C section and breastfeeding

[April2013]

What are your experiences of BF after a c section? I had an epidural with my first which unfortunately left me bed bound for 48 hours after birth, legs still numb (apparently this is highly unusual, don't want to scare anyone, consultant had never heard of it before), so it was tricky to get to grips with BF initially but was OK in the end - not sure if it was because I was generally unwell\shock of birth that my body didn't seem to produce much initially. I'm thinking about an elective c section now I am preg with 2nd, how did you find BF immediately after birth and in early days? I never managed laying down to BF with my first, was always sat up in bed - is that what you have to do on first\second day after a c section?

I had c-section but DS was in NICU for 4 days and had to have prem baby formula as I couldn't express enough milk, so can't really help you there. But from day 4 I was BF fine - I always sat up too - never could get the lying down thing either

Thanks, that is reassuring, sounds like being able to start BF in first couple of days is not the be all and end all.

I breastfed twins after a c section.

The milk took a little longer to come in (I think this is common) but we persevered and kept going.

I had an elcs, DS latched on to the boob about an hour after he was born and stayed there! for days he was covered in meconium when he came out so no skin to skin etc but it didn't make the slightest difference. Going for elcs for dc2 and assuming the same will apply. Good luck!

It didn't work for me but DS was in NICU and has a dairy intolerance, so I suspect a lot of issues were down to that.

I was back to normal 3 days post section and had loads of milk, so no problems my end

You are right that breastfeeding in the first couple of days is not the be all and end all. One of my health visitors actually got one mum/baby exclusively breastfeeding after several weeks of 'from birth' formula feeding. However, is there a reason why you think that you wouldn't be able to breastfeed for the first couple of days?

I have had three c-sections. Two electives, while I was awake; one emergency while I was asleep. For the electives, the person performing the surgery came to see me beforehand. I explained to them that I was intending to bf and was conscious about early attachment/skin to skin.

My gown was loosened at the top during the surgery. Baby was lifted out and handed to the nurse who placed her immediately on my chest (length-ways under my neck, not between my breasts), then covered her with a sheet and held her in place so that she didn't fall off - the bed is tilted. I was sown up with her on me, then wheeled through to recovery; where we were cleaned up while baby breastfed - so about 25mins after the birth.

Unless there are special circumstances, you do not have to delay breastfeeding or be separated from your baby.

I cannot be certain whether it took longer for my milk supply to increase than it would have done had I had a normal physiological delivery - because I've never had one - but I did breastfed all three children successfully (including a 26 week preemie).

friggin can I ask how your HV got someone to breastfeed after they ff from birth? I had wanted to bf DS and then after a few weeks mixed feed but he was in NICU on a drip and then bottles, and wouldn't latch on without cutting me and would always cry for a bottle even though I had loads of milk

Obviously I can't bf him now but I'm curious how that works because after 3 days in NICU he only wanted bottles!

My experience.

Elcs at 38 weeks. Went a bit wrong. Baby hauled out with vacuum, blue. Whisked off for checks. Came back in five mins later looking very perky lifted his head up totally steady and fed when held over my shoulder!

Milk came in after day two. I found it very uncomfortable to feed due to the scar- one of those crescent shaped pillows was a godsend. Ask for more morphine if you need it!! I needed lots of assistance as well with lifting the baby.

I'm finding bf ing really painful but that's nothing to do with the cs!

I had an EMCS, but I suspect the surgeon was a genius as I had virtually no pain whatsoever and bfd very easily.
ELCS next time for sure.

I've had two emergency caesareans and fed both babies.

First wasn't easy but it wasn't to do with the cs, or it sort of was, but only because dd suffered some muscle damage and was unable to move her head properly (caused by a long labour in the wrong position, and a lot of intervention rather than the cs itself). We got there though.

Second emcs was much less frantic and ds was born a wee bit early but perfectly well. He breastfed in recovery and I was lying down at the time. I continued to feed him lying down while in hospital and my milk came in seamlessly on day 2. It was the easiest breastfeeding relationship.

I had spinals, not epidurals. They wear off very quickly usually. I had full sensation by the time I was back on the ward and was up and about within a couple of hours. I was discharged 12 hours after my first cs and 36hrs after my second.

villainous, I don't think it was the surgeon, more luck. I was like you with both. No pain at all. Didn't even need paracetamol and was up and about after a couple of hours, looking after the baby and bounced back. I really think we were probably very lucky indeed.

