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Original poster

is it possible to breast feed after 4th degree tear?

38 replies

sunshinesupermummy · 04/12/2007 21:10

hi have also posted in the breastfeeding section but thought i would try in here aswell as there seems to be alot of mums in this section.

posting on behave of best friend, just given birth to a beautiful baby girl yesterday, however the birth did not go too well and she ended uo getting a 4th degree tear and having to have it repaired in the operating theater.
she is still in hospital well they both are but the midwives keep telling her that not to worry about breastfeeding as it will be too difficult for her.
don't want to be seen as bossy but is there anyone out there that can help
it is difficult to get in to see them as they are both on the high dependency unit.is this hdu the same as intensive care?
and has anyone else been through this and able to offer her any tips ?

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SpawnChorus · 04/12/2007 21:19

Your poor friend I'm sure she will make a good recovery after the surgery. I'm afraid I don't have any medical knowledge re: breastfeeding with a 4th degree tear, but I do know that a friend of mine managed it (with no obvious problems).

FWIW, I would probably rather breastfeed than have to stand around making up bottles etc. Perhaps she could lie on her side while feeding (I did this with both of my DCs...not because of serious wounds, but because I'm a lazy mare )

Original poster
sunshinesupermummy · 04/12/2007 21:23

thankyou for replying she cannot really lie on her side as she has wirs all over her and still has a catheter in.

maybe that should be taken out by now ?

OP posts:
Chaotica · 04/12/2007 21:24

My friend did it (although her case doesn't sound quite so serious).

And I bf straight after a cs as many others do (needed a bit of help but my mws were supportive). Your friend would have to be really sick to not be able to bf (probably too sick to tell you).

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lilymolly · 04/12/2007 21:25

dont understand why she should not.

I had an episiotomy with a massive cut sutured and then ended up with an infection, and I managed to bf dd, so I think this is rubbish.
Why is she on the hdu unit, which I think is similar to itc.
Maybe their is more to it than the mw is letting on as the reason for not bf?
how is the baby being fed at the moment.

my dd was taken away from me for the first 6 hours and was given formula with my consent via a cup and she still managed to feed from me ok.

If your friend really wants to breast feed then she should ask for a breast feeding midwife or specialist lactation nurse to help her, or get the hell out of there as I i did and used the community mw to help me at home.

HTH

NineBabiesDancing · 04/12/2007 21:27

I think mine was a 3rd degree but a bad one, I was in surgery for ages afterwards being sewn up (apparantly all the blood loss means I have limited memories about that time)

I was on the HDU unit too, I managed to breastfeeding, in fact we are still nursing 15 months later

I was told by a midwife that that having a traumatic birth meant the mums couldn't breastfeed Luckily that was at the 4 month mark when I had already got it sorted so I knew it was crap.

My limited advice - lactose is good stuff...try to relax when on the loo (a lot harder than it sounds)
Get the fem gel packs which can be cooled in the fridge and really help with the pain Do a tally chart of all your meds and make sure you take everything at the right time.

Good luck to your friend.

onepieceoflollipop · 04/12/2007 21:27

HDU is usually the next level down from intensive care.

I guess it very much depends on her overall physical state. If she is keen to bf she has the same rights as any other new mother on the post natal ward. She (or someone on her behalf) should ask quite firmly to see someone who can give her decent advice. Sometimes a specialised midwife called an infant feeding consultant or similar title will be based in the hospital.

It sounds as if she may be well enough to bf, even if lying down at first. Of course someone will need to bring the baby to her for every feed. (which they have to do for women that are immobile for a little while after a c section).

If it is HER choice not to bf then the mws are right - she shouldn't worry. However if it is them saying it, and she is keen to do so, then she should DEFINITELY be given the right support. If she doesn't start soon then very sadly it will make it difficult for her to change her mind later on.

Original poster
sunshinesupermummy · 04/12/2007 21:28

lily did they put you on the hdu ? did you have to have a spinal for the cut? or go in the operating theater?

did you use any type of special cushion? is there anything i can do to help her?

OP posts:
NineBabiesDancing · 04/12/2007 21:29

I remember waking up with a crying baby in a cot next to me covered in wires and bleeping machines with a catheter and an oxygen mask. It is not nice

The nurses should help but your friend's nurses don't sound very supportive.

tissy · 04/12/2007 21:30

it's quite possible to lie on your side with a catheter- I've done it! High dependency is not ITU- it just means there are more nurses and closer monitoring than a general ward.

