Will a c section effect bf?

[Mrs Doddy]

Will a c section effect breast feeding ?

I couldn't bf with my first so this will all be new to me - I've read that the post birth drugs make you sleepy - how am I supposed to cope with a toddler and learning how to fb when knocked out by drugs ??

I would like to go to the bf cafe at the sure start centre but won't be able to if I can't drive .. What help can I then get ?

 

[Parabellum]

Only issue I had was my milk didnt come in a quickly. Hospital helped with getting a pump into the room to speed things up. They said it can be common so maybe ask the hospital for a pump.

 

[Parabellum]

Also I dont feel the drugs made any difference you make sure the hospital knows so they can give you skin to skin. When I came out of the theater they helped latch my daughter on.

 

[Xpecta]

I've had three sections now, and the biggest problem I had with bfing is with my second I got incredibly engorged to the point where I didn't have a nipple for her to latch onto. The drugs aren't so bad. They didn't make me drowsy at all.

 

[sheldonsmommy]

Not really. I've heard that it can delay your milk coming in, but mine came in after 2 days, so totally within the normal range.

I didn't take anything but anti-inflammatories and a few T3s (codeine), but you shouldn't have a problem. Babies are sleepy during their first couple days anyway

 

[tublet]

My milk didn't come in properly after 5 days, and I chose to stop as baby lost 15% of her weight.

I had no issues with drugs though, more because of my own recovery!

I wasn't allowed to take codeine because of bf?

My area has bf coordinators who will come to your house and give you help and advice, might be easier until your up and about?

 

[Dani_Ldn]

I wasn't drowsy from the meds & had no problems bfing. I ebf for 6.5 months & am still bfing now that lo is eating solids (although, he doesn't eat much of his solids still!).

 

[Mrs Doddy]

That's good to know thanks xx

 

[supertabby]

I have heard that the delayed skin to skin (you won't be able to hold baby until you're in recovery) can affect bf but it wasn't so in my case.

While I was being stitched up hubby held DS and I got to look at him, give him a kiss on the head etc but couldn't hold him. As soon as I was wheeled out into recovery he was put on me and he fed straight away. He's 9 days old now and bf is still going well and my milk came in at 4 days.

With my DD I was under general when she was born but she still fed while I was in recovery, it took a couple of days longer for my milk to come in but we managed ok. I was on serious drugs during my hospital stay with DD - the treatment I needed did cause drowsiness plus I was also on a morphine drip. But we still coped with bf. So that shows it can be possible however I know we had a great outcome all things considered (not mentioning later bf issues with thrush etc) and some women in my situation never managed to bf despite every best effort. All you can do is try and make sure you make the most of the midwife support - stay in the hospital a few nights if you feel you need the extra support.

If you need to attend a bf support group after you're home could you get a lift? And make sure you get the helpline number for La Leche League.

 

[SRTBaby]

I was sleepy the day of and the day after c-section, by the time i was feeling better my LO had been feed formula by the nurse. I struggled with breast feeding. I had nurses and lactation consultants trying to help and nothing worked. I even ended up taking some Alzheimers meds and pumping which helped but LO refused to breastfeed.

After two months of frustration and cracked nipples i gave up and sold my expensive breast pump. This time i am not buying a breast pump or stressing about it. I will give it a try if it doesn't work i will move on.

 

[shiseru]

I had my csec when I hit 37 weeks of pregnancy. My milk didn't come in as quickly. It only came in after the 3rd day.

 

[Mrs Doddy]

For those of you whose milk was delayed did you still offer the breast anyway ? Or did you top up wih formula

 

[Marythefairy]

My milk didn't come in til 5 days post section but I still ebf and nd until 18 months. I just kept offering all the time. I lost a lot of blood which is why it was delayed. I think 2-3 days is normal for milk to come in. At no point did anyone suggest I topped up with formula and I would have said no if they did. I saw bf supporter twice in hospital (over 4 days) then my mw arranged for one to see me at home who came 3 Times I think. Good luck it's a marvellous thing if you can do it and the more you read up prepare and be determined the more likely you will succeed.

 

[hopettc3]

I bf as soon as I could get the skin to skin. I was told that my colostrum was enough for the baby until my milk came in. I didn't have any major problems.

