How easy is it to breast feed after a c section? Curious

mumfor1standmaybe2ndtime · 2008-04-11T21:20:48+00:00

I had a em c section with ds and didn't feed him until day 2 as I was just too weak. Dh fed him with a bottle (formula) for his first feed and I had to watch midwives feed him for 1st night. We are ttc number 2 and I think I would like to insist on breast feeding for number 2, how easy is it to ask for help?

cyanarasamba · 11/04/2008 22:24

DS was a big boy and liked to kick me in my wound as I lay on the bed trying to feed him(ouch) - make sure you keep a pillow or two in the way. Actually my milk didn't come in for 5 days so shouldn't have tried so till then - think that was due to the c-section.

If you are determined to breastfeed you should get the help you need - ask if the postnatal ward has a breastfeeding counsellor available.

whomovedmychocolate · 11/04/2008 22:26

Well I had an em cs and fed DD after an hour but I did need help to get started and just kept hassling the midwives each time to help me put her on. Eventually I got it but you do have to nag.

Are you planning another section? It may be easier if you are having a VBAC because you won't be recovering from surgery too.

Did you ever breastfeed your DS?

cyanarasamba · 11/04/2008 22:26

I just stopped BF after 13 months BTW - so in answer to you OP it it perfectly possible!

dewmeadow · 11/04/2008 22:27

DS1, I had em CS, and breastfed him - because of long labour and I was alos a bit traumatised I think, and i was v sore, it was a bit painful adn awkward, but manangeable. My hospital, though, was a small country hospital where you got lots of support.

DD2 was also CS, though not long labour, and wasnt as bad. I recovered much quicker and moved about quicker.

I found the nurses v helpful and supportive.

Gingerbear · 11/04/2008 22:28

I have had 2 c-sections and fed both babies from the start. Ask for baby to be put to the breast as soon as you come round from theatre. Last time, I was wheeled back to the post-natal ward lying on my side with DS suckling lying next to me whilst I was still coming round.

Gingerbear · 11/04/2008 22:30

Also, post natally, the midwives were brilliant - they brought DS to me if I couldn't move (catheter, IV etc) for the first 24 hours.

Also, I found the recovery after 2nd section much easier to cope with.

Original poster

mumfor1standmaybe2ndtime · 11/04/2008 22:52

Good to see some good experiences, especially you gingerbear. I didn't breast feed ds, I think I was too traumatised to think about it all, just full of drugs and stress! He was a big baby and undiagnosed as breech.
I suppose I just want to feel more of a bond next time round as I feel that I lost out somehow. I didn't feed ds until day 2/3 I don't think, I honestly don't remember. Dh would feed during the day and had to watch midwives do it on my first night (I was in a recovery room on my own).
I am thinking that I wanted an elective just so that I knew what was happening on the day, it has taken me 3 years to even start talking about the labour I had properly, it is still raw sometimes.

OP posts:

lackaDAISYcal · 11/04/2008 23:08

I've had am em section (epidural) and an elective and had skin to skin contact and a first breast feed in the recovery room before going up to the ward. My first time I didn't get a lot of help (MWs stuffing boob in baby's mouth then going off), but second time I had fantastic postnatal care and mws who although busy were very determined to help everyone they could get BFing off to the best start. It's not surprising that I gave up after 6 weeks with DC1, but am still feeding DC2 10 months in!

I never had any problems with positioning either, but the rugby ball hold is good if you want to keep the baby away from your tummy, but still close.

The main problem is getting in and out of bed to get to the baby in the first 24 hours or so, as the MWs can't always come immediately you ring the buzzer. and as someone else said, make sure they know that you want to BF and ask to see a BF counsellor if they have one.
Good Luck xx

Original poster

mumfor1standmaybe2ndtime · 11/04/2008 23:15

Thanks lackaDAISYcal, so nice to hear some encouragement, sounds like you had much better care 2nd time around, so glad for you.
I would just like to give it a try I guess. I think I felt like things were so 'out of my control' and I want to be more in control!
Makes me feel sad when I remember on the 1st night ds was crying and I couldn't physically reach him to feed him and had to watch a young girl who isn't his mother feeding him.
I didn't have any milk come in at all, is this normal for c section?

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chipmonkey · 11/04/2008 23:21

On ds1 I had to make sure I had a cushion in front of my scar to stop him kicking at it. On ds2 I was able to walk around the ward with ds2 latched on!

Original poster

mumfor1standmaybe2ndtime · 11/04/2008 23:23

Will be investing in a good cushion then! Thanks for all the kind advice

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Gingerbear · 11/04/2008 23:25

Milk takes 2/3 days to come in - no matter how you deliver. look on kellymom.com for brilliant support and advice.

Gingerbear · 11/04/2008 23:27

DS screamed the place down for the first day - colostrum comes first, then the milk. even 1oz of cpolostrum will be enough to fill a tiny tum, so persevere - the first couple of days can be hard, but with good Midwives, you will get through it.

honey2theb · 11/04/2008 23:27

I had an emergency c section with dd, and fed her straight away with no probs at all and still going strong at 7 months ( im very proud of myself lol)
but then again i actually quite enjoyed the whole expeience of getting her out ( does it count as giving birth if you didnt really?!)

good luck to you!! xxx

honey2theb · 11/04/2008 23:27

I had an emergency c section with dd, and fed her straight away with no probs at all and still going strong at 7 months ( im very proud of myself lol)
but then again i actually quite enjoyed the whole expeience of getting her out ( does it count as giving birth if you didnt really?!)

good luck to you!! xxx

lackaDAISYcal · 11/04/2008 23:31

I was told that as i was having an elective my milk might be slower to come in. DD had other ideas though and latched really well and had my milk flowing well by the evening of day2. I know from reading things like kellymom that the delayed milk thing is a bit of an old wives tale.

