Breast feeding after a c section hints and tips please

[redwine]

Hiya my 2nd baby is due in 2 weeks, my daughter was born by emergency c section and she would not latch on at all, I expressed for 3 months and found it exhausting. For baby 2 I would love it if he or she would latch on and be fed without all the expressing. Birth is scheduled as a plannedc-section, Has anyone been through anything similar and what are the best positions to feed in after a section?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

[susywoosy]

I've had 2 sections now and have breast fed both my kids. i'm the opposite to u tho as I breast fed my daughter (baby no.1) always at the breast and was exhausted 6 weeks in as i was doing all the feeds and was finding it hard to function. I introduced the odd bottle of expressed milk so my husband could do a thru the night feed. I found breast feeding harder than i thot and only managed 3 months 2ith my daughter.

This time i did 4/5 weeks of ebf and then introduced expressed bottles. My DS was literally feeding from me most of the day and i found it hard to keep this up with my toddler who needed me too. I am only having my DS at the breast a couple of feeds a day and much prefer the freedom that comes with being able to take a couple bottles of expressed milk with me when going out and not stressing about where i can feed little one. I'm not comfortable bfing in public. DH is able to do feeds too and my DS seems happier as he can complete a feed much quicker. He still enjoys being at the breast too so we r still doing some breast feeds.

Anyway as to positions... the rugby ball hold/position is gd after a section as there is no pressure on your tummy. It can make latching on a bit easier too. With latching on it is just a case of persisting until u and baby get it right. I had a lot of support from hospital staff during my stay and after i got home as mw etc were all very pro bfing. Ask at hospital about support groups or specialists who could help u get bfing established xx

 

[cait]

I've had two emergency sections and both babies latched right after birth so chances are your second baby will latch ok - esp as he/she won't have any trauma of labour (my DS had a hard time during contractions and needed help breathing after eventual section). I use a bf pillow to shield the wound, and prefer rugby ball hold on the right breast (large breasts plus right handed). Experiment with different positions.
When in hospital don't be afraid to buzz nurses to lift baby out of cot for feeds, and ask for help with latching. The more support you can get the better.
When back home get OH to lift baby for you until you're more mobile, even/especially at night - don't be a martyr, it's major surgery and you need to look after yourself. Ask midwives/health visitors to check latch at every visit too. Good luck x

 

[Lizzybee]

As pp's have said rugby ball is good. I also did (and still do) side feeding laid down. Baby on top of covers so as not to overheat. Breast you feed from closest to bed. Baby lays on their side and you on yours. Takes a bit of practice but very comfy and not touching wound/scar at all. I have large breasts so this way I was confident that I wasn't smothering him and its a good skin to skin method too.

 

[Here_we_go]

4boo boo daughter is helping type

 

[Here_we_go]

I always made sure to surround my belly with pillows (just regular bed pillows) so as to protect my belly from lil arms and legs. It also helped to support my arm and baby.

I never had trouble with my son latching but my daughter was a different story entirely. My nips were a cracked, blistered sore mess which I had never experienced when breastfeeding my son. Every baby truly is different. My son took straight to it right away without any troubles or soreness at all. It took my daughter about 3 weeks before I could latch her on without crossing my eyes, curling my toes and biting my lip to keep from hollering out! I just kept working on getting her latched correctly. I would sandwich my nipple and shove as much as I could to try to get her to latch correctly. She had a horrible shallow latch It took a while but she finally improved.

Perseverance paid off on my part. That and having confidence that we'd get through the initial hump. It's quite easy to doubt yourself but try not to!

Good luck hun

 

[jenmcn1]

I just had my 3rd baby(2nd csection) a week ago. The key to nursing is to get baby to latch on in recovery ASAP. If it's a planned csection the chances are very high that you will have baby with you in recovery and the nurses are generally very good with allowing baby to be skin to skin and nursing as soon as possible!!
I successfully nursed/nursing my csection babies. Nurse on demand don't give a pacifier and always put baby on the breast. It will take a few days for your milk to come in

 

[Skittleblue]

My LC was very insistent on me using the rugby hold because of the c-section, but it really wasn't an issue for me personally. I really wasn't in too much pain and actually had much more success with her in a cradle hold and a pillow under her. Don't be afraid to try out different holds to find what works for you.

The c-section wasn't really what I found painful, as far as breastfeeding. It was her really shallow latch. But it was soooo worth it to stick it out until that got better.

Good luck with everything!