I've had two c-sections. I only bf my first son for 8 days and then expressed for a month and then ff. I don't know whether that was due to the c-section or unconnected. This time (second son is 11 weeks old) I was determined to bf, requested skin to skin straight away and basically kept him on me and feeding frequently for the first day, in recovery and then on the postnatal ward. I had diabetes in pregnancy so I was keen to feed feed feed to keep his blood sugar levels up. I couldn't get out of bed but the bed raised and lowered. I asked/demanded lots of help. As it happens I have given up bf this time too (but made it to 8 weeks this time) but this wasn't connected with th casesaran.

Good luck.

After a planned section I found it easy to feed if I lay in a kind of 'recovery position' position, with baby lying on the bed in 'face-to-boob' position.

I also found I could sleep with him attached in this position and the hospital midwives gave it the OK too.

Tali my first dc breastfed after 3 days nicu. I have no idea how, and hadn't realized it was odd at the time. I did give her occasional bottles, but breastfed (not exclusively) for 3 months.

Thanks very much, sounds like there are lots of solutions, I just so want to be mobile after birth this time (thinking c section may be better than epidural\tearing on that front) but at the end of the day even if I'm not it doesn't matter so much. Also it does sound fairly normal however the birth has been to not suddenly be producing plenty of milk so I need to stop worrying about that. Thanks :)

I had an ELCS, I had skin to skin in theatre and then for about 4 hours constantly in recovery because I had a bleed and my DS's temperature was a bit low. I breastfed him about 45 mins after he was born and my milk came in on day 3.

I had an emcs and baby in scbu bfing took a little while to get going but was fine with perseverance!

You still have a spinal/ epidural with a cs though and it took me a while to be up and about tbh - sorry! It is major surgery and I had a lot of pain the following day, was fine with morphine and large quantities of codeine. Unfortunately I am not sure there is an easier option when it comes to getting babies out!!

Yes! I wish! I have been referred to an anaesthetist and I am waiting to hear if they will tell me I can't have an epidural or spinal and so my options are planned c section with general or normal with gas and air, in case of emergency\forceps etc to have c section under general anaesthetic. My toddler thinks we will just open a lid, if only! Thanks again

April the initial colostrum only comes out in small amounts for in the early days but it's great stuff!

If you have a general I think that may have implications for bfing due to the anaesthetic being in the milk - not 100% sure though! I had to have a general 2 weeks after dd was born and was advised to stop bfing I expressed for a couple of days and then went back to bfing without too much trouble.

I had an emcs, after which I was quite ill. I was also numb and unable to move (arms or legs) for nearly 24hours. DD never had any formula. When she was a few hours old I started worrying that she hadn't had a feed, and as I couldn't move my hands asked the nurse to let DH give her a bottle. She knew I had planned to breastfeed and held DD while she had her first feed. They then assisted me with every feed until I could hold her safely (at which point I was moved to the hell that is the postnatal ward).

Hi,

I'm a Paediatrician. I would recommend your newborn is placed directly on your chest for skin to skin immediately (provided Apgar score is normal). Healthy full term babies don't need any interventions in the first two hours that would prevent skin to skin. Don't use mittens, baby needs to feel his way around and experiment with hands in mouth, all as part of normal breastfeeding development.

More importantly, milk doesn't come in until day 3-4. The baby is born with reserves and 10-15% weight loss can be perfectly normal while the baby is "waiting" for the milk, and learning how to coordinate sucking etc. In this time they take in colostrum which is high in protein and immunoglobulins (for defences).

You can help your milk come in by doing a massage: massage the breast and the nipples to induce oxytocin and milk production. This can be done in late pregnancy and you can even express a few drops of colostrum into a syringe, as mums with Diabetes sometimes do these days (their babies may have low sugars on delivery).

CS does NOT in any way mean you won't be able to breastfeed, stay positive and ask for as much help and support as you can get, especially if you don't have any prior experience (mother, sisters, friends).

Best of luck, you'll do great.

Thanks very much for all this advice :) Rincoir I hear what you are saying about postnatal ward - never been so pleased to leave somewhere!