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Pregnancy

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

Original poster

Planned C-Section and Breastfeeding

51 replies

Firsttimebabymama · 02/04/2024 16:40

Hello, I'm meeting the consultant this week (I'm 37 weeks) about a planned C-Section. I've been told by friends that this can negatively affect breast-feeding, is this right? Has anyone on here found this and is there anything I can do to help the process if I decide C-Section?

This is my first pregnancy and I had originally planned vaginal birth.
Thank you :)

OP posts:
PoppingTomorrow · 02/04/2024 16:53

Ask people who are telling you that there's a negative impact to explain what they mean, specially, so you can understand specific pitfalls and plan to avoid or mitigate them.

I had a c section 9 weeks ago and my baby and i struggled with latch to begin with. One challenge with c sections is the baby can be more drowsy after delivery and lack the drive to feed. Mine seemed pretty keen, he just couldn't get attached.

My advice would be:
watch some videos on attachment and positioning beforehand. The piece about the babies chin making contact with the breast before latching/to support a wide opening of the mouth is important in my view.
Get yourself a breastfeeding pillow.
Tell anyone you come across that you would like to breastfeed and ask who is available to support you with that if needed.
Try to feed your baby after birth. If it doesn't work first, don't be disheartened, keep giving it a go and ask the midwives for help. Maximise skin to skin.
Try to relax - easier said than done but deep breaths really do help. Your calmness will transfer to the baby.

Express colostrum beforehand if you can.
If you don't manage to feed baby in the first day or two i suggest hiring a hospital grade pump till you work out what you're going to need (rather than buying an expensive pump that turns out not to be what you need).

PoppingTomorrow · 02/04/2024 16:55

(But you might not have any issues!) - maximise skin to skin is key

User1706 · 02/04/2024 16:56

I had a planned section and have breastfed for over 2 years. My issues have all been to do with a lack of support and/or knowledge.

I think every experience is different all you can do is prepare yourself as well as possible. Read up on normal breastfeeding behaviours, breastfeeding science and enjoy lots of skin to skin when baby is here. Good info sources are: La Leche League, Kellymom, Breastfeeding Network. Unfortunately (and I fully acknowledge this may not be the case in every area) poor sources of info was from GPs and Health Visitors.

nowtygaffer · 02/04/2024 17:07

Hi I've had 3 C sections and breastfed all my babies. One tip I would give you is to sit on a supportive chair with arms and put a pillow across your lap to help support your baby. Also lying down in bed on your side is good too. All the best!

Liloona · 02/04/2024 17:13

I had an emergency c section and personally had no issues with breastfeeding.

LilacPear · 02/04/2024 17:26

elective c section here, no issues breastfeeding

cheesychips15 · 02/04/2024 17:51

I had an elective c-section with my first. He was in the neonatal unit on oxygen for the first 24 hours of his life and I wasn't able to breastfeed him during that time (I did express colostrum for him, although I hadn't managed to express any before birth despite trying). Started feeding him the day after he was born, exclusively till he was 6 months and carried on till after he'd turned 2.

I don't think I had any issues with breastfeeding that were specific to me having had a c-section.

SofiaAmes · 02/04/2024 17:54

40 hours of labor followed by an emergency cs and I had no problem breastfeeding. I did get some coaching about latching from my cousin a few months earlier and it was super helpful....(make sure baby's mouth is over the whole areola and not just on the nipple). As PP have said...definitely look up some videos before hand.

Bluepint · 02/04/2024 17:55

I’ve had two c sections, first was twins which did take a while to get established, but that was more to do with their low birth weight. 2nd section, no issues breastfeeding, he came out and latched first try. Breastfed all 3 of them for 2 years (2 years twins, 2.5 years ds)

AliceinSlumberland · 02/04/2024 18:02

I had an elective c section, my baby was born drowsy and although he latched he struggled to suck. There was a lot of pressure on me to feed him in the first hour or so post c section when I felt pretty out of it, which was really hard and he got drowsier and drowsier. I’m not sure how much of that had to do with him being born at 37 weeks though. I really wish I’d taken colostrum with me to take that pressure off in the first few hours and I wish I’d woken him more to feed, every couple of hours at least. I got very very little support in the hospital about any of it due to understaffing. Having said that, wr still managed 5 months and I had a massive oversupply which I ended up donating to the local hospital for the neonatal unit so it certainly didn’t hinder us in the end. Good luck, my actual section and recovery were textbook perfect and I was walking in the park on day 5 despite being quite poorly in pregnancy.

DewinDwl · 02/04/2024 18:05

Elective c section and vaginal delivery. Both babies breastfed and no difference in experience.

