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

[mumfor1standmaybe2ndtime]

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?

Was in a similar sort of situation as you, ds1 ESection and eventually ff due to complications and no support,
ds2 elective section born in Jan '08 and at 12 wks bfeeding going well (once over the sore nipples/poor attachment at the beginning!!)
Go for lots of skin to skin when you can, and don't worry about baby being on breast loads, stimulation helps your milk.

If elective.. I'd recommend trying to book your own room if possible, it really helped me I think with bfeeding in focussing on me and baby rather than worrying about other mothers and babies and us disturbing them.. (I had a howler who slept very little unless constantly in my arms!!)

It can be done! I breastfed my dd after an emergency section + 7 litre PPH - first feed was 7 hours after delivery when a wonderful midwife smuggled her out of SCBU and brought her to see me in ITU. Watching my little girl latch on, snuggle up to me and feed made everything worthwhile - and reassured me that she was going to be alright too. After that they just kept bringing her to see me when she needed feeding over the next couple of days, until we were both moved back to the postnatal ward.
I think you just have to be very firm about what you want - I really wanted to breastfeed, and was asking about expressing milk whilst still on the operating table and haemorrhaging - they must have thought I was mad!
good luck!

I had an elective c-section coz of a plcenta previa, and before theater the nurse/midwife asked what I wanted to do about bf - I asked for the baby to breast as soon as poss, which was in recovery.

DS chewed my nipple a bit, as I was a bit bewildered so am now dealing with blooming sore nips, but we made our wishes clear soon as we could.

We were lucky to have great midwife care, and they all helped us to get started with feeding from finding a comfortable position to latching, to encouraging a sleepy bub to feed. I found lying on side best when in hospital and bf, and the midwives came and gave me our baby when I hit the call button (whenever he cried!).

A week on, and the v shape pillow from mothercare is working well, and DH helps with passing me bubs & I'm also also walking around with him attached.

I wouldn't be afraid to ask for help, and get your DH to be your spokesperson too. My n my DH went to hypnobirthing classes prior to birth, and although we didn't get our natural birth, it gave us huge confidence in ensuring we both felt really confident asking for what we wanted throughout the whole process. Also helped me especially to stay calm.

I think if I managed it after Tink was born, anyone can. She was a natural labour at 31 weeks, because she was footling and I was progressing too fast, they had to give me a general and section FAST.

It took 5 hours before we were both well enough for my bed to be pushed past her incubator. From birth she was NG fed formula and it took me a long time (2 weeks) to overtake her supply enough for them to stop the formula. I gave her one feed a day from 1 week to 15 days, day 16 she had 2 feeds and day 17 we were on transition ward. The ward wanted me to do every other feed, but Tink cried after an NG feed until she was put to breast.

She's 21 months next week and we're still feeding without a problem.

With work any mother and child couple can breastfeed, sometimes you have to be strict with the hospital so that they support you and don't mess it up for you with bottles and dummies. In Spain babies are left unsupplemented for 48 hours, there is no reason why your baby should be given a feed if you are not there from the start.

I've had two ECS, the second time, DD was put on my breast an hour after she was born, whilst I was in the recovery room. I believe this made a huge difference to her and my breastfeeding experience. With DS they didn't do this and we had a terrible time and I gave up after 9 wks.

Both times I didn't have too much trouble feeding in hospital, my milk took about 5 days to come in each time and I tried both the bed (sitting and lying down) and the upright chair to feed and used plenty of pillows for propping me and baby up. Both time we had formula topups but in the case of DD (no. 2) I think was unnecessary.

I b/fed in recovery, with help from a midwife moving baby and boob to where they needed to be! I b/fed for 18 months after that, I dont think I would have found it any different if I'd had a natural delivery.

KristinaM, you were describing my experience in hospital to a tee! Lol. I kept asking to leave but they wouldn't let me as my blood pressure had to be monitored (even though they barely checked it). I think if I did have another c section I would def look to leave earlier, as you said much better care from loved ones and much more comfortable (and lots more rest!)
I have been in touch with the birth trauma association and found them very useful.
Thanks everyone

Sorry, I haven'tread all replies, so I apologise if I'm repeating, but I wanted to say strongly that bf after a section really doesn't have to be a problem. I had a horrible traumatic birth experience with DD1 and ended up with an em cs after 2 horrendous days of labour. Luckily my hospital were great re bf. As soon as I was out of theatre they helped me to hold DD1 skin to skin and start feeding immediately (well - it was about 40 mins after the op, but as soon as you could expect after a section). I was lucky for all the support as i had never really thought about what things would be like after a section or how I'd manage feeding so with out the unquestioning immediacy of the midwives I don't know if I'd have got off to such a good start, especially as I was so knacked and destroyed after the birth. It had never crossed my mind that a section would be a hindrace or make feeding difficult and I think that helped as I just assumed I'd be fine - and I was. I recovered well and went home after 2 nights in hospital. My milk came in v quickly - by day 2 I was exploding, so I don't think having a section effects that.

With DD2 I had a planned section and it was wonderful, so different and so easy. Again I was feeding within about 40 mins of the birth, but this time I knew what I was doing and it was a breeze.

If you do have another section make sure you speak to the theatre team and midwives etc in advance and insist you want support and skin to skin contact to start feeding as soon as possible after the birth.

Re feeding positions, in the first couple of days I found either lying on my side in bed with DD next to me or sitting up in bed with two pillows across my lap for DD to lie on worked best - take a couple of extra pillows into hospital with you.

