Breastfeeding after c section

[NewMummyJelly]

Hi

please be totally honest… is breastfeeding more difficult after a section in your experience? I’d love to breastfeed but is a c section going to sabotage these plans from the word go?

thank you

I had a section in June I didn’t choose to breastfeed but I could of and I don’t think it would of been problem due to section. Get yourself a decent nursing pillow and you will be fine.

What a shame you are worried about this. I had 3 sections and successfully breast fed 2 of my babies. With my first baby it was not the fact I had a section but that I didn't really know what I was doing and was given poor advice by the staff at the hospital. When I had my second I took the advice of a lady in the bed next to me who had successfully fed her babies and it worked out fine. I think it may take a bit longer for your milk to come with a section but you can do it! Just pop a cushion on your tummy for baby to lie on and that makes things easier.

I think it’s variable - I didn’t find the pain/discomfort of my wound an issue, but as is common after c sections my milk was delayed coming in (took 6 days), which meant my baby lost a lot of weight and we ended up being readmitted to hospital, and doing triple feeding (feeding, then pumping, then giving expressed milk +/- formula to baby).

That being said, I persevered and am still breastfeeding a year later so it wasn’t all a disaster!

I had two c-sections and breastfed both babies with no issues. I agree that a nursing pillow is a good idea.

I had 2 sections, and breast fed after both The first was at 38.5 weeks and we topped up with formula for the first few days as it took a while for my milk to come in. To get second CV was at 36 weeks and my milk came in straight away

Ugh awful typing. The second was at 36 weeks. I don't remember any difficulties with my wound being uncomfortable whilst feeding, but I did have a breast feeding cushion.

No, if anything it's easier though you might need help to lift baby onto lap for a few days x

@NewMummyJelly I'm 13 days post c section. My hospital was very supportive and placed baby on my chest straight away to help start the right hormonal response etc. I had an unexpected PPH afterwards and was very weak and had cannulas in both arms, so for the next 18 hours midwives/ HCAs kept popping him onto my boob for me.

I've had no issues with my milk coming in, the main issue I have is that the local support service is "hands off", which means they're very nice but don't actually help with positioning arm / boob / baby. They just repeat nose to nipple constantly!

Everyone I know who had a c section had a very successful bf journey. Only one person I know had an issue but they refused the Oromorph thinking it was bad for babe.

Oromorph actually promotes lactation and due to the way it metabolises barely crosses to the milk. You also need a lot less as it’s instant so don’t need to stay topped up on max doses of para and ibu which cross to breast milk much easier.

So in short I think you might have an easier time of it due to the c.

I combi-feed both my DC - I had more problems with breastfeeding with my DD after a vaginal birth than following my c-section birth with my DS.

I had four sections and EBF all of them. I carried on BF with each child, for as long as the child wanted.

It's really not related to how you give birth but (IMO) related to the support you have around you.

3 c sections, 3 breastfed babies. No issues other than the usual pain from bad latching.

I had two sections - first an emergency and second planned and managed to BF both times. Breastfeeding was a bit more of a struggle first time round but I think that was a combination of DS being born in the middle of the night and me not buzzing for help once I went to the ward, first time parent not really knowing what to do etc. Once I encountered a midwife who really helped me just said keep trying feeding and do rugby ball position my milk came in pretty quickly. Second time round BF was fine. I did take all the drugs on offer in the hospital both times.

Had 2 emcs breastfed no issues 🤷‍♀️

I combo (mainly bf) my 36 weeker twins until they were 9 months after a c section . My top tips are a good feeding pillow and a supportive partner in the early days when you are getting established.

In a word - no.

first daughter natural birth, breastfed.

second pregnancy, twins, c section, same (only I felt like a cow being milked because there were two feeding at once)😂

No issues following emcs

2 c sections (1 emergency, 1 planned) and breast fed both successfully. Also had no delay in milk and both only lost negligible % weight.
One thing I will say is if you are struggling then keep asking for support. BF is tricky to get the hang of then bloody amazing after about 6 weeks IME!
Good luck!

I had a c-section under GA and was in surgery for quite a long time. I didn’t come round and meet my baby for about 6 hours after he had been born. He had already had a formula feed before I was reunited with him. I EBF for 6 months without problem (that was his only formula feed) and that was in spite of me going back to work when he was 12 weeks old and having to pump at work for his daytime feeds. After 6 months I combination fed for another 4 months (he had formula while I was at work but was BF first and last feed of the day alongside introducing solids).

So despite the worst start, we very successfully BF so don’t worry!

No problem at all for me - I breastfed both my babies straight away after C-sections. Hopefully you’ll feel your colostrum starting to come in during the final weeks of pregnancy. Make sure you get lots of skin to skin as soon as baby is born. Good luck OP!

I struggled after emcs but it was because my boobs are big I think. I just couldn't get comfortable in a position that worked for us - combined with the fact that I can only feed on one side now after having ducts removed on the other side. I ended up in a lot of pain and a bleeding, cracked nipple. However, I don't regret trying - I had friends round to offer help getting it right, a local bf charity sent someone round to me, midwives were fab too.

Go for it and give it a go, just don't put too much pressure on yourself.

I had a section and DC was initially tube fed my expressed milk. We managed though, he was EBF.

Emergency C-section. Zero problems breastfeeding, other than having a sleepy jaundiced baby to start with. A bit of sun bathing and giving expressed milk (after offering breast first) to wash the jaundice out helped. Milk came on day 3, same as it did after my vaginal birth.

I bf for three years after a section. The initial difficulties all came from the baby’s health so it does depend a little on why you need the section but it’s doable.

Currently breast feeding my 12 day old DD following a CS. She was born at 39+1. No issues at all. Also successfully BF my first DD who was born at 38+2, no issues at all and BF until 6m.

Don't worry OP x