breastfeeding & csections

[SkinnyMarinkADink]

Hello, little far off yet but i was just wondering about something.

I will be having a section this time round, i formula fed my dd for various reasons however this time round i am going to breastfeed.

What i am wondering is, how does that work having just had a section? With dd i didn't get to cuddle her properly until i could sit up the next day, so the dynamics are worrying me..

How quick does good milk come in? I leaked loads in pregnancy before, should i start expressing a few days before so dh can cup feed?

If i can't get in the right position will the midwife just bottle feed my starving new born?

Have had 3sections, 2x crash, 1elective.

Elective was easiest, as was given baby straight away for skin to skin. Had already asked how I wanted to feed so they knew BF.

I popped him on for a go as soon as I was sitting up in recovery having had lovely tea and toast.

I didn't express before.

IME I just got left to it a lot. The MW wouldn't feed FF unless you ask. Ask them to help you as you haven't BF before. Do persevere.

Good luck :)

See, I'm a bit confused about this sitting up in recovery business. I had a (somewhat rushed) spinal block for forceps delivery with DS and I couldn't feel anything below my boobs for hours afterwards. Sitting up was certainly not on the cards.

With an elective section is the anaesthetic (sp?) different? I will be having an ELCS next time around and I

sorry, posted too soon

I am really confused about how it all works.

BF after my planned CS was a doddle, unlike after my EMCS!

I was able to sit up and latch DD on about 90 mins after the CS when I got to recovery. Milk came in on day 3, I was weird though as I 'overfed' DD from the start, I didn't wait for any cues / cries to feed I just plonked her on every hour or so regardless, she pooed within 12hrs and romped up the weight charts.

But I made sure I rested, I was a stubborn cow who refused to do nappies while in hospital and focussed all my energy on feeding DD, resting and recovering. Barely got dressed for the first 2 weeks at home, I thoroughly recommend it!

I have had two EMCS's and both times have breastfed (DD1 to two years and DD2 still feeding at 5 months).

Both DC's were put skin to skin straight away and fed within the first hour after birth.

I only had colostrum for the first 2 days and got my milk on the third day.

I found sleeping propped up with lots of pillows preferable to lying down so that I didn't have to get from lying down to sitting every time they cried (you cannot use abdominal muscles at first so have to roll onto side and use your arms to push yourself upright).

You can also feed lying down on your side, the midwives can show you how.

Straight after surgery call the midwives to get the baby out of the cot for you until the catheter is removed.

Get a V-pillow to rest baby on so that you do not strain your muscles when feeding or use regular pillows (take extra to hospital).

The midwives should support you in your choice to breastfeed, that includes taking the time to get the baby latched on in the right position.

jolly IIRC I had to use my arms to push / shunt myself up into a sitting position, and I think (X)DP helped me. The nurses aren't allowed to help you sit up but they got all the pillows propped up behind me to rest on. It was a team effort. And once I was there I could rest DD on a cushion to feed while I pondered my weird, numb legs and toes.

Jolly

i am not totally sure myself, as i had an emergency last time i was so out of it, i had epidural and a spinal block put in, I remember being slanted slightly up but not in a position i could feed or cuddle my dd from..

However...i am pretty sure with a elective it is just a spinal, catheter and pain relief through iv. i am expecting to be much more alert and alive (3 day labour previously) so wondering if this will improve my chances of being able to hold and feed straight away.

I saw a midwife be pretty horrible to a lady a few weeks ago when i was admitted, she had a section but couldn't got to baby to feed.

Skinny I had a spinal both times and got my feeling in my arms back within half an hour. With my second although still emergency it was not as urgent as my first so I had a shorter acting spinal and could hold DD2 whilst still in theatre.

I had a crash-section and fed ds1 within a few hours of coming round from the anaesthetic. He had already been given formula by then, but still fed. He was then bf during the day and formula fed at night until my milk came in, then bf with a very occasional (one of week max) formula top up.

Sorry for hijacking the thread!

I think they must have given me a hefty spinal as they were prepped for emcs and I could not have a GA, so that explains my lack of ability to move.

Thank you.

i had my first by emcs and was able to feed him within an hour when i got to recovery. the midwife brought him to me and tucked him in beside me and helped him latch on. my milk took about 5 days to come in properly, but that was because he turned out to have a tongue tie and couldn't stay latched on well.

i did a lot of feeding lying down the first day in hospital.

meglet is right, just feed feed feed and your milk will come in quicker. with my second he fed really well and my milk came in on the 3rd day. he'd been a bit sleepy that day so i took him off to bed for skin to skin for a few hours which seemed to get him interested again.

good luck!

3 CS and breast fed all three as soon as I was with them. Dd3 crawled across my chest for it.

I had an emcs and cuddled my baby as soon as he was wrapped up while they were still sewing me up so my arms must have been unaffected. I also fed him in recovery, the hospital bed could be arranged into a propped up position and I had lots of pillows. The nurses probably propped me up. After that I was able to pull myself up (it was hard though!).