Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

Flip

1 2 3

Original poster

Ladies who have had c sections and breastfed! Help!

71 replies

Starlight84 · 17/08/2019 20:47

So I have had two sections and I bottle fed. This time I’d like to attempt breast feeding but unsure how l?? I didn’t hold my other children until I was out of recovery and on the ward. So about 2 hours after their birth or so. By this point they were dressed and already fed. At the time I felt groggy and in pain and couldn’t even imagine having a baby over my tummy and pressure on my scar. I know women do it though. What do I be saying?? As surely the baby needs placing on me almost immediately after checks to attempt feeding??

I know I sound stupid but I am clueless. I feel like this time I want to attempt it.

Also do you have to take your own formula in now? You didn’t last time around but this is an 11yr gap and things change!

Many thanks x

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

userabcname · 17/08/2019 20:52

Hi OP, I'd discuss with your midwife / write in your birth plan that you'd like to attempt breastfeeding and you should be supported after birth (also worth asking your birth partner to prompt this too after delivery). I didn't have a c section but was whisked straight to theatre for about 6 hours post-delivery (DS' first feed was formula) and I still managed to establish bf-ing with lots of skin to skin and some epic cluster feeds once he was back in my arms! So it is possible even if you can't do skin to skin straight away. Good luck!

SugarMiceInTheRain · 17/08/2019 20:53

Ive had 3 CS and breastfed each of them shortly afterwards and for at least a year. Tell them you want help to breastfeed and the MW will help you to do so while you're in recovery. In theatre, DH gave each of ours a cuddle while they stitched me up, then in recovery they put each baby on my chest for skin to skin and first BF. I was still semi reclined for first feeds but was helped to get comfortable for feeding with a CS scar with pillows etc.

galvantula · 17/08/2019 20:54

I didn't use any formula, but I think your are meant to take your own in now.

There is a picture of me bf DS1 in recovery. They'd kind of tucked him in beside my arm half on my chest. (The midwives I guess).

I think I mostly tried to feed him lying down in hospital (it's a bit of a blur and almost 10 years ago now 😬)

I had a bf pillow to rest him on once I got home, which helped.

WilsonandNoodles · 17/08/2019 20:54

I've had 2 sections, first emergency second planned and with both breast fed. With the planned I stayed with the baby the whole time, emergency we had a bit of time apart. Both times I fed when back in the delivery suite and the baby was put on me. My DH or midwife helped each time to get positioned because it was hard at first with the numbness followed by pain but very doable. If you want to try it they will do everything they can to make it possible for you.

SquintEastwood · 17/08/2019 20:55

I had a section with #2 and managed to breastfeed for 16 months.

I requested skin to skin asap, I think this was around an hour when I was back in ward but she didn't seem to fuss beforehand. She was wrapped in a blanket with a nappy on until then but DH held her by me until I could take her myself.

As soon as I could I took her and play her on my chest and left her to it, she didn't actually start to root around for a while then found her own way when she was hungry it was quite amazing how her instincts kicked in!

It's worth discussing the formula with your midwife as it seems to carry between hospitals whether they provide or not.

user1469292281 · 17/08/2019 20:57

I had a C-section when I had my twins and managed to breast feed them almost straight away. I had a twins feeding pillow so they were each tucked under an arm. It's a long time ago (nearly 20 years - gulp!) but it wasn't an issue as far as I can remember. Possibly your midwife can advise on this "rugby ball hold" as I think it's known!

BehindATractor · 17/08/2019 21:00

This LLL leaflet has all the information you might need - how to prepare, what to ask for, common issues and how to solve them.

I had a crash section and fed successfully for over a year, but if only I’d known things like the effect of IV fluids on engorgement, the first weeks would have been an awful lot easier!

Original poster

Starlight84 · 17/08/2019 21:02

Wow thanks ladies! So great to hear these stories! I am hoping I will get to move back to the birth centre in my town after I’m ok from the section as the mw’s there seem to have more time to help. I remember hearing the lady next to me crying and I pulled the curtain to ask if she was ok and the nurse had given her a bottle as she didn’t have time to assist with feeding. I said I feel like complaining for you but she didn’t want fuss and I didn’t want to get involved. Surely they have a duty to help?? Xx

OP posts:

Original poster

Starlight84 · 17/08/2019 21:03

I am next seeing my mw in sept for my 25 week appointment. I think the sooner I’m clearer with my plans the better. And I shall request a transfer to the birth centre to get properly established xx

OP posts:

TinyMystery · 17/08/2019 21:03

DS fed whilst they were still stitching me back together IIRC. He definitely had a good feed in recovery. I was nicely numb so didn’t feel anything at all at that stage. Just ask your midwife to help get him latched on as soon as you can.