TupperCare · 02/04/2024 18:50

Planned c-section in Feb 2021, breastfed exclusively for 9 months and stopped altogether at 20 months.

I harvested colostrum so not sure if that helped. We did have some latch issues but that wasn’t due to the section, and they were sorted quickly, and he was always a healthy weight and no checks raised any concerns

Original poster
Firsttimebabymama · 02/04/2024 21:38

Thank you everyone, these replies are definitely reassuring! Will update once I've spoken to the consultant :)

OP posts:
Ljhunt · 02/04/2024 22:11

I had a planned c-section, no issues with breastfeeding, baby latching and sucking immediately, milk came in after 2 and a bit days

FlyingHighFlyingLow · 02/04/2024 22:19

Emergency C section after baby got stuck here. Baby latched well as soon as born, no drowsiness, no issues. My milk came in day 2! Some babies were drowsy, depended on the medications mums had. General anaesthetic and opiods will make baby drowsy. I can't have them so I only had paracetamol and ibruprofen and absolutely no issues, but if you need stronger painkillers then you need them, but will transfer to baby in milk and drowsiness is a very common side effect of that. Hand expressing was very useful to get a hangry baby to latch 😂

Mmmmpavlova · 02/04/2024 22:25

I asked both my obstetrician and an IBCLC (breastfeeding consultant) about this before my planned section and both said it had no effect, and that (if I recall correctly) the detaching of the placenta is the main trigger for the start of lactation.

My section went great and baby latched straight after the surgery.

Ncjolly · 02/04/2024 22:28

I had a planned c section also and had absolutely no issues with breastfeeding at all - baby latched onto me during recovery within an hour of op. Actually got told by the midwife looking after me during recovery that my baby’s latch was textbook worthy (we had no idea about anything as baby was our first)

Gymnoob · 02/04/2024 22:31

I had no problems. Anecdotally from those I knew in last pregnancy it was those without adequate pain relief that had issues. Everyone with Oromorph was like a fountain. It was those on with otc meds that had issues. So make sure you get good pain relief from the hospital if you need it and don’t take no for an answer.

Mumto3Princes · 02/04/2024 22:31

I’ve had two planned sections and breast fed fine both times.

It can cause problems though as with a planned section there is no (or very little) oxytocin floating around your system in the same way that occurs when a woman is in labour, which in turn can slow down the milk ejection process but it doesn’t happen to everyone.

Lots of skin to skin will help, as well as putting the baby to the breast as much as possible and utilising breast compressions during feeding and hand expressing if needed.

Unmumsymofo · 02/04/2024 22:52

2 sections here and no issues establishing Breastfeeding either time. I had gestational diabetes so encouraged to express colostrum for a few weeks prior to giving birth and I would 100% recommend for c sections mums who want to breastfeed. When your in natural labour your body is prompted to get a move on with milk production but with a c section there is more of a lag. So to have some colostrum on hand to nourish baby really helped me feel less frustrated with my body and helped baby get strength up to keep attaching and sucking in order to bring my milk in. Ask your midwife for some colostrum syringes.

RoyKentwhistle · 02/04/2024 23:58

2 c sections. One Emergency and one ELCS. Both times my milk didn't come in for 5 days.

ameliacooper · 03/04/2024 07:26

Absolutely, a planned C-section can indeed impact breastfeeding, but it's definitely possible to breastfeed successfully afterward. Many mothers who have had C-sections go on to breastfeed their babies without any issues. It's a good idea to discuss your concerns with your healthcare provider and perhaps even a lactation consultant. They can provide valuable advice and support tailored to your situation. Remember, breastfeeding is a learning process for both you and your baby, so be patient and give yourself time to adjust. You're doing great, and you've got this! Best of luck with your upcoming delivery and your breastfeeding journey!

bzarda · 03/04/2024 07:34

I had an emergency csection and breastfed with absolutely no problems. My friend had a planned one a couple of weeks before and had problems feeding because she lost so much blood (but her and baby otherwise fine). Its not something you can control so try not to worry about it and just prepare for any eventuality- even though I breastfed I had a cupboard full of formula just in case.

Good luck and congrats on the baby :)

EliflurtleAndTheInfiniteMadness · 03/04/2024 07:42

3 c-sections, one emergency and 2 planned, successfully breastfed all 3 to 12+ months. First did have a couple of tough weeks, she needed nipple shields to breastfeed, but that was related to my flat nipples.

ColleenDonaghy · 03/04/2024 07:46

I had two c sections and both babies were EBF without issue. It maybe took an extra day for my milk to come in, but it wasn't a problem.