 

[shiseru]

For those of you whose milk was delayed did you still offer the breast anyway ? Or did you top up wih formula

Yes I was so determined to bf, so i kept getting her to latch on

 

[JessPape]

The drugs never made me sleepy (had an spinal) as for pain killers they gave me tylonel and ibu lol. I had problems getting her to latch in the hospital and just wasn't overly comfortable, but kept at it. When we got home things got much easier quicker (and when my milk came in 3 days PP).

You milk CAN take a little longer, if you feel like giving formula ask for a eye dropper or spoon to give it in, takes longer but It doesn't cause nipple confusion.

Bring extra pillows or a nursing pillow this will help get a good nursing position which is ONE of the biggest problems women have after a csection. Ask for lots of help, and know that its a learning thing for both of you, even if its natural you both need to put a lot of work in. 1-6 weeks I call hell period, 6-9 weeks you learn to love it, after 9 weeks you wont ever think of quitting.

You can do this

 

[JessPape]

Also if you can ask to nurse your baby while in the operating room a nurse or spouse can help, nurse often and lots, skin to skin is important. the more you nurse the more your body signals that hey I need to make milk. 3-5 days for your milk to come in is NORMAL and babies actually don't need anything before that as you will have colostrum (which may or may not be able to be pumped, its pretty thick and liquid gold). Do lots of breastfeeding prep now, support groups, read on sites like Kelly mom. you got this.

 

[JessPape]

For those of you whose milk was delayed did you still offer the breast anyway ? Or did you top up wih formula

Even when your milk doesn't come in you have colostrum its starts producing around 20 weeks in your pregnancy. Its liquid gold and all the baby needs till your milk comes in. Generally though 3-5 days is normal range. If you are concerned and want to give formula that's up to you, use an eye dropper or a spoon to avoid nipple confusion.

 

[ecarroll2]

My milk came in at 3 days post section, which I believe is pretty normal. I held the baby immediately after birth, and then got her to latch on 40 minutes post section. She knew what to do pretty much straight away. I sought advice off the midwife before she latched on though to make sure I do it right (first baby). Offered the breast to the baby pretty much each time she was fussy which I think sped up things. Baby lost lots of weight initially though, which is normal and expected (I have a feeling it was all poo lol!!), then she plateau-ed towards the end of the first week and midwives were worried so she was weighed every second day to make sure she starts gaining. There was quite a lot of pressure and guilt trips threatening her switching to formula so it was not a pleasant experience knowing she is not gaining and worrying my breast milk is not enough! I started expressing using a pump and fed her more often and much larger quantities than initially advised by the midwife (checked this website https://www.fourfriends.com/cgi-bin/milk.pl). Had been advised to give her 30 ml at a time or offer a breast at a time and alternate! Which was rubbish really. She put away 7 oz (over 200 ml) soon after being offered the bottle (breastmilk), i.e. the milk off both of my breasts! It seems she hadn't been having enough milk! Once we were on the case, she started gaining and there are currently no concerns (just under a month old at the moment). Btw my nipples cracked the first few days after her birth, and it was sheer agony in the beginning, I had the help of breastfeeding volunteers which visited me at home a few times, and it seems that baby was not latching very well (she has been sucking her cheeks in from the very beginning, and I suspect it has been due to that vile Lansinoh cream). Expressing breast milk and massaging the nipple area with that did wonders though, and now I express during the day (am back at work...) and breastfeed during the night, one of my nipples remained very sensitive but it is bearable. So simply try your hardest, offer the breast to your baby from the very beginning regularly, and get all the advise you can get. Breastfeeding advice volunteers are sooooo helpful!! If something doesn't work out, don't feel bad, just spend lots of skin to skin with your baby, this is what matters in the end. Hugs and good luck!

 

[jenmcn1]

I didn't have any issues. The drugs made me sleepy for the first few hours and that was it. I also think it depends on the baby. My daughter had/has the appetite of a grown man lol!! So she took to nursing right away. My milk came in by day 2. But she nursed non stop for 2 days....like...NON stop. So I'm sure that's why my milk came in so fast. My son wasn't quite the same though. He would always fall asleep, had to supplement with formula. And he was not a csection