Breast milk and C section

[SCK2024]

Are there any implications? Or delay in milk?

shall I try and harvest now?

#32 weeks

i had an elective in 2022, I didn’t have any delays in my milk coming in or any implications. Had him at 39 weeks and I did collect colostrum from about 37 weeks when my midwife said it was ok to start

No and no.

You are less likely to have issues if you are having a planned CS too.

Hi! My first dd was a c section and my milk was delayed, coming in around day 7, however it came in pretty soon with my 2nd c section. I did harvest colostrum with both and I’m so glad I did.

My first child had IUGR and I lost a bit of blood in theatre due to placenta previa, so that could be the reason for my milk being delayed

I ended up having an emergency c-section after a very long labour and have had zero issues with my milk supply. I struggled to harvest colostrum during pregnancy, so went into labour with none stored. My Milk came in a day or two after birth and i've been EBF my little one for 7 weeks now with no issues

CS is a risk factor for delayed milk coming in, but this doesn't usually mean days and days - the average is around 50 hours post birth but across a "normal" range of around 36-72 hours ... so if all goes well it shouldn't be too long.

There are a lot of other factors too, like first time mothers, blood loss, T1D.

One thing to consider is that if you have an incision site and are catherterised/have cannulas in/have pain relief you may find it difficult to get comfortable and baby may be sleepy, leading to baby not latching well and not getting the breast stimulated enough.

If you want to breastfeed the best things you can do are find a local support group (preferably IBCLC led) and visit them to find out how they run, and to start thinking about colostrum harvesting from around 37 weeks. It's always useful!

I had a c section and there was a delay, initially my little girl began to lose weight but I just kept offering her it loads without supplementing (every 40 mins!) Its was exhausting to be honest but it did the trick, and I fed her for over 2 years it was a god send at times, and she quite quickly gained weight again!

Both EMCS and ELCS and no issues with milk coming in. EMCS followed long labour and a baby in distress so we were both exhausted and I had no problems.

Same here - she lost weight and I was panicking a bit, but I just kept offering and pumping and all was good within a few days. I didn't top up with any formula either.

No it’s not advised at 32 weeks to harvest, I believe 37 weeks is the minimum.

No problems here with milk coming in, by day 3 I pumped about 16 oz in one setting for my nicu baby! Just a shame he never wanted to latch…

Trying to harvest colostrum can bring on contractions, so at 32 weeks, better not. From 37 weeks is more advisable.

I've had a vaginal birth, then an emergency C-section. Milk came in day 3 both times. Very little difference. Didn't lose much blood at the C-section and wasn't in labour all that long (~14 hours).

I had a very straightforward emergency c section (I hadn’t been in labour beforehand) from which I recovered well but my milk was delayed unfortunately- it came in right at the end of day 5/ early day 6. I’d been able to harvest a decent amount of colostrum beforehand but my baby still lost a significant amount of their birth weight.

Definitely wait until nearer 36/37 weeks to try and harvest colostrum.

Never tried to harvest colostrum.

Had an EMCS at 41 weeks after baby got stuck in labour. Latched immediately, milk came in on day 2. Fed from breast only from birth, no supplementing or pumping.

Of course baby lost some weight (almost all do) they just like baby to reach birth weight again by 14 days old. Mine hit birth weight on day 10.

Breastfed for 2 years.

Another friend had an elective c section at 38 weeks and Breastfed exclusively until 10 months. Another had a textbook vaginal birth and struggled with supply and combi fed.

Never had any luck with harvesting. DS was an emergency section and had to start off on formula as he was in the nicu with low blood sugar. I pumped my milk in and maybe it was a little delayed. Then ebf until 18 months.
DD was an elective and I fed her from birth with no issues.

I’ve had 2 elective sections. Milk came in after 3 days the first time and 2 days the second. In fact I had so much milk the second time I considered donating but DC2 was a very hungry baby!
This was all despite DC2 being in SCBU (so no skin to skin the first 24 hours) and me getting post natal pre eclampsia (yes it’s a thing apparently).
My point is not to brag about my magic boobs but to make the point that in my experience milk comes in under its own steam! Don’t worry about harvesting or even if you have to give your baby a bottle or two of formula. DC2 was howling in hunger before my milk came in, an older, sensible midwife suggested giving him some formula to calm him down and it was the right call. He calmed down, so did I, milk arrived shortly after.
Best of luck with your baby 💐

From what I understand, trauma (so a traumatic birth in this case) can delay milk coming in. Elective csections should not be traumatic, but emergency C-sections could be. I think when they say csections delay milk; this is what they mean.

Emcs with pre eclampsia & pph, milk never came in at all.

I don't know if anyone ever explained to you that a PPH can damage the pituitary gland which means you will not be able to lactate? I'm sorry you had a rough time.

Your supply could also be unrelated to CS.

I could barely get anything out with harvesting either time. Then could hardly get anything out after my EMCS. DC1 never latched either. I didn’t even try with DC2. Good to see lots of positive experiences on the thread though!

I had two c sections and had no problems at all.

I had 2 emergency c-sections and never had an issue with milk coming in. My first was born at 36 weeks, my milk came in on day 3. My second was born at 38 weeks and came in pretty much fully the next day. I produced so much colostrum second time around it was practically leaking out on its own. It is not recommended to express before 37 weeks as it can cause you to go into early labour. I started trying to express colostrum at 38 weeks and went into labour within a few hours (ended in section).