I haven't read the thread but I said in my birth plan that I wanted to bf and my baby was put to my boob by the mw the moment I came out of theatre. By the following lunchtime (baby was born at 5.30pm) my milk had come in.

I fed him rugby ball style (ie under my arm) which is how the mw did it and found that much easier - he couldn't kick my scar then

The reality is often that it is quite difficult. Everytime I had my sections I received very little help off midwives for my own care, let alone help with breastfeeding or picking up the baby (I had mine at all at different hospitals aswell) Also when you have a section you do feel like you have been ina boxing match for some time afterwards, usually have a low iron count etc and I used to think nature thought about getting you well before getting your milk supply up. That all said, it is something that is acheivable and something you can do. Just inform yourself of all the ins and outs first and go for it but dont beat yourself up if things do not work out, you have to get yourself well first and foremost and do accept all help going

Thanks for the replies.
Nelly, your experience has given me some hope. I will insist on skin to skin most definately. I didn't make a birth plan with ds but I will be if it happens 2nd time. It is true that with a section it can feel like you have been in a boxing match! I am sure that breast feeding isn't always easy for everyone whatever birth they have I guess, but so good to hear that it can be done after a c section.

Haven't had time to read other replies, but I managed after a crash section (general anaesthetic) - DD was already latched on as I came round Fab feeling

Also managed with DS after an emergency section - got skin to skin as soon as we got into recovery & he latched on easily even though I was flat on my back.

They were both whoppers (10lbs+) and I didn't have any problems with them weighing down on the scar or anything.

Just had to buzz the midwives the 1st night in hospital to lift babies out of the cot - that was the hardest part, I'm rubbish at asking for help The night midwife was The Best though (had same one both times) - had an unbelievable amount of patience (DS was a nightmare - v windy)

Good luck with ttc

Thanks amazonianwoman, great to hear other's positive stories. I am feeling much more confident about feeding now, whether it be breast or bottle I shall be demanding skin to skin.

I bf'd ds after an em CS. I had a last-minute spinal block, so was completley numb from my ribs down. MW's helped me onto my side and I fed that way within an hour of him being born (straight after they stitched me up and I got into recovery). Interestingly with both births (dd was a vbac with forceps) I got really bad shakes from the spinal / epidural and bf'ing was the thing that calmed those down. I was careful afterwards and put a pillow over my scar as I didn't find the rugby hold very comfortable.
However, with ds, my milk was very slow in coming in (day six before it really properly arrived, though there was a slow build up from day 3 onwards) and I've since learned that can sometimes happen from the stress of a cs, but that's anecdotal, I don't have any references for it (yet!).

Hi there,
I had an ecs with no.1 son and like many others had little or no help from midwives on the ward. I really struggled especially during the nights, so with no.2 son (now 3 weeks old) I had an elective and didn't care this time round if I seemed a complete bitch by pressing that buzzer when I needed help! I'm a nurse myself and our job is to be there for our patients so DON'T feel guilty.
Also this time round the scar doesn't hurt so much, which can be quite common apparantly in subsequent cs. I still used a cushion to help me feed at first and with first ds used the rugby hold. Because I'm in a lot less pain this time round I'm able to use the clutch hold. Best of luck.

Thanks. fromGirders - I had no milk at all show up with ds, had no leaking or anything! My boobs seemed normal (only bigger!) I also had the real bad shakes after my cs. I was told it was the drugs, but was probably the stress. Never thought of bf calming things down, good thought.
I hear what you say forevared - it can feel intimadating and like you are hassling midwives if you buzz and ask for help, but how else are you to get any help. I remember wanting someone to help with ds one night as he wouldn't stop crying, a midwife took him away for just a minute and brought him back asleep!

ECS here too and I didn't know there could be any problems with CS and BFing at the time. Milk came in very quickly. I fed about 1.5 hours after birth in the recovery room. Definitely having my own room made it easier started refusing any "help" from the midwives found it easier to figure it out ourselves. DD now 17 months and still BFing but about to restart ttcing no.2 so will wait and see as will be planning an elective.

Just to reassure you mumf1st2ndtime, there was plenty of colostrum there, and my milk was starting to change to mature milk, so I was able to bf ds no problem. (He was sleepy and jaundiced, but that's a totally different thing. In fact if he hadn't been so sleepy I'd have fed him more often and my milk would have come in faster).
There is no reason for you not to bf your new baby happily, you might just need a bit of extra help if you have a cs. Can you find out if your hospital is baby-friendly? Will it be the same hospital you were in before? Perhaps a visit to the maternity ward, or attend a breastfeeding workshop, so you can find out a bit more about the ward and available help? Ther may be a member of staff with particular responsibility for bf'ing, so try and find out who they are, perhaps? Forewarned is forearmed, and a bit of prior knowledge might just increase your confidence in asking for help if you need it. But you might not need it! My second baby was vbac, fed her in recovery (from epidural) and I had absolutely no probs with feeding her whatsoever. Having done it once, my boobs knew what to do, and it was a breeze [not smug just happy emoticon].

Tapster - That is encouraging to hear your milk cam ein quickly, I guess it varies from person to person.
FromGirders - I would have 2nd baby at same hospital and no I wouldn't rate them for breast feeding 'help'. I watched a young girl trying to breast feed when I was on the maternity ward and she was struggling, midwife pushed the babie's head on her boob and walked off, so not really expecting much help! Mind you, when I was bottle feeding noone offered to help or show me how to feed/wind etc. Just had to get on with it!
My local hospital don't allow people to view the ward/labour rooms before hand due to lack of staff.