Elective c-section and breastfeeding - positive stories please!

[hotmama]

I am expecting ds1 who is currently breech (34 weeks) and as my last birth was an emergency cs I am expecting to be booked in for an elective section. A major concern is re successful bf!

I bf dd1 for 10 weeks - was a hard struggle.

I bf dd2 for just over a year - was determined to succeed!

I'm worried if I don't have "labour hormones" kicking in that bf is going to be difficult. Or is it the case that as soon as the placenta is removed then bf hormones kick in anyway.

I would like to bf ds1 at least as long as dd2.

Any advice or top tips are gratefully received.

I had elective sections with DS and DD. BF unsuccessful with DS but very successful with DD despite her having a tongue tie. Milk came in day 3/4 which I think is the same as with a natural birth so I think you might be right about the removal of the placenta.

Two caesarians, one emergency, one planned. Am still breastfeeding first baby (DD - 2 years old) and also DS (14 weeks) DS is off the weight charts he's so well fed!

The labour hormones thing is a crock of shit if you ask me. It's the 'being quite ill because of whatever led to the caesarian' that is the problem IME.

dd (1 and only) elective section at 38 weeks- no problems getting started at all- mw said she (dd) knew what to do . Some probs with girning and general screaming fits around 2 months, but settled down again. Stopped just short of her 2nd birthday. You can do it

Ds2 - planned cs, I insisted on immediate skin to skin, bf while still in theatre. Needed a bit of encouragement during the first night, but soon got the hang of it. My milk came in day 2 (same as ds1 - em cs). HTH, good luck

Want to wish you luck whatever happens!

I had an emergency C-section, and although I know you've already had experience of that I really didn't go into proper labour before the procedure.

Basically I was induced and never got regular contractions/dilated whatsoever. (My waters broke after the pessary but nothing else happened). I was on the syntocin drip for about 12 hours and eventually had a c-section because of lack of progress of labour.

My son was unfortunately taken ill so had to go to intensive care so I was expressing from around 2-3 hours after he was born every 3 hours or so. I continued to express until about day 4 I think when he was getting a bit better and able to start feeding properly (I'd put him on the breast before then but his breathing problems made it difficult for him to feed).

I think I was lucky in that my milk came in properly on day 5 and my son had a very very strong sucking/feeding reflex. But the good news is he'll be a year at the end of this month and I'm still breastfeeding.

I know it's not exactly the situation you were interested in but we did have to overcome obstacles so I hope it helps you out.

Good luck again

I love the power of mumsnet!

I knew I could depend of you lovely ladies to give me some helpful advice.

Any more positive stories are most welcome!

I had c-section both times and breastfed both times, straight away as soon as I was in the recovery room and carried on successfully for months. It shouldn't make a difference. Ask for help with latching on - crucial, or you will get sore and buy a big v-shaped pillow from Argos and take it into hospital with you so the baby doesn't rest on your tummy whilst feeding and make your tummy sore!

I had an emergency c-section in October 2006. I'm still breastfeeding 2 years later.

It was slow to get going and I was strongly encouraged to formula feed, and was threatened with all sorts by a very nasty nurse.

DS was jaundiced and under a phototherapy lamp and despite copious amounts of formula in first 2 weeks, by 6 weeks I was exclusive breastfeeding. I ended up mix feeding but I guess we were lucky to continue breastfeeding for so long.

I'm now 14 week pg with number 2 and currently exploring VBAC v elective c-section scenarios.

My first baby was an emergency section, I breast fed with no problems at all. I didn't know there could even be an effect.

i am bfing dd2 now, born 10 weeks ago by emergenvcy elective cs (emerg cos preemie). i found the recovery fine, no troube at all, only had paaracetamolafter the first night in hdu. good luck.

dd2 was EMCS and breast fed for 6months
dd3 who was elective is now 14wks and merrily feeding away

just keep pressing the buzzer and asking for help all the time

My ds is 3 and "still" feeding.

I had an elective because he was breech. He didn't feed for 36hrs because he was so drugged up but quickly got the hang of it.

Spend as much of your recovery time as you can tucked up skin to skin together. I hated having to buzz for someone to get ds out of the tank on the first night, so would just have him right there in the bed with me were I to do it again.