I did loads of research about it before DD was born as well so I was better informed than I had been first time around. And I'd found MN as well, which made a huge difference.

If you do think about a VBAC rather than elective though, there are also lots of women who have been through it on here, and lots of support and information. It's largely due to this that I'm hoping to have a natural birth for my No3 due in November

lots of links on page 2 of this thread

Original poster

mumfor1standmaybe2ndtime · 11/04/2008 23:35

Thanks so much everyone, guess I could change my mind about the birth, listen to me I am still ttc and already trying to be in control lol!
Just been thinking about things in my little head really.
Wish I had found mumsnet when I had ds!

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bobsmum · 11/04/2008 23:38

Agree with those who've mentioned the importance of cushions!! I had one of those big u-shaped bean bag cushions which took all of ds' weight rather than my non-existent tummy muscles having to lift. He was only 8lb8oz though so I guess I could have had it a lot worse!

I needed help to lift ds out of the cot at the side of the bed, so I had to buzz for that. But both m/w and HCAs were fine about that.

One m/w showed me how to feed lying on one side which was a huge relief!

Fed ds for almost 18 months, but we did take 5/6 weeks to get it totally sussed. Well worth it - he put on a pound a week for a while!

I then had a VBAC with dd and it was a breeze in comparison - no problems lifting her or getting comfy.

Monkeybird · 11/04/2008 23:38

I've had 3 c sections, 2 emergency, 1 elective ( the last) and BF all 3 babies (still BF number 3 at 8 months)

It was hardish each time but has got easier as I knew what to do. First was GA and the MWs were great - latched him on as I came round from anaesthetic.

2nd was spinal and latched him on myself in recovery room with help of DH.

3rd time round (elective) I insisted on being first to hold my baby after the obstetrician and they agreed. He came to me in theatre and stayed with me (they had to gently prise him away to rub him down and weigh him after a while!)

I had 48 hours of non stop cluster feeding each time but milk on day 3. You should still feed straight away though to get the colostrum and to encourage the milk supply

Can be painful but all the other advice is good. i'd say get extra help at home, esp with other kids around...

KristinaM · 11/04/2008 23:39

I had ds2 by em cs and he fed like a dream....he was feeding in recovery. in fct i cant get him to stop 2 years later............

i found the MW were very reluctant to hand him to me and kept arguing that " bf babies don't need fed for 24 hours" so i had to be quite insistent. which is hard under the circumstances

this was only a problem after my Dh went home, 3-4 hours after theatre. i went home the next day as i found them so unhelpful

sorry to tell you a bad story...i don't want to put you off, just to prepare you that you might have to be a bit assertive in asking for help

Original poster

mumfor1standmaybe2ndtime · 11/04/2008 23:50

KristinaM, you did well to go home so soon really! Very well infact! It can be tough in hospital. I wanted to go home every second I was in there. (3 days)
Lots of different stories of being fed instantly and fed later. Always thought breastfeeding was instant (living in cuckoo land obviously as I know nothing/zero on the subject!)
Monkeybird, wow, 3 sections. Mine was a spinal.
bobsmums, ds was 9lb12, not chubby just very long. He has just turned 3 but in age 4-5 clothes already! He may be a basketball champ or a goalie.

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KristinaM · 12/04/2008 00:03

its not that I'm brave. i just really REALlY hate being a patient. having to wait hours for water or painkillers because they are busy. tiny amounts of crap food.hospital infections. bleeding copiously over public shower.sitting paralysed in a pool of blood in front of other women's partners . the noise & the heat no thank you

at home have great food & drink 24 hours a day, better control of pain, privacy of own en suite, Dh to change baby and pass for feeding, other kids around, TV and mags, can sleep when you want...whats not to like????????

BTW I got given GREAT drugs to go home with. i was in far less pain after Cs than with the previous instrumental delivery

go home if you have plenty help. and drugs. did i mention the drugs??

Monkeybird · 12/04/2008 00:06

I say go home early too. Get up as soon as the anaesthetic has worn off. 8 hours I think. Walk even if you have to carry your wee bag!

Insist they remove catheter as soon as poss. Do everything to get a discharge note!

Then crash and burn somewhere quiet at home...

But you're a long way off and you want a VBAC so ignore us! You can do it.

Klaw · 12/04/2008 00:16

Bf my emCS baby till fully weaned, used a v shaped cushion while wound healed.

Bf my VBAC baby till fully weaned, used same V shaped cushion in early stages.

Milk may take a little longer to come in after a section but there's no other differences and don't let anyone tell you you can't feed your own baby after a section. Extra suupport is all that may be needed, there are national support lines and local support groups, there are now also bf peer supporters in many hospitals.

As for next birth make use of Sheila Kitzinger's Birth Crisis or Birth Trauma Association

EachPeachPearMum · 12/04/2008 01:21

I had emcs and bf until dd was 17mo.
She fed 40mins after birth, in the recovery room.