Hi ladies,

Hope you're all well. I was wondering if I could get some advice, and hoping you could put my mind at rest.

I have high blood pressure and am showing other signs of pre-eclampsia as a result my doctor has told us that she will be delivering my baby via c-section in the next few days. Apart from being absolutely devastated that I won't get my natural birth (although I am trying to get over it... trying) I am also terrified that it is going to affect my ability to breastfeed.

I can't explain how much it means to me to breastfeed, formula feeding was never an option but I am worried that by having a c-section my potential to breastfeed is already compromised?

Has anyone here got any experience with breastfeeding following a c-section? Am I really over thinking things? Are there anythings I can do to facilitate easy breastfeeding after the delivery?

I am planning on still doing skin to skin a.s.a.p and on putting the baby on the breast as soon as I can. My only worry is that the c-section may be performed under general anesthetic and so between the delivery and me waking up my baby and I will be separated affecting bonding in general and breastfeeding.

Can any of you help?

I had to have a csection as baby was breech, I like you was devastated, although now baby is here safe and sound I have no regrets just happy to have my little one. I exclusively breastfeed and have no problems at all, milk came I on day 4 and baby is now 9 weeks old and 12lbs 11oz was 8lbs when born, he is happy and healthy and no problem at all with my milk even though csection.

I had a c-sec and breastfeed just fine.

I was even put out for my c-section and she was fed formula for the first few feeds by nurses and we're doing fine.

I've had 2 sections, first an emergency at 36+5 due to severe pre-e and second an elective (if you can call it that) at 40+1due to high bp and developing symptoms of pre-e and have had no problems bf either of them I was quite poorly with my first too xx

I had a c section and I would advise using the rugby ball (football) positioning to breastfeed as you don't have to lay the baby across your sore belly. If you're not sure how to do it have a look on youtube to see women doing that hold, and make sure you ask ALL THE TIME for help with nursing and for them to bring your baby to you to feed. It's their job and you won't be able to get up the first day when you have the op so keep asking for help. You can PM me if you want to chat any time, I was scared too because I SO wanted a water birth, but the section was really fine.
We did have a few problems BFing at the beginning but got over them with help from people on here, so if I can be of any help to you before or after your section just PM me.
Good luck and try not to get upset, soon you'll have your lovely baby in your arms and you won't care how she got here xxx

Pillows, more pillows, and a really comfy chair. I struggled to get comfortable to feed LO at first, and he had serious latching problems (he had to be suctionned at birth, so wouldn't open his mouth). The c-section itself didn't cause any problems other than a little discomfort in picking LO up and finding it hard to make a comfy way to sit.

I was concerned about this, but honestly it all worked out despite me having a section AND Eleni being poor at latching the first week. We got through it, it wasn't any more uncomfortable than it was with my vaginally delivered babies.

Thank you so much for all of your replies, I am feeling much more positive about it all now.

I've been booked in for the section tonight so hopefully I can come back in a few days and post a positive breastfeeding experience!

Kirei I might have to hold you to that! Thank you for the kind offer

Good luck! Hope all goes well

The BFing section is amazing for support and reassurance - post as much as you need to once LO is here!

I also ended up having a c-section. I, too, wanted a vaginal delivery, but to be honest, all you want in the end is a safe and healthy baby. So try not to think about it.

You will have absolutely zero problems breastfeeding, just don't stress about it. The only difference is that with c-section, the full, white milk takes about three days to descend, but it doesn't matter, because in the beginning BF is more about bonding than feeding. It happened to me, and when we left the clinic, my bubber had lost the normal, expected 10%. A month later, she's gained more than a kilo.

You will have no problems breastfeeding hon. I promise. I've got an unbelievable supply, and so will you.