CSection and breastfeeding

[negrilbaby]

Just started wondering ... I had an emergency cs last time round and so was in labour before DS was born. If I have an elective cs I obviously don't go into labour. Will my body know to produce milk for breastfeeding or does it take some time? Just one of a final few worries that are keeping me awake at night!!

Yes it will. I had an elective section with DD1 and breastfed. One advantage of ECS is that even though you are attached to stuff afterwards for a day or so you have not been been in labour for hours and therefore less shattered. My main tip though is to make sure you ask for lots of help, especially in the first 24 hours.

It's the removal of the placenta that kickstarts milk production, rather than labour, AFAIK.

Yes you will still produce milk with a planned cs.

For the first few days I fed and fed and fed DD after my planned cs. Even if she wasn't crying I fed her if it was an hour or so between feeds. My milk came in less than 48 hours after the op and I had gallons of it, was expressing and freezing the stuff as she couldn't take it all. She piled on the weight too .

Just rest, feed & eat, get other people - including the midwives - to change nappies so you can recover. Even if they glare at you and expect you to hop out of bed in the first 24 hours just make it quite clear you aren't budging and they can do the nappies. I was pretty independent after 36 hours but glad I was a diva for that first day and rested.

I found that the lazier I was the easier recovery and bf was. Lots of ready meals and trashy sleb magazines seemed to work wonders.

Many thanks for these replies - they've really put my mind at rest.
Last time round I did manage to get a midwife to change DSs first meconium filled nappy. I was stuck in bed - legs still numb so no chance of getting up - and asked how I was suppose to change his nappy in bed. She was about to show me when she realised it needed a touch more than cotton wool and water! Poor baby got stuck under the tap!! Anyway, she came back and got me out of bed very soon after.
I'll definately try and get a bit more help this time round - but I'm not hopeful!
I will have my MIL at home when I'm discharged so that should be ok.