Nursing After C-Section

[hakunamatata]

I'm sure there are already a bunch of other threads on this, but anyone have any good info on nursing after a c-section? Will having a c-section present any problems in that regard? Thanks in advance.

 

[laylasmummy]

i had emergency csection with my 1st and went under general so had no skin to skin straight away and wasnt able to attemp feeding straight away as planned but when i came round properly i breast fed lying slightly onto my side with my baby lying on bed next to me and she fed a dream!! xx

 

[Mummy_]

I also had a section under GA. He didn't latch on very well until the next day, so I expressed and he was fed colostrum by syringe. I had a really helpful midwife on the night shift who helped me get the hang of the rugby position and I breast fed him successfully for 10 months. You just need to find a position that works for you comfort wise and don't hesitate to ask midwives for help in the hospital.

 

[harrysmummy2b]

i had an emcs aswell and didnt get to hold harry for at least an hour and a half after my operation but harry latched on perfectly the first time we did have a bit of a problem with me not being able to hold him propperly because i felt really weak but it was nothing to do with the operation (i was a bit dehydrated) so he kept slipping off, i also didnt produce nearly enough colostrum for him in the first couple of days but once my milk came in at 4 days it's been fine ever since just believe in yourself hun and you'll do just fine but if you do struggle speak to the midwives in the hospital i spoke to a breast feeding buddy and she actually showed me how to put harry on my breast i had amazing support from my midwife debbie and she was really patient with me and just calmed me down when i got a bit upset because harry was screaming

 

[megangrohl]

I had emcs and I nursed right away, after she was cleaned off. I did well with that and everything but she lost too much weight and ended up having to be on formula because I don't have enough milk (barely any). She lost 1 lb 4 oz. since then she has gained her birth weight back. I am not sure if it's to do with having a c section that I am not able to breastfeed successfully. Good luck!

 

[BlueHadeda]

Hi Hakunamatata!!! Not sure if you remember me?

I have had 3 c-sections, all with spinal/epidural, and breastfed all 3 kids successfully for 15-25 months. I could never get the rugby hold to work for me, but they say it can be very helpful in c-sections. I fed my babies by sitting up with a few pillows behind my back, and at least one or two pillows on my lap that protected my c-section. I won't lie, it's difficult in the beginning. It's painful, especially if baby is a slow feeder. But just push through the pain, after a few weeks it's all beter and so much easier. Apart from the pillows, the other thing that really helped me was taking suppositories morning and evening, not just pills. The suppositories lasted much longer throughout the night. Pills worked out too quickly for me, and then the 2am or 4am feeding would be pure torture.

Good luck! And congrats, I'm so happy to see you're pregnant.

 

[hakunamatata]

I do remember you! :wave: Congrats on your pregnancy too! I see you're team yellow! Good luck with everything!

 

[Zizzle]

My biggest help was a v shaped pillow, worked a dream!

 

[JessPape]

I had emcs and I nursed right away, after she was cleaned off. I did well with that and everything but she lost too much weight and ended up having to be on formula because I don't have enough milk (barely any). She lost 1 lb 4 oz. since then she has gained her birth weight back. I am not sure if it's to do with having a c section that I am not able to breastfeed successfully. Good luck!

Is ur milk still in? If so keep putting her to the breast! How much did she weight at birth? I can't remember, a lot of women end up going on formula to quickly because of doctors telling them too, but even after a week sometimes your milk isn't fully in, if you want to breastfeed still I truely think you can . Our doctors here told us they wont say anything about formula for 3 weeks, because some babies loose more weight (if you had a epi/spinal) this can cause baby to gain a little more weight due to all the fluids they put in u. So they actually LOOSE more weight than regular weight, theres a whole wack of things that can play in to it.

 

[megangrohl]

I had emcs and I nursed right away, after she was cleaned off. I did well with that and everything but she lost too much weight and ended up having to be on formula because I don't have enough milk (barely any). She lost 1 lb 4 oz. since then she has gained her birth weight back. I am not sure if it's to do with having a c section that I am not able to breastfeed successfully. Good luck!

