Hello!
This is long - sorry!
I'm booked in for a c-section next monday and I really want to BF my baby, so I've done some reading and I'm already boggling at the amount of conflicting information out there. So, I thought I would post (possibly a bit early) on here in anticipation and see if anyone can help with my particular circumstances.
I had DD 10 years ago. I had a 3 day labour that ended in EMCS. Labour included pethidine twice as well as gas and air and a spinal block. When she was born she was a mega baby - 10lbs 12oz. I fed her after a couple of hours as I wasn't given any contact until after I was back on the ward. She was fine to start with, but quickly starving. By about day 2/3 I was feeding for up to 9 hours solid without even a toilet break (the care in the particular hospital was truly crap). I was also not really allowed to eat - I had not eaten for 2 days before the birth, then they had me on restricted food because of c-section. I was only allowed small portions of bland food. I think my milk came in around the end of day 3, not that it made any difference. By day 4 I was bleeding lots, I was in agony and shaking at the start of each feed, and by day 5 the doctor weighed her and told me she'd lost over 10% of her body weight - which was considered to be dangerous - and she had to have some formula. I let them give the bottle; she slept and I gave up instantly. She was bottle fed from that point onwards. That was it, except for a nasty bout of mastitis (sp?) a week later.
I was only young, I thought it would be easy and I was quite ignorant of what to expect. I was also quite shaken by the birth going so wrong compared to my expectations. The MWs, bar one, were all very pro-bottle and I was given very little help.
So, I'm expecting DS (in a different hospital) who is also a large baby and I want to avoid a repeat performance of last time, though I know that it won't be easy and I'm more prepared for that.
Any advice would help, but particularly - if DS becomes hungry after first day and milk isn't in (elective will probably delay this), what do I do? There is so much conflicting advice about whether to top up or not. Any help with how to cope with a larger baby and what is normal weight loss. Also, with regards to positioning, is it worth getting a feeding pillow? Any advice about positioning generally and latching on would be brilliant.
I felt that if I tried to get some advice now, it will help me to establish feeding without making any mistakes that will hinder me after I leave hospital.
Thank you all