You need mears, really, but I would say that your friend should insist that she will be breastfeeding, and demand the help she needs. Whatever position she is in, she should be able to feed- lying on back, on side, half propped up, she just needs help someone to bring the baby over to her, and get her latched on.

dosydot · 04/12/2007 21:30

Hi I managed to BF dd after a 3rd degree tear/ repair and v large pph requiring 4 unit blood transfusion

I have a friend who had 2 major bowel surgeries within a day or two of her ds birth and managed to BF even though, she was also in high dependancy unit, Baby was allowed to stay with her as they had side ward on hdu

If she wants to I would say persist it is more likely to be any Medication she is getting that would be a problem, But saying that my friend was on strong painkillers/ epidural for the pain and managed it.

If she wants to I would say it would help in the bonding process - Many women in Hdu can lie on side even with wires and catheter she just needs to ask for help to get into position

HTH

SpawnChorus · 04/12/2007 21:32

Hmmm...I had wires and a catheter for the first 12 hours or so after DS, and was able to lie on my side BUT I needed help from the MWs as I was numb from a spinal block. I did have to ask for help and it was a bit humiliating/discomfiting having to rely on other to maneuver me.

Perhaps she could kick up a bit of a fuss about it? It's really not on for the MWs to be dismissing her hopes to BF!

lilymolly · 04/12/2007 21:34

no was not on hdu, already had an epidural so was stiched in labour ward. They took the catheter out striaght away. I was paralysed for 24 hours due to the epidural but had dd at the side of the bed and just leaned over to pick her up.
I had one of those v shaped cushions.

Agree with ninebabiesdancing take the meds every 4 hours, as you wee pour water over your bits, or wee in the bath
get shower head on fanjo to clean it, of have bath with salt/witch hazel in.

your friend really needs more support if she is motivated to bf.
I got jack shit help, but i was determined to bf and persevered through the pain to suceed and did it for 17 weeks. wish it was more

HTH LM x

Original poster
sunshinesupermummy · 04/12/2007 21:38

thank you so much for your replies im feeling all stressed out.this is really going to help her

the mw thats supposed to be looking after her seems really lazy, my friend is v keen to bf but its hard as she cannot even stand. tomorrow morning ill ask my friend if she wants me to see if i can get a bf adviser to see her.
how do i go about this?

if she could lie on her side i think that would help as obv she is sitting on her repair.

9babies what are theses femgel packs?and i can i buy them for her from the pharmacy?

how long are women ususally on the hdu?

great tip about the drugs tally ,ill do that for her

OP posts:
NineBabiesDancing · 04/12/2007 21:46

Boots Link for Feme Pad

You also need the throw away paper covers (should be alongside on the shelf)the gel pack comes with 10 covers but you go though a fair few.

NineBabiesDancing · 04/12/2007 21:50

I know the gel packs are expensive but dear god, they helped the pain. After a week when I was home, I would hobble every couple of hours to the freezer and swap the pack I was wearing for a new cold one.

Original poster
sunshinesupermummy · 04/12/2007 21:51

thanks 9babies, ill def get her some of those.

OP posts:
NineBabiesDancing · 04/12/2007 21:53

For a breastfeeding advisor ring one or all of the following numbers and see if any of the BF's visit the hospital that your friend is in.

National Childbirth Trust 0870 444 8708
La Leche League 0845 120 2918
Breastfeeding Network 0844 412 4664
Association for Breastfeeding Mothers 08444 122 949

BTW just wanted to say, what a wonderful friend you are

Original poster
sunshinesupermummy · 04/12/2007 21:53

is there a certain way she can lie with the catherter in ? is anyone able to explain it to me?

OP posts:
ProfessorGrammaticus · 04/12/2007 21:55

My situation was as 9babies describes - I breastfed no problem. Voltarol up the arse does wonders for the pain of the repair!!

Original poster
sunshinesupermummy · 04/12/2007 21:56

thanks 9babies she is a great person we have been friends since we where kids, even im shaken by whats happened to her can't imagine how she feels

thanks so much for all your tips and help

OP posts:
NineBabiesDancing · 04/12/2007 21:56

Basically the catherter is a bag of wee sitting on the end of the bed leading to a tube which is attached to your friends bits. I found it much easier to move if the bag was held up for me or emptied before I moved. But as long as she moves slowly she should be alright.

But you might find your friend wil be detatched from the bag tomorrow, they prefer to get people up and walking (hobbling) as soon as possible.

Original poster
sunshinesupermummy · 04/12/2007 21:58

yes she said one of those after the op professor can she have anymore? although she may not want anything going near her arse now ,bless her

OP posts:
NineBabiesDancing · 04/12/2007 21:58

No problem, hope the gel pack helps your friend.

Original poster
sunshinesupermummy · 04/12/2007 22:02

well im going to see her tomorrow morning ill buy some on the way.ow long are women usually on the hdu for?

OP posts:
ProfessorGrammaticus · 04/12/2007 22:23

I seem to recall I had it administered orally after the initial dose - marvellous stuff!