Is ur milk still in? If so keep putting her to the breast! How much did she weight at birth? I can't remember, a lot of women end up going on formula to quickly because of doctors telling them too, but even after a week sometimes your milk isn't fully in, if you want to breastfeed still I truely think you can . Our doctors here told us they wont say anything about formula for 3 weeks, because some babies loose more weight (if you had a epi/spinal) this can cause baby to gain a little more weight due to all the fluids they put in u. So they actually LOOSE more weight than regular weight, theres a whole wack of things that can play in to it.

She was born 10 lbs 7 oz. and we were discharged at 9 lbs 2 oz. she is now back up to almost 11 lbs as of a week ago. I tried for 2 weeks and my milk never came in. It's just the transitional stuff which isn't enough and I think lily has a bit of a tonge tie which is also the problem. We are happy with what we are doing, she is gaining lots now. Thanks though.

 

[Vitibaby]

I did not have any info in advance, as I had planned a natural birth, but ended up having an emergency c-section.
When she came out I hardly had a chance to see her, and she was taken to the nursery with my OH while I was being stitched up and taken to recovery. I did not see and hold her until about an hour or so later, but they helped me for her to latch on and I did briefly BF her. Since we had some sart-up problems (cracked nipples) but now BF is going really well!

 

[Ozzieshunni]

No issues whatsoever. He went to the NICU for four hours before I could see him. Latched on like a dream and we're still going strong!

 

[May2011Mommy]

Take a look at the video about a "natural c-section" in my signature. It's about getting your baby as close to you as possible as FAST as possible.

 

[kimberleyrobx]

i had an emergency c-section with my daughter and i planned to breast feed although she wouldnt latch on and had to go with the formula... (TMI) my breasts were leaking milk since i was 16 weeks pregnant and i produced a lot of milk through out my pregnancy so it wouldnt have been a problem. to this day i still have milk in my breasts and she is 9months old! id advise that if you are going to breast feed then try and 'trick' your body into thinking your baby is on your breast e.g doing the motions with your fingers to produce the milk. i read it up on google and tried it myself thats probably why i had so much milk x

 

[Ozzieshunni]

i had an emergency c-section with my daughter and i planned to breast feed although she wouldnt latch on and had to go with the formula... (TMI) my breasts were leaking milk since i was 16 weeks pregnant and i produced a lot of milk through out my pregnancy so it wouldnt have been a problem. to this day i still have milk in my breasts and she is 9months old! id advise that if you are going to breast feed then try and 'trick' your body into thinking your baby is on your breast e.g doing the motions with your fingers to produce the milk. i read it up on google and tried it myself thats probably why i had so much milk x

Collostrum is really a kind of milk so you do have milk from day 1 It's just very concentrated. Your milk "coming in" is so misleading

 

[petitpas]

I had a planned section last week. A week before, on the advice of my midwife, I tried hand expressing and had an instant result.
On the day of the op, my baby came out, was quickly rubbed down and weighed and then was put on me for skin to skin.

He latched on and was feeding 30 mins later in the recovery room.

I know it was easier for my baby than for others as the other babies in our room were struggling to latch on. I'd just try to hand express in the week before your operation, make sure you ask for skin to skin on the day and then go with the flow. Don't be afraid to ask for help and don't beat yourself up if things don't go entirely to plan. Your baby will cope just fine whatever happens and you will be so happy to meet your little one.

 

[Sarah+]

Hi Ladies,
I noticed a couple of you were put under GA for your sections. Do you know why did that happened instead of an epi etc.?
Thanks

 

[Florance]

I had an emergency c-section due to fever and I was in recovery for 2 hours before I hold my baby. When I went back to my room, baby started nursing right away. I use the cradle hold with my Boppy breast feeding pillow at the beginning. I did try the side lying position but I found it difficult to lay on my side the first few weeks following the operation. I am now using cradle hold during the day and side lying during the night.

 

[Nits]

Same as many other women here:
I had no problems BFing. I didn't get to breastfeed for over an hour because baby wasn't allowed in the recovery room but she latched on right away. It takes some practice but it wasn't that difficult.
The football/rugby hold worked better for me at the beginning. But I also have very large breasts...