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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

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Original poster

does c-section interfere with breast feeding?

44 replies

madmouse · 26/04/2008 22:16

Hello

I have been advised by my (anti c-section) consultant that I should seriously consider c-sections for future pregnancy, as there are possibly some risk factors that have caused ds' brain injury and neonatal seizures.

Despite the ICU/SCBU start ds and I are an ace breast feeding team (7lb4 to 12lb in 12 weeks) and I am glad that I can give him the very best start in life at least in this respect.

There are a lot of reasons (obviously) why I prefer to avoid sections but I keep on hearing that sections interfere with breast feeding. Is this true and what causes it?

Thank you!

OP posts:

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beautifuldays · 26/04/2008 22:19

my dd was born by elective section 15 months ago and we are still breastfeeding

she did have to work a lot harder to get the milk in (compared to ds who was vd), she pretty much fed constantly for the first 48hrs to get the milk to come in.

i think it can take longer for milk to come in when you've had a cs as your body doesn't know the baby has been born iyswim in the same way that it would with hormones etc if you had a natural birth.

hope that makes sense!

madmumNika · 26/04/2008 22:25

I've had 2 emergency c-sections and breastfed both of my children- DS for 10.5 months and I'm still feeding DD who's 10 months old now.

I agree with beautifuldays that sometimes it can take longer for your milk to come in but if the baby is allowed to suckle as often and as long as he/she likes in those early days it shouldn't be a problem. With DS my milk came in pretty quickly but with DD it took 3 days (I was getting worried)- with both of mine I had to express lots to start with as they were both prem and in SCBU.

2 other mums I know also breastfed with no problem after c-sections. Although I'm not 'pro' c-sections if they are needed to ensure health of baby and/or mother that is the main consideration.

Good luck for the future xxx

redadmiral · 26/04/2008 22:27

My milk came in fine after my elective. Echo above advice re putting baby to the breast frequently. Good Luck.

SquonkTheBeerGuru · 26/04/2008 22:29

I had two natural births and a c-section with ds. I didn't notice any difference in bfing any of them.

ScaryHairy · 26/04/2008 22:29

My understanding is that the removal of the placenta sends the signal which triggers milk production, so cs should not make any difference. I also understand that it is not unusual for it to take 3 or more days for milk to come in - regardless of how the baby is born.

lackaDAISYcal · 26/04/2008 22:34

I had an elective section with DD and had been warned that my milk might be delayed as a result as labour helps kick start the production of pro-lactin. My milk came in on day 2, so that certainly wasn't my experience. She did suckle voraciously though, which the MW told me helped speed the process up. Putting baby to the breast often is the key I think.

It can be quite painful to feed if you are particularly tender or have an infection, especially in the cross cradle hold. A v-shaped or curved pillow helps, as does the rugby ball hold.

hth

Poledra · 26/04/2008 22:35

Took longer for my milk to come in with dd1 (emergency section) than with dd2 (VBAC) but both were bfed to 11 months. Would highly recommend a bfeeding pillow though, to put over your scar (I couldn't get on with the rugby hold for feeding). I did have some issues with bfeeding dd1, but I think those were more to do with her being my first baby rather than the section.

MamaMaiasaura · 26/04/2008 22:35

Had emer section with ds1 at 38 weeks, took a few days for milk to come in but that is normal regardless of birth.

What i found hard was the practicality of feeding as i could lift him and had to keep buzzing the mw's who put him in bed with me. Ended up co-sleeping and feeding often, worked out well and am now bfeeding ds2 but managed a vbac with him.

Poledra · 26/04/2008 22:36

x-posts, Daisy

madmumNika · 26/04/2008 22:42

oooh just a wee thought.... I found the theraline c-section belt REALLY helpful after my second section as it protected the scar and made it easier to breastfeed (never mastered the rugby hold) without pain plus was good protection from my enthusiastic then 2-yr-old who wanted to sit on me for cuddles... Take a look at: www.bebeco.co.uk/theraline-caesarean-belt-409-p.asp

cali · 26/04/2008 22:42

sorry if has been said before, but cs do not have to interfere with bf at all. Have had 1 emcs-dd1 and 1 elcs-dd2, breastfed dd1 until 20 months, was hard work to begin with but problems were not due to section. DD2 was bf within an hour of delivery and was over birthweight on d7. Just feed baby when it wants to be fed and make sure that you can get skin to skin contact as soon as possible after birth. good luck

minster · 26/04/2008 23:04

I've had one emergency c-section & one elective - both times I had jaundiced, sleepy babies (ABO incompatibility, nothing to do with c-section), both times I breastfed successfully.

