Positive stories of BF after induction

[fiveweeksandcounting]

I am being induced tomorrow at 38+2 and am starting to get really concerned about the impact this may have on BF. I am 100% happy about being induced and it's absolutely the right decision but my biggest fear is that the drugs will affect the baby and it won't latch on and have also read that it can delay milk coming in. I had a terrible BF experience with #1 and a good one with #2. Milk took 6 days to come in with #1 as I was told to only feed 4 hourly and didn't know any better but was in within about 2.5 days with #2 as I'd fed her constantly but had had an easy delivery but am really worried about having another baby who won't feed.

I have spoken to the midwife who is delivering and am planning on having skin to skin immediately and she's very experienced at helping mothers BF but would really appreciate positive stories of BF after induction

Got there eventually after some very good MW help. I struggled at home and phoned the helplines. There are a lot more drop-ins and coffee groups around now than even five years ago. Keep asking for help, bear in mind that some NHS staff may seem very authorative on bf but actually have no training and have never done it (tho your MW sounds fab). Maybe talk to a bf counsellor before the birth to talk about last time to see if there is anything you could learn. I didn't get skin-to-skin, was forced to supplement by the hospital (not sure why) and then forced to leave the baby to get an infection treated while we were getting bf going. But, we got there in the end

What about your family and friends? Are they supportive of bf - makes a huge difference ifyou can have a couple of advocates to ward off the naysayers.

Good luck with the induction. Hope it all goes well

I was induced at 41+ weeks - I exclusively bf for 3 months and then mix fed for 9m. Positive from my point of view.

Thanks so much for your post. I'm having a private delivery this time with a named midwife who will stay with me until we're all settled after the birth and I am really confident in her. I've also got a BF counsellor lined up and she has said that she'll come over within 24 hours of me ringing her and there are a few local BF groups that I plan to go to but they're all closed until after easter.

My DH is really supportive as he knows how important this is to me although he keeps saying annoying things like "if you relax it will be fine and if the baby doesn't latch it's because you're too stressed" and I've some good friends who have BF for at least 6 months, if not longer, which is totally different to the first time as then I didn't have any mum friends.

I had no problems BF after I was induced at 40+5. DD came straight onto me for skin to skin and was feeding within the first hour. She was born on the Saturday and my milk was in on Monday morning. On the postnatal ward I wore one of DH's old shirts with buttons and dd spent alot of her first day in a nappy up my shirt buttoned around her IYSWIM. I tried to latch her very often and she fed alot that first day. I went on to EBF her until 17 months when she gave us as I was 24 week pg with DC2.

Drugs from induction itself shouldn't affect bf, only if you have pain relief such as epidural which might make baby sleepier. I managed induction on g&a, but friend who had induction with epidural (ending in em CS for various reasons) managed to bf her baby too, so doesn't necessarily mean you'd have a problem.

I'd recommend finding out about bf support groups that you can go to - I know not the easiest if you have other DCs but usually you can just drop in for a short time. Good luck!

I was very very induced for both of mine (they really didn't want to come out) and bf'd #1 for 14 months and still bfing #2 at 23 months.

Good luck

No problems BF here either after induction with DS (my 3rd baby).

I noticed no difference between him and the DDs from that point of view, if anything my milk came in quicker, and he fed beautifully from the start.

I had inductions at 37wks with both DCs. I exclusively fed both for 6 months and then carried on feeding them until just past their 1st bdays so neither of them ever had formula. My first baby was a boy and being that he was the first and early, he had a crap suck, but you can get past that and bf anyway. My 2nd was a girl, still early, but she didn't look or behave like an early baby. She latched in 1 second flat and never looked back! I had prepared myself for a major battle with her.

Just remember that you do have experience breastfeeding now and so once the baby complies, you should be fine.

