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

[Martha200]

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

Elective c-section with twins,bf both in recovery and continued to bf them for 3 months . I sort of knew what I was doing as I had bf dd1 (vb) and I seem to produce enough milk to feed the whole unit .

What a great story LiegeAdLief

I had an emerg cs after 12 hours of established labour. MW put ds to the breast once I was stitched up and in recovery.

My milk did take a bit longer than most to come in (I don't know if this encouraged my milk to come in, but I put ds to the breast everytime he cried or became unsettled), but I bf for 9 months.

I suffered with nipple thrush due to the routine anti-biots given after a cs, so keep that in mind if you find feeding painful.

Good luck, you can do it x

Hi Martha200 - had em cs and boobs didn't leak at all beforehand, even though dd was 9 days overdue. Fed a lot lying down at first and milk came in on day 4. Had prob with engorgement and couldn't get latch without nipple shield (sounds like you had this too?!). OK so it's not ideal but don't let your previous nightmare worry you - we are still feeding at 21 mo

martha200 I didn't leak before the birth and had elective CS.

I have inverted nipples so have problems with latch but 10 months on the BF is still going strong.

Incidentally with my other DCs I had to wear breast pads for ages. I bought loads before DD was born and didn't need to use them at all.

My firstborn DD was a horrific emergency C-section. Was induced at 7 days overdue, didn't work. Two more pessaries over the course of next seven days. Eventually at 14 days overdue they "found a bed" for me to have drip induction. Laboured through night and nothing then DD HR plummeted and went into emerg. c-section. She was huge baby at 10lbs and very hungry but also sleepy for first few days cos of all drugs, so BF her fine in hospital on colostrum. Got home and lost my mind with exhaustion - had sleep paralysis, the lot. Her appetite kicked in and my milk would just NOT let down as I was so traumatised by c-section (dreamt it was like a rape . Was catastrophically undersupported by MW and HV's as a first time mum and eventually my mum and DH bought bottles and formula in a kind of "save my sanity" intervention. Looking back, I feel angry that HW etc did not help more and carried huge guilt for 2.5 years that DD was not BF for more than 4 days.

Now have 5.5 month DS. He was elective C-section because was also big 10lbs 5ox baby and because of previous complications with DD. I was utterly determined to BF from the get go, and had all my number to call if anything went wrong, and all my pumps etc. Luckily my insurance covered the c-section and was in private hopsital this time round where I somehow felt more able to make demands. DS was on breast within 45 mins of birth, was hilarious bf-ing whilst BP cuff inflated and deflated and DH had to temporarily take his weight every 60 secs, but I was so ecstatic I was doing it. Milk came in whilst still in hopstial on day 3, hurrah! Wiser this time, and totally unstressed, when I found him struggling to suck and my boobs engorging I held his head fast and would not let him off until I felt the milk flowing. DH was there going "go on son!" My stomach was doing somersaults but eventually DS relaxed into the feed and I was proud as punch. DS had low blood sugar because of size and suspected gest diabetes on my part ? So they insisted topping him up with formula after each feed, but he always seemed to bring this back up and much preferred my milk It didn't seem to affect him wanting to BF once I got home.

Have successfully BF since then and am just putting onto bottle now as returning to work soon. Wasn't easy with a toddler running around the place and demanding attention, but advice is have drink, snack and favourite TV programme lined up before you start the feed and you should get through relatively uninterrupted! Good luck- I did it and so can you.

I had an elective section because of polyhydramnios at 39 weeks and fed successfully from the off. Well my latch was rubbish but after a session with the bf support team, I fed for 6 months and never had any supply problems.

He was put on my breast immediately after he was born (well after they'd put me back together LOL) and my milk came in the next day. I'd say the only problem with the anaesthetic for me was that his aim wasn't great and I was so drugged up I didn't realise and I had huge love bites all over my boobs the next morning.

elective section, trying to STOP ds bfing has been the problem (due to go back to work) not getting him to start! he latched on in delivery suite and never looked back.
like you didnt have leaky boobs beforehand so wondered if there would be any milk but it came in with a vengeance bang on time.
feeding was painful at the beginnning but that was just inexperience/ not getting a good latch i think nothing to do with section. dont listen to any horrid midwives like the one who said i would have trouble bfing because of the scar and should give him formula!! you just need to arrange their feet so not kicking you in the scar (or put a cushion there. not sure when your due date was, you are probably by now feeding 400 times a day and wondering what all the fuss was about, but hope this reassures others

hi, haven't read all the posts but I'm still exclusively b/f dd 5 mths after a c-section . good luck