Elected CSection and Breastfeeding

[mamablondie]

I’m currently deciding whether to have an ELCS following a bad tear with DD1.

One of my big concerns is that people have told me they really struggled to BF following their ELCS and I just wondered has this been others’ experience? TIA

I struggled to bf because dc just couldn't latch on, then I was bombarded with masses of contradictory advice from the well meaning staff. I've been expressing milk instead - dc is 12 weeks now - and I get 150ml per breast per session, so no supply issues at least.

My 4dc were breastfed, all of them were born by section, no problems in getting them to feed once latched, latching was the only tricky part, but that can happen with a normal delivery too.

I've had 2 csections and breastfed just fine both times. 1st was emergency, second was planned. I harvested colostrum 2nd time round in the final few weeks of pregnancy under midwives advice (any complications during/post section, and you have milk at the ready.) You can get tiny 1ml syringes online, and they're perfect for the job. Freeze, and then defrost if needed. I actually found it quite easy to establish breastfeeding as after a C-section all that's drummed into you is to do as little as possible, for your recovery, so getting the opportunity to just sit, bond and get to grips with it is ideal. Just remember like everything baby related though, breastfeeding might not come naturally straight away, it's a huge learning curve at the beginning, can seem daunting, and you may feel like giving up multiple times, but if you do crack it, and get past the first tough couple of months, it's so so worth it, and does become easier and one of the most rewarding things you'll ever do. Good luck!

I had both by section. First was emergency and I struggled with latch til day 3-4.

2nd was elective and he literally crawled to my breast and latched straight away within seconds of going skin to skin!

Good luck

My second was an ELCS due to a bad tear with my first. Breastfeeding was absolutely fine.

I asked for skin to skin as soon as possible, so they put all the node things on the back of my shoulders rather than on my chest. Then when he was out they weighed him and put a nappy and a hat on him, then put him straight on my chest. The whole 20 mins or so I was being stitched up he was on my chest getting gradually angrier as I couldn't actually feed him from that position. Then once I was stitched they took me through to recovery, him still on my chest, and I fed him for the first time there.

I think it may have been a different story if they had done it one born every minute style with him immediately wrapped in a blanket and passed to his dad. They were very supportive with me having everything as baby centred as possible.

I had an elective c section at 36w. My son weighed 5lb and breastfed absolutely fine. I was fully prepared to have some snags but I wonder if it being my second pregnancy helped. Good luck. I found my elective section easier to recover from than my natural

Two planned sections and no problems whatsoever.

I had an elective section - BF until I went back to work FT at 6 months ( expressed when I worked PT 2 days per wk at 3 months )

Right now DS2 (22m) is feeding while I read mumsnet. He was my second CS,

I had a scheduled preterm section for vasa previa and baby was tall but thin and weak. We struggled to get going with breastfeeding but after 2 weeks it suddenly started working better and he was on the 96th percentile at 3 months. He’s now a big strong 18 month old and still bfing.

First emergency and second planned - no problems.

2 sections here, both fed brilliantly straight away 👍🏻

First emergency cs & managed to do first feeds, but it all went pear shaped after that -multiple reasons.
Second elective no issues with bf at all other than over supply and mastitis. Still feeding, she’s two and a half and I’d quite like her to stop now lol.

Has ELCS 10 days ago, 2nd baby. Breastfeeding her right now. Not had any problems, it's going really well. Breastfed first baby too after traumatic vaginal delivery. Breastfed first for 10 months although feeding did not go as well (think she had a bad latch or undiagnosed tongue tie and feeds all took 1-2 hours).

The section went really well too. Not taking pain relief any more, felt better after a few days. They lowered the drapes so we saw her coming out. They brought her out slowly to allow some lung compression. I held her almost straight away (she did have to ge dried as it gets cold in theatre), I also trimmed the cord! Stayed in enhanced recovery and went home 24h later. Much better experience, recovery and start with breastfeeding than first time around.