Feed in any position that feels comfortable, a pillow on your tummy might help with that.

Good luck

ds1- natural birth- bf for 7.5months
dd2- planned cs- bf for 9months
dd3- planned cs- currently bf (she is 11wks old)

I must admit I have found it hard to start all three times, but no harder with cs than with natural birth. Not hard to actually feed baby ie milk coming in etc but hard to get latch right and deal with the long nights! Fine after a week or so this time.

With dd1, she was wrapped and weighed first then given to me, but with dd2, she was given to me straight away, and it was much nicer to have skin to skin as they stitched me up. Not sure it made a dif to bf but was lovely anyway.

I had both DS1&2 elective sections. I was feeding them both within moments of coming out of the theatre (DS1 not as quick but that was the shite staff not the CS)
I've never had a problem feeding or with latch etc.
Good luck
Best tip is to get latched on straight away, this time round they latched DS2 on for me when I was still numb so I didn't even feel my first feed!

Me too, both DS's elective sections. Fed them both straight away coming out of theatre. struggled a bit with DS1 afterwards as he was so sleepy but went to BF workshop and got it sorted...fed for a year.
Feeding DS2 now...no problems at all with him (will go for a year too hopefully)

Best of luck!

i know with dd2 it was hard BUT i had never really breastfed with dd1 due to her health condition and so it was like a first timer trying to get the hang of it. When dd3 came out - she was fine. no worries fed in recovery and went on from there.

I didn't have a planned section but am pondering whether that would be best if I were to have a DC3.

DD was normal delivery and bfed until 18mths.
DS was crash section and still bfing at 11mths.

With DD initial feeding was problematic, painful and tiring (probably due to my lack of experience and knowledge) but with DS its been a wonderful experience especially when he was in special care for a couple of weeks after his birth it was a fantastic way for us to bond and the feeling I got from feeding him was amazing.

my milk came in more quickly with DS actually which surprised me

Had an elective section with DS2 and we are BFing. he didnt latch straight away but that was due to me being ill rather than him. we were BFing 9hrs later and havent looked back

2 CS's. I struggled with DS for 4-5 days untill my milk came in, then there was no stopping him. Continued to 1 year. DD had juandice and was very sleepy but once that was sorted she fed well, still going at nearly 14 months. IMO the only difference is that it may take longer for your milk to come in than with a VB and it's harder to find a comfy position, due to stitches. GOOD LUCK

DS emcs- trouble with feeding mainly due to crap advice in hospital.Milk came in day 3. Bfed for 7months, no formula til 6 months

DD1 elcs milk came in day 3 bfed 15 months no formula at all

DD2 not emergency sort of unplanned cs milk came in day 3 bfed for 14 days so far! no formula top ups this time either.

All fed in recovery. Had skin to skin with both DDs whilst being stitched up in theatre.

hth

Haven't read whole thread but I had DS with an em cs and DD 8 weeks ago with a planned cs. With DS bf was a nightmare.

The planned cs with DD was a doddle compared to the em cs and bf has been weirdly easy. We did a few mins of skin to skin in the theatre. I fed her little and often in the hospital, I didn't wait for her to ask, I just kept putting her on and she sucked away. The midwife also put her in bed with me so it was easier to feed, I don't co-sleep (I worry too much) but for the 3 nights in hospital I think it helped. TBH I wasn't going to be wriggling about in bed much after a cs so she was quite safe. I also got a private room which helped so much and allowed me to relax in private. As dizzy said, keep pressing that buzzer!

As you have been through a cs before and bf before you should have a huge chance of it going well. good luck!

Friend of mine had an em cs because of undiagnosed breech and bf no problem for as long as she wanted

i had a planned c section for my breech DS. Was v keen to breastfeed and have skin to skin inmediately,staff v supportive and I had skin to skin immediately in theatre and they agreed to put my gown on backwards so i could feed asap after the birth. He latched on straight away and was sucking away in recovery. Definitely reccommend the V cushion idea for comfort.
I dont think my milk came in until day 4/5 and DS lost 16oz in 5 days. He was 8lb12 to start with so it wasn't a major worry, he slow gained at first then and started gaining weight like mad from 4 weeks. Good luck!