mastitis and then 8months when he bit me LOTS!!

I did find it easiest to feed him laying down, that's the way we had skin-to-skin in the recovery suite and the way I was helped to latch him on with the mw.

I did have an em cs with DD and found it impossible to feed but that was more because she was born at 32wks and I couldn't get the hang of expressing plus she couldn't physically try herself til she was about 3weeks old.

I think if you're aware that there will be positions you're more comfortable in and that although milk may take a few days to come in, baby is not likely to need a feed for a few days then you'll be fine. Just try to get as much skin-to-skin as possible and don't let the mw's/nurses anywhere near your baby with a bottle!(when I came up from theatre a nurse was trying her hardest to convince me to let her give DS a bottle)

Piggy · 04/12/2007 16:52

I had em section with ds1. He latched on almost straight away - no problems. Go for it.

ILikeToMoveItMoveIt · 04/12/2007 16:55

I had an emergency cs and bf ds in the recovery room. I fed him everytime he stirred/cried/woke to get my milk going and feeding established.

From what I remember my milk came in on day 3 or 4. It can be delayed in cs mums as the body hasn't gone through the whole birth process so takes time to catch up.

You are more at risk of nipple thrush due to routine anti-biots given after surgery, so keep that in mind.

Oh and rugby ball position was great at first. And get a v or c shaped pillow for feeding, they are a godsend!

MarsSelectionBoxLady · 04/12/2007 16:59

Lots of success stories for you. Sure there are loads and loads on here.

Highlander · 04/12/2007 17:07

it's nae bother. Your DH will hold the new baby for the 30 mins or so that you're stitched up and transferred to the recovery area. You and baby are stripped, covered in snuggly balnkies and off you go for a 4 hour skin-to-skin/BFing session

Just lie back and chill

MarsSelectionBoxLady · 04/12/2007 17:09

Don't know if it's been mentioned by feed lyinng down at the beginning. More comfy.

ShowOfHands · 04/12/2007 17:17

I had an emergency cs after a 24hr labour, episiotomy, 3 failed ventouse attempts and a very stuck baby.

DD was very sleepy at first, jaundiced and not at all interested in feeding. She was born at 10pm on the Thursday and didn't latch on until after lunch on the Friday. I did give her some expressed colostrum in a medicine measurer on the Friday morning though as I was worried she had not had anything and they were threatening formula. I was reassured that it was alright for her to wait this long by my community midwife who had nipped in on her day off to say hello and she assured me it wouldn't affect her or my ability to feed. A very lovely lady in the hospital (not staff, they were too busy to help) showed me how to do the clutch/rugby hold which made all the difference. Up until that point I was trying to feed lying down with no success. In the first weeks I fed, fed, fed, fed, fed with lots of skin to skin and cuddles. I offered more than was probably necessary but wanted to establish feeding and encourage my supply. My milk came in with a vengeance after a few days and we have never looked back. DD was exclusively bf until 27 weeks and is still bf on demand now at 30 weeks with some solids here and there in the past few weeks.

I have had a very happy bf experience, not at all inhibited by the em cs.

Good luck to you.

scrummyfairyontopofthetree · 04/12/2007 17:18

Had two c sections - bf no problem.

Lying down - no problem
Ruby ball position - no problem
Cushion on knee sitting down - no problem

You will sail through.

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