To bf or not to bf after c section?

[LongJohnGlitter]

I'd love to and I'm loath to! Am mostly nervous about doing all the feeds myself.

My real (arguably silly) question is, if u don't breastfeed after a section does the uterus still contract and go down the same as if you have a vaginal birth? I know breastfeeding helps things to go back to normal / shrink a bit quicker. Am so big and ungainly now that one thing I am looking forward to is feeling more myself....

I bf after a csection and it was fine. Meant no worrying about schlepping in and out of bed post surgery either. I just coslept and fed as necessary. I enjoyed feeding so doing all the feeds myself was a pleasure not a pain. I just delegated lots of other jobs.

Your uterus will contract down regardless.

I bf twins after CS absolutely no problems. Go for it and good luck with the delivery

Do it! Be aware that milk may take longer to come in after a section as opposed to vaginal delivery, and you may have to hold baby in slightly different positions until your wound heals. But do it!

Thank u ladies! Good to know too that if bf doesn't work out the user will still go back to normal

I had an ELCS and BF didn't happen for me at all -- my supply never established beyond a trickle, despite trying everything for two months, taking advice from all sources, having blood tests and paying for a lactation consultant. Obviously, it's not clear that the CS was a contributing factor, but just bear in mind that sometimes the choice is taken out of your hands. I think I would have struggled less with not being able to BF had it ever occurred to me that I would be physically unable to. I was prepared for it to be difficult or take a while to establish, but not for it simply never happening at all.

If you are worried about doing all the feeding then introduce a bottle after a couple of weeks. Lots will shout about nipple confusion and it affecting breast feeding but it absolutely did not with either of mine. I started at about 2 weeks old by giving a bottle of formula around 8-10pm each day, they may splutter a bit to begin with and not take much but if you do it every day they'll get it. You have to keep it up though, I did a feed or dream feed with bottle at 10pm with mine once it was established.

Much easier to do all the feeds yourself and get partner to do nappy changes etc. Plus you can breastfeed lying on your side or semi-recumbent propped up on pillows, whereas you should only bottle feed a baby in a fully upright position. And then there’s the faff of making up feeds and sterilising.

Basically if you don’t struggle too much with feeding (and expect that at times it will be difficult and may be uncomfortable for a bit) it is definitely the lazy option.

I had 2 sections and managed to bf . We switched to combi feeding at around 6 weeks both times. So 2 bottles daily from dad and the rest of the feeds from me. Worked really well for us.

4 sections here and bf them all. No problems whatsoever, co-slept with the final 2. I actually found that once you had the hang of it, it was actually easy. No getting up in the middle of the night to make feeds. Some of my fondest memories with my children are lying in the dark of the night feeding. The bonding time is so precious. Go for it OP!

I BF after an emergency c section. I was so determined to do it. It really is the best thing and totally doable. In the long run it's definitely the lazy option! I type this as I sit with a baby attached to my boob.. Both hands free ;)

Thank you everyone, I have never heard so many encouraging voices regarding breastfeeding. My family are not supportive at all and would say away from it. I would love to at least try, for baby and for my postpartum body! Also, this is our one and only child, and I want to try everything : )

Another vote for trying to BF. I had an ELCS, established BF well and loved every minute of it. I did all of the feeds but hubby did nappy changes/baths/ changes of clothing to help them bond and to give me a break. I fed my LB until he self weaned at 13 months. He too is our first and likely last - the lovely snuggly feeds are just lovely. Good luck

Thank you!

Breastfeeding is a perfect excuse to sit around all day! Definitely recommend.

Your body, post partum will be normal. For a post partum body. It won't be the same as before, nor should it be.

Please don't decide how to feed on this alone.

I bf after both sections.

Tough going for first few weeks but then it gets easy. And much less faff than making up bottles.

Thank you all again. It just occurred to me this morning, there is no sign of colostrum / milk at the moment, c section is tomorrow. I guess I'll just have to go with the flow : )

I had no signs of milk before I gave birth and I am still breastfeeding mine at 21m, don’t worry!

With my first I had no signs of milk until after the section. She fed for 3.5yrs!

They'll encourage you to feed in recovery with the baby tucked in next to you. It's a really special moment.

Good luck for tomorrow. Let us know how it goes.