Also don't get too stressed if it doesn't work out re latching on - it's NOT necessarily the mum's problem!! (realise you probably know this, even if your DH doesn't). I had one friend who tried and tried, but the problem was really from her baby who just couldn't get it. Lots of stress for her - and hosp visits to get baby up to weight etc. Do get any problem like this checked out, as it may show underlying problem, but if bf doesn't work out, remember most babies WEREN'T breastfed in the 70s and we turned out OK.

Thanks again to everyone. I really want this to work out so hopefully we'll get off to a decent start and take it from there

Yes definitely find a breastfeeding group locally - then you will hopefully feel confident going back after the birth if you have any problems. Good luck!

I was induced at exactly 38 weeks with my second and had no problem bf - wasn't aware that it could be a problem? His suck/latch was perhaps a bit weaker than my dd but nothing problematic. Are you going straight on the drip or starting off with the pessaries? I didn't need the drip as labour kicked in pretty quickly - obviously this way would mean less drugs in your system? But I do know loads of people who've been induced with the drip and had no problems with bf afterwards.

The one time I did had a problem was when I found myself back in hospital about 3 days after the induced birth with a terrible terrible womb infection. I was nil by mouth for almost 24 hours and of course eventually the baby was starving as I was so dehydrated I wasn't producing any colustrum/milk. Of course nobody had bothered to think about this . Anyway he had one bottle and after I had some water, was fine to bf him a few hour later. Anyway I digress...sounds like you had a great approach the second time around, do this again and I'm sure it will all be fine! Best of luck with the induction and enjoy meeting your new baby!

BF dd after difficult induction at 35 weeks and dural tap from epidural. She was a teeny weeny natural feeder and continued to 7 months. BF ds induced at 38 weeks he latched on at birth and it feels like he hasn't stopped since 9.5 mths later

Had all the drugs under the sun with dd and G&A and pethidine with ds.I had skin to skin with both and "offered boob" whenever they were awake / whimpered, total demand feeding. dd was cup fed formula top ups for a couple of days cos she was teeny.

Good luck I hope everything goes well for you

I was induced the first time and ended up having an em cs, and second time had a vbac after induction. Breastfed both till they were over a year, no probs with latching or milk coming in! try not to worry

If you do have problems or want some extra support, get in touch with a lactation consultant as soon as possible - they are brilliant. La Leche League has contact details, as do various other organisations (I found one through the natural birth centre in London). I paid £120 for a 2.5 hour session and an lots of follow up phone calls. Was worth every penny.

I was induced at 42+2, my DD really didn't want to come out, and I ended up being pumped full of all sorts including an epidural.

Before the birth I had been worried about the effect any drugs would have on her, but she was great. We had one incident in the hospital when I had to give her a tiny bit of formula (she had jaundice and needed to get settled under the light, and after 3 hours of bf we were getting nowhere), but she went straight back to bf afterwards and has been great ever since.

You'll be fine. It's the removal of the placenta that starts the hormones for milk production.

With DD1 I had synto, epidural (at least 6 top ups, I reckon), more synto, morphine, emcs, anti-puking drugs, voltarol, gas and air and other pain meds and antibiotics and breastfeeding was a total dream. Took 3 or 4 days for my milk to arrive but that is not unusual, you just have to let baby suck as much as she wants.

I was induced (they used a gel but I don't know what it's called), had epidural (At least 4 top ups-can't remember clearly), had a drip (don't know what it's called either) so I could have contractions...

My lovely MWs put DS straight on my chest and I asked if I could BF. They said yes and told me to see if baby could find the nipple! He did! my milk came 3 days after.

This was 8.5 months ago. I'm still BFing

Good luck xx

I lactated like a cow after both my inductions, including the one that ended in emergency caesarians.

My ds was induced and the labour and delivery was long and he was taken to SCBU for a bit, BF was unsuccessful due to lack of help and pressure from the midwives to top up because "I wouldn't be producing enough and he would starve"
Was induced with DD, (in a different hospital) it was such a positive experience and everything went well, we had skin to skin after the birth and she was feeding an hour later, she's 20 weeks now and we're still at it. Good luck with your delivery.