Active discussions

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Pregnancy

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

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
Surfskatefamily · 18/08/2019 07:33

Hi, me n baby were in recovery a bit faster than 2hrs.baby doesn't need feeding immediately so can wait. Get dad to cuddle and wait..
Do skin on skin as soon as you can and just give it a go.
I won't lie it's pretty rough at the beginning due to being Soooo tired and I had to feed then pump to establish my milk. You might not have that issue tho.

The hospital normally have breastfeeding consultants if you need some help.

Also I ended up needing to do some hand expressing and ended up with a midwife helping me with that, felt like a dairy cow lol. My baby had jaundice so there was extra pressure to get more milk ASAP to help him.

I am breastfeeding him 18months later and he's thriving

There are really hard bits like if you push through the first few days that's goal 1, then a week, then 2, then 4 each of these timescales suddenly got significantly easier

NearlySchoolTimeAgain · 18/08/2019 08:25

BF DS1 - maybe easier as it was an emergency c/s during labour.

He had to go to SCBU initially as his blood sugars were low and I suspect he had some formula then.

He was born at about 8pm and latched on easily with me lying on my side at about midnight (I was unwell after the delivery).

BF for 22 months. Not without hiccups but with the support of MN we got through them.

DandyLyon · 18/08/2019 09:00

I had a vaginal birth with my first and had no idea how to establish breastfeeding and it was a disaster. I had to have a csection this time and because id done so much research on how to establish breastfeeding I did so with no problems. When I was coming round it was suggested that I give formula as I was groggy but I refused and fed on my side knowing this first feed was crucial.

I'd really recommend Breastfeeding without tears : it talks you through the first few days and how to establish breastfeeding successfully, csection or not. Good luck. Link to book here : www.worldofbooks.com/en-gb/books/clare-byam-cook/what-to-expect-when-you-re-breastfeeding-and-what-if-you-can-t/GOR001343086

Original poster
Starlight84 · 18/08/2019 09:05

Thank you ladies. I’ll have a read. Sadly no daddy involved so I will be asking for skin to skin asap :) and hopefully get this feeding off the ground! The birth unit is absolutely amazing so the sooner I can get back there the better as well xx

OP posts:
Esto · 18/08/2019 09:10

Good luck, I did it twice without issue and didn't hold the baby either time until hours and hours after the birth. I think with my first I didn't touch him until about 6 later through my own choice. With my 2nd it was about 2 hours later through necessity. I BF both of them.

MrsD28 · 18/08/2019 13:13

I had an EMCS with DC1 and breastfed successfully for more than 19 months. Didn't have skin to skin straight away as there were some complications while being stitched up - he was already cleaned and wrapped in a blanket and DH had been holding him for at least an hour before I was close to him. As PP have said, they don't actually need any food straight away, so don't be put off if there is a bit of a gap. Do let them know that you plan to breastfeed so they are not given a bottle, however.

Original poster
Starlight84 · 18/08/2019 13:30

Thank you. I shall make my wishes perfectly clear and I will make sure my friend knows as well who will be with me. X

OP posts:
hormonesorDHbeingadick · 18/08/2019 13:40

My first DD was an EMCS and latched on and feed in recovery. Our breast feeding journey wasn’t great but that was due to my general health and her tongue tie.

My second baby was a vbac and she briefly tried to latch but struggled and then I had to go to surgery and it was 5 hours later before I was out of recovery and she had her first really feed. Midwife said because of her good weight they did not need to offer her formula.

You can give formula occasionally and still breast feed. It’s not either or.

xJune88 · 18/08/2019 14:33

I had an emcs and baby was poorly and taken away until 16 hours later the following day, they bottle fed her whilst she was away from me. I still managed to breast feed and had a good supply so I wouldn't overly worry about it. I expressed my colostrum and they gave me a pump to encourage my supply and then once I got baby back I put her straight onto my breast and everything was fine x

Falafel19 · 18/08/2019 16:48

I had 2 csections and breastfed both of mine. The first was taken straight to scbu and I didn't get to feed him until the next day so he had formula and then top ups for the first few days, lying in a comfy bed would've been much easier than sitting bolt upright on a schoolchair for hours in special care with a brand new csection wound.

Second time dc2 I had birth preferences written and established feeding in recovery as per my wishes. Then we coslept in the ward and he fed all night no issues. The baby has never sat anywhere near the wound as they are so little and high up on my chest or upper stomach.

You can still establish feeding after a baby has had formula if it is deemed medically necessary for whatever reason.

whattodowith · 18/08/2019 17:45

I’ve never formula fed but had a section with my last birth. DH held him while I was stitched up and such which I’d say took around 40 mins then we were wheeled back to the ward where I finally held and fed him. Unsure why it’s taken so long with your previous sections? We were in theatre just over an hour from start to finish.

Anyway, I found BFing after my section very easy and he’s still BF’d at 9 months.

dementedma · 18/08/2019 17:50

3 sections, all BF for varying lengths of time. Football hold is your friend. Hold baby the other way round to standard breast feeding. So, if feeding from right boob, his/her body lies to the right on a pillow or kind of tucked under your arm. Keep pressure of scar and works fine

lifesnotaspectatorsport · 18/08/2019 18:11

Agree with PP - just feed the baby as soon as you can and request no bottle feeds unless you are separated for over 2 hours. No reason you should be with a straightforward C section.

