Traumatic birth/breastfeeding

[poorlyfoot]

I think I just need to get it all out, sorry if not the right place…

Gave birth to my 2nd child last week. It turned into a pretty touch and go birth. Managed to get to 7cm very quickly without pain meds. After an epidural and pins babies head, noticed babies heartbeat was dropping. Rushed into theatre and put to sleep. Turns out my previous C-section had ruptured and baby was caught inside wrapped in the cord.

My partner had to formula feed to start as I was unconscious. She latched really well after. Stayed in hospital for observation and a serve case of trapped wind kept us another few days. The pain was so bad that I couldn’t BF as I wanted and my partner fed formula again. I think the mixing has obviously affected my supply as now baby is crying for hours and not latching as well but my milk is in and leaking. But the screaming is awful and she won’t go on.

I was also still severely constipated for 5 days and was advised to drink prune juice to clear. I now know this was poor advice as babies under 6 months shouldn’t have and I’ve drunk a lot. Baby has been having more formula but rooting for breast and I can’t give her it, not sure how long until that is out of my system.

Is this the end of our BF journey? I’m gutted. Obviously that was not the ideal birth, we are lucky to be alive and I’m still in loads of pain but my milk is there I just can’t give it. I’m very emotional and tired which won’t be helping things I guess

That all sounds very tough. It’s very early days and you’ve been through a lot. I’m sorry I don’t really have any advice other than you can try to feed again soon. Congratulations on your new baby, and get as much rest as you can.

Hi,
I don’t have any experience with breastfeeding however I didn’t want to read and run. From mum to mum I hear you- you’re allowed to feel lucky to be alive and have a healthy baby while also grieving for the experience you wanted. It will likely take some time for you to come to terms with everything so go easy on yourself and if you need a cry let it all out- I always say a good cry is cathartic! I say all this as someone who struggled for years to conceive then had an emergency c-section when my baby was 33 weeks so I understand part of how you’re feeling.
As for the breastfeeding I don’t understand all the ins and outs but is it an option for you to express and mix some breast milk with formula so that you dont feel as though your supply is going to waste? Apologies if this isn’t how it works!
Congratulations on the birth of your beautiful baby daughter and I hope you start to feel better soon and enjoy her- regardless of how she’s fed I’m sure she’s very loved ❤️

I'm sorry you've had such a difficult experience.
The prune juice won't get into your breastmilk, it shouldn't be given directly to the baby but it won't pass through to your milk, so there's no need to wait.
It can be hard for babies to latch when milk first comes in and you are engorged - you could try hand expressing a bit first to soften the breast before trying to latch again.

Are your breasts too full? I remember my babies struggling to latch when my breasts were very full just after my milk came in and having to hand express a little milk before feeding, to make make my breast softer for the baby to latch onto more easily.

I also thought prune juice was okay, but maybe it depends on the quantity you drink. I'm sure it can't take that long leave your system and if you monitor your baby for for gas, runny poos etc, you'll be okay to resume breastfeeding slowly.

Otherwise it all sounds really hard and I hope you soon start to feel better, after such a tough birth! I'm glad you an your baby are both okay.

Hey, im so sorry you’ve been through such a tough time. I also had a tough birth and baby was formula fed at the start as I was ventilated in ICU. We did manage to breastfeed alongside formula for about 4 months but as I was quite poorly and found holding baby painful I couldn’t take the cluster feeding and my supply just wasn’t enough.

I also think you’re fine to breastfeed whilst drinking prune juice. You could always try laxido sachets instead if you wanted. Keep offering breast, maybe try expressing a little if baby’s struggling to latch. Each breastfeed they get is beneficial it doesn’t have to be their only food source.