RandomMoth · 17/08/2019 21:09

Same for me, we did skin to skin while they were stitching me up and she latched on then. The incision is very low down so I never felt as if she was resting on it.

PyjamasForever · 17/08/2019 21:12

I also had skin to skin while being stitched up in theatre and then more skin to skin and first breastfeed in recovery. Baby was quite high on my abdomen so nowhere near my scar.

Celebelly · 17/08/2019 21:16

I honestly didn't find it a issue. We had problems getting BF established initially but not due to positioning or C-section stuff. They're so tiny that you can easily position them without being on a painful bit and they're not really overly active.

Nowtherave · 17/08/2019 21:18

I had 3 sections and bfed successfully straight away. Was never even raised or discussed as an issue with midwives! Just got on with it. They surely will do anything to encourage it anyway. You'll be fine.

Celebelly · 17/08/2019 21:18

Also you should get skin to skin straight away with section, unless baby needs extra care. My DD was placed almost directly on me in surgery, DP took her briefly to dress her after about 30 mins in the recovery room, and then she was put back on me while we were in recovery room and then taken to ward. No need to go two hours without holding!

Celebelly · 17/08/2019 21:19

(Unless it's under GA)

Pipandmum · 17/08/2019 21:20

My son took a few days to latch on and it was still fine. They have him one bottle feed but after that it was me. My daughter was ill and spent four days in NICU with a tube down her throat and I couldn’t easily get to her so only intermittently breastfed and tried pumping for those few days but after she was released she breastfed for a year.
I don’t see why they need to bottle feed your baby so soon - even with my son they waited two days before they gave him the bottle.
Just tell them you plan to breastfeed.
I don’t recall feeling any pain from the baby feeding as they don’t rest on your wound they are above it.

TitianaTitsling · 17/08/2019 21:20

Crash early section here, bf as soon as docs said was ok- was general anaesthetic, fed till 2 yes 8 months! Was visited in hospital by bf support team and again at home, found local support groups amazing help.

Iarla · 17/08/2019 21:22

My sister has had 2 c sections and 3rd baby imminent. Bf both babies for the guts of a year. 1st section was emergency but for 2nd it was planned and she was very clear around birth plan that she wanted skin to skin in theatre. She works in health care so knew what needed to be said and done. Still had to have a stand up row pre theatre with the Ob but the Senior Reg who did her C sec was lovely and everyone kept joking about her wishes in theatre so it took the heat out of the situation. She was well able for him but I'd worry when women are vulnerable and stressed getting grief. I think issue was you need an extra midwife in theatre to help mum and baby do skin to skin. Theatre nurses won't do this etc. Anyhow there was a bit of guilting going on I think about how busy they were. I'd say reach out ask for help then demand help and don't be fobbed off. Top tip... my sister said nurses love babies in cots at night but you're alone and sore and difficult to lift in and out so on 2nd baby when DH left her at night to go home he popped baby beside her in the bed and that's where he stayed for the night. Best of luck

Cannyhandleit · 17/08/2019 21:24

When I had my 2nd they asked me before hand if I planned to bf and because I did they positioned me on the bed on my side so as soon as they had closed me up they lay baby next to me so he could get easy access to boob!

Timeless19 · 17/08/2019 21:29

Last summer I was given a special gown they were trialling that had poppers down the front, they opened them when she was born and I was doing skin to skin probably within 5 minutes of her birth. As soon as we got to recovery the midwife got her latched on and we’ve been breastfeeding for over a year now.

Good luck!

Original poster

Starlight84 · 17/08/2019 21:29

Thank you. I will be definitely having words this time. X

OP posts:

Original poster

Starlight84 · 17/08/2019 21:30

@Timeless19 that sounds lovely! What a good idea! Xx

OP posts:

AcrobaticCardigan · 17/08/2019 21:31

I am currently breastfeeding successfully post c-section! I held baby in recovery room & fed before we were transferred to ward. The sooner you attempt to feed the better. I think there is a “golden hour” immediately after birth whereby feeding is more easily established. Good luck OP!

icclemunchy · 18/08/2019 00:20

It might be worth scoping out the bf support on offer in your area OP. If you have a local la leche league group you can pop along to their meetings whilst still pregnant and they'll have lots of suggestions how to get bf off to a good start (other posters have already given great ones about skin to skin). It's handy to know where to go if you run into any niggles in the early days rather that trying to work out what's on offer when you're tired and worried

Flip

1 2 3

Swipe left for the next trending thread