The other advice I had was to try stimulating colostrum in the week running up to the section. You can just try gently expressing in the shower - there's videos online. I managed to get a few drops and so I was confident the milk was there ready for DS as soon as he arrived! Bf him happily for a year.

sausageandrashers · 18/08/2019 19:16

Hello! My 2 youngest babies were csections and they were placed on me immediately after birth as soon as they'd been weighed and cleaned. I was pretty insistent that I wanted pretty immediate skin to skin. They closed me up etc while baby lay on my chest. DH was close by if I needed baby repositioned. They can do it, you just have to be very very very firm that it's what you want.
I managed to get breastfeeding going with both of my younger boys. It's absolutely possible. My eldest was also a csection but I wasn't as good at standing my ground on things and went along with whatever was suggested really.
Good luck. Smile

flowerstar19 · 18/08/2019 19:22

Hi OP, with my first DS, I had an EMCS, he was rushed to NICU, so I didn't get to hold him or try to feed for about 12 hours, but when I did he immediately started rooting and off he went, it was really instinctive, but I may have been really lucky. My second DS was a planned section, and we began feeding in recovery, which was truly fine. Stopping breastfeeding him seems to be my problem, lol! Best of luck Xxx

Raylas · 18/08/2019 19:28

I breastfed my second after my section. I said I wanted immediate skin to skin so they got him out, did his checks and stuck a nappy on then laid him on my chest while they finished. He couldn't feed like that but the skin to skin helps. They were great and put the monitoring pad things on the back of my shoulders so there was room for him. Then I fed him for the first time in recovery, the midwife will help with that. You can do it quite reclined they're not on your tummy.

Can't imagine waiting 2 hours to hold my baby for the first time how awful for you - unless did you have a general anaesthetic before? Shock

Original poster
Starlight84 · 18/08/2019 19:57

No was an elective section my second one. Just seemed to be in there ages before I was back on the ward. Then I held her when I was on the ward. Very odd. I want a completely different experience this time x

OP posts:
Underworld345 · 18/08/2019 20:04

I have a c section and breastfed. Tbh feeding wasn’t a problem at all with positioning. As long as baby is not resting directly over scar. Only thing was that you can’t event bend over and reach to pick up your baby for a while so along as you have someone to hand the baby over for cuddles/feeding.

I would just make sure your midwife knows you want to breastfeed and they should give you skin to skin quickly after birth.

FallenSkies · 18/08/2019 20:22

I breast fed my second, who was a c section and prem. they knew he would be whisked off to special care as soon as he was born, and I couldn't see him for a few hours.

In the room before I went through they gave me stuff to try and collect colostrum, so that he could be fed that instead of formula. Thankfully I managed it but they said if I didn't I could keep trying after and they would do everything they could to support my feeding decision.

When I was allowed to hold him we did lots of skin to skin, which really helped.

Just make sure the team know your preference, try not to stress yourself out too much and enjoy baby snuggles.

Good luck op

MeakTiger · 18/08/2019 20:30

I had an emergency c-section and due to complications with me didn’t see my son for several hours (I had a GA). He’d been given a formula feed due to me still being in theatre. It was probably five hours.

After that first feed he was exclusively breast fed until he was six months old, and I continued to feed him until he was 10 months old in conjunction with weaning onto solids.

We just did lots of cuddling in bed, Lots of skin to skin and I just offered it all the time and then pumped when he was finished. After about a few weeks I could feed him and fill a 6oz bottle and then it was fine, no issue at all. It was hard at first and I felt I had no supply but I just resisted topping him up and kept feeding. I never had any formula in the house as an option or I would have used it.

BUT at the end of the day as long as you feed your baby that’s all that matters so don’t beat yourself up if it doesn’t work. There is nothing wrong with formula. I was only so determined because I’m lazy and breastfeeding seemed the easiest option!

BurtTyrannosaurusMacklin · 18/08/2019 20:39

I was advised to hand express colostrum before my caesarian, and midwife gave me syringes to do so. Brought them in frozen, they kept two out for after the birth and stored the others in a freezer for me in case we needed them. Luckily mine attempted feeding very quickly and there were no issues etc with positioning anywhere near the incision. Also got to hold her right after she was delivered/cleaned up a bit, I feel like it must be unusual that you didn't - I hope so anyway! A feeding u shaped pillow thing may be good to help with positioning. I hope it all goes well for you!

Commonwasher · 18/08/2019 20:54

Hi OP, I had 2 elective sections and Bf both. I held both as soon as they had been weighed and swaddled, then as soon as I was out of theatre and in recovery I did the first feed. Just have to tell the staff. There will be 2 midwives in theatre, one for you and one for baby - tell them both. It’s hard to feed in theatre partly because of the surgical gown and partly as you are lying flat on your back, partly as the anaesthetic affects your arms, but I did wear a feeding bra to surgery so I could hoik up the gown and feed as soon as we were in recovery. Good luck! The beginning can be hard but Bf is much easier in the long run xx

Commonwasher · 18/08/2019 20:55

Ps: it can take a while for your milk to come in with a CS, no birth hormones to kick start the milk but don’t loose heart.

Stormwhale · 18/08/2019 21:02

I have had 2 sections, first baby it all went fine and she was put on me straight away. I fed her for the first time in recovery, it was all lovely.

2nd section was a bloody disaster. Long story short I ended up drugged up massively on fentanyl and barely knew where I was. I managed to tell the midwives I wanted to feed him and they literally held my arms up to hold him and latched him on. They then propped me up with pillows while he fed and made sure he didn't slip down or anything.

If I can breastfeed in that terrible state, then you will be absolutely fine after a normal section! Good luck and dont be afraid to keep asking for help.

Bees1 · 18/08/2019 21:02

I had skin to skin within seconds of her cord being clamped and she was only taken off me for 5mins whilst they moved me off the operating bed and into recovery where she was the immediately onto the breast and has camped there it seems since! 🤣 My only tip would be to feed feed feed, the more they feed particularly early on the quicker your milk comes in etc.