The midwives got me a clip on bassinet so the baby was effectively co-sleeping, that helped with the first night when lifting the baby is hard. Milk came in before day 3 both times. No problems at all.

mrsgboring · 26/04/2008 23:11

I think I read a study on this a few years ago. Breastfeeding rates are slightly lower for C-section, but the effect is much more marked for a first baby.

VictorianSqualor · 26/04/2008 23:17

I had an EMCS with DD but prem so feeding was buggered as she couldnt suck and I was craqp at expressing but have fed DS1(3) and DS2(11 days) since birth with no issues whatsoever, they were both ELCS.
If it could be any easier I'd be surprised!

fuzzymummy · 26/04/2008 23:20

I have read that you get the full normal birth hormone experience IFYKWIM if the baby actually exits vaginally . SO that means that you are in the zone with a natural birth BUT I know lots of ladies that had a c section and breastfed sucessfully . So the difference is that these ladies need a little more determination but many have that and more .

LuckySalem · 26/04/2008 23:21

I had a Emergency C Section with DD and she BF for 3 months. As soon as we came out of theatre and onto the ward they gave her to me and we had a feed then with skin to skin so it wasn't much different from a normal birth - just a little delayed.

pinkyminky · 26/04/2008 23:21

I think the prolonged labour etc. for my DS affected him more than the emcs, he and i were shattered. Both my babies fed absolutely fine, fed them in the recovery room. DD was by elcs and we had no problems at all. I had a bit of a cough and that was uncomfortable.
I had gallons of milk, honestly.
Colostrum for the first 2-4 days, then milk, with a vengeance. I think that is pretty normal.

fuzzymummy · 26/04/2008 23:23

By the way good luck you will be fine.

niceone1 · 27/04/2008 06:43

I had no problems whatsoever breastfeeding after an elective. Popped her on and off we went - the midwife came and had a look and just said to carry on!! And she is putting on loads of weight. Don't worry.

lubyluby · 27/04/2008 08:01

speaking form personal experience i had no problme feeding my children after having c/s than after a v/d all three were breastfed for well over 12 months.

workign on a postnatal ward i would say problmes with feeding come regardless fo the type of delivey you have. just as amny mums who have had 'normal' deliveries seem to suffer from problmes such as pooor latch, poor suckers as women who ahve had c/s. in fact on my last night shift where the ward was pretty much evenly split between c/s ladies and normal delivery aldies, it would appear that the normal delivery ladies had a higher proportion of feeding difficulites.

Sassafrass · 27/04/2008 09:21

It took me a while to get going with bf after emergency c-section. That was mainly because she was very sleepy and would go for hours without feeding. Once she was a bit more energetic and the milk came in it worked well and I bf until she was a year old.

Original poster

madmouse · 27/04/2008 20:23

Thanks all, that is encouraging and reassuring

OP posts:

CilC · 29/04/2008 19:25

I did not really plan on bf. I had a planned C section and after cuddling DD I drifted off to sleep. I awoke to find she had attached herself and was sucking very well. My milk took about 3 days to come in and I bf until DD was 18 months old. TBH I think my csection and subsequent relaxing drugs alo helped me to bf. But the reality is this - my DD was a great little sucker and most of my success is due to her!
In my ante natal class this discussion came up and there was no relationship between delivery type and bf...as lubyluby says it was a very individual thing. I am very proud of the fact despite my inital fears I was able to successfully bf (apart from one night in week one) and did so for 18 months!

meglet · 29/04/2008 19:44

I had an emergency c-section and DS wouldn't latch on and I found it impossible trying to hold him, no matter how many cushions we had round us. My milk came in by the gallon though.

He only latched on after 3 weeks, which is when I started to find it less painful. I think because I couldn't relax round him it affected the bf.

pinkyminky · 29/04/2008 20:54

Ciic what a lovely story!
meglet I had a few problems getting DS to latch on after my emcs, but I don't think it was the section, I think it was more to do with the labour and poor advice from the mw-.He had fed fine in the recovery room and straight after, with help from the paediatrics lady,and we both slept for ages, but on the ward mwives started saying I was feeding too much, then too little - very conflicting and a lot of pushing the back of his head- which is a definite nono. I got really stressed out,and engorged. WE both relaxed after a few weeks of expressing at home and he latched on fine.

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