BFing after c/s

SnoopyLuv

Hey Ladies, I've been reading up on some posts and you all seem really supportive and I hope some of you can help. I have a scheduled c/s for a breech baby that will not turn (Yes, I've tried everything! ). I'm coming to terms with the c/s but my concern now is establishing the bfing relationship.

My hospital is very pro bf and I know I can try to nurse in the recovery room and baby is allowed to room in 24/7. My question is did you have issues with your milk coming in? Did you require a lot of assistance with positioning? If there are other tips or suggestions you have I'll take that too, I just really want to get started on the right foot! Thanks!

ked77

I had a c/s for breech baby too (and I tried everything as well!)  My hospital was very pro bf and I was able to breastfeed within about 45 minutes of her birth, however I had HUGE problems with my milk coming in. It never really did.  I tried soooo hard for over 3 months (again trying everything!) and I had to supplement the whole time.  My doctor swears up and down that it shouldn't affect your milk, but every person I've spoken to that's had a scheduled c/s (never went into labor) had issues with their milk coming in. 

I think if I knew there could be problems I would have tried so much harder at the very begining, but I never thought there would be a problem and that it would all happen naturally, by the time we realized the problem I think we were past the point of establishing a good supply. 

So, I would put your LO to the breast as soon, and as often, as possilbe, do a ton of skin to skin, make sure you ask for a LC and I would pump a lot too to help establish a supply.

 Good Luck!!  I know some people probably have no problem so don't give up on it early!

chicsub

Even though I wasn't happy to end up with a c/s, I am glad to say that BFing went great from the start.  I started BFing within 40ish minutes after DS was born and had no issues.  Granted it was a little sore to move around, but I was able to position DS just fine.  Best of luck to you!

ShansBride

BFing was harder when recovering from a c/s, but def. doable!  I think the football hold was the easiest for my after DS was born because then he wasn't laying on my incision.  Also, if you stack up pillow starting farther away from your belly and moving towards it, you can sort of use those to support the baby while she is nursing, but still keep her weight off your incision.  As far as milk coming in, I had my c/s on Wed morning and my milk came in on Saturday morning so pretty typical.  Remeber too that colostrum is great for baby and all she needs until your milk comes in!

Also, you didn't ask this, but I am going to tell you because I wish someone had told me before I had my scheduled c/s for a breech baby.

If I could go back and change only one thing, I would have waited until I went into labor.  Even if I knew I was having a c/s I would have waited.  My son was term, but he was premature for him and had a lot of trouble breathing and had other issues with his heart just because he wasn't ready to be born yet, even though the calendar said he was.  The other benefit to waiting is that sometimes babies turn during labor.

I wish you lots of luck!  Oh, and I would also get in touch with a local La Leche League.  I'd bet there are some mamas there who have nursed after a c/s and can give you lots of help!  And ICAN too!

Jen&Len

My milk came in late for both my deliveries, so I can't say that it was worse with the C-section.  I did have to nurse football style for the first few weeks until my incision started feeling better.

welshgirl

I was told that milk comes in a day late (on average) after an emergency c/s, and after a scheduled one (where you dont' go into labour naturally) a day later. I had my c/s on Friday lunch time, my milk came in Wednesday - it was slow. So be patient.

Also, nursing laying down can be great post c/s. No one told me last time nad I remember a lot of pain trying to work with my incision and baby, but once I learned about laying down it was so much easier.

cg0112358

Thankfully my milk didn't come in late but I did have problems with DS latching. The pain meds I was on (demerol) sedated him so much he couldn't stay awake to nurse, it just took too much effort for him. Even the LC's had a really difficult time helping me even though he nursed really well in recovery (before all the demerol got in his system). In the end I ended up pumping and bottle-feeding him but they didn't get me started on that until too late so he ended up being supplemented with formula and my supply dropped. I currently can only produce 1/3 to 1/2 of his daily feedings and it took me 6 weeks to get him to latch. Good luck!

disbride061103

SnoopyLuv:

Hey Ladies, I've been reading up on some posts and you all seem really supportive and I hope some of you can help. I have a scheduled c/s for a breech baby that will not turn (Yes, I've tried everything! ). I'm coming to terms with the c/s but my concern now is establishing the bfing relationship.

My hospital is very pro bf and I know I can try to nurse in the recovery room and baby is allowed to room in 24/7. My question is did you have issues with your milk coming in? Did you require a lot of assistance with positioning? If there are other tips or suggestions you have I'll take that too, I just really want to get started on the right foot! Thanks!

I had no issues bf'ing after either of my sections. My firers c/s was for a breech bay as well. My milk came in the day we left the hospital, so DS was 3 days old. For DS2, my milk came in when he was 2 days old. I found the football hold to be the most comfortable for several reasons. It keeps the baby off your incision and I have small babies. Use of a hoppy or nursing pillow helped too.

margeincharge2

I had an emergency c/s with no labor so it's possible my situation was more difficult than others. I had a lot of troubles getting DS to be an efficient sucker and with getting him to latch properly.

I had no problems with my milk supply or with getting my milk to come in. I think it was around day 4 that my milk came in. It's hard for me to remember. The hospital made me supplement with formula, which I wasn't happy about. Luckily we only had to do that for a day. After that, it was all breast milk.

Because I had latching problems, I had to pump a lot in the hospital and when I got home. Looking back on it, I think the reason we had to pump so much in those early weeks is probably related to the c/s. I spent the first 24 hours not really awake b/c of the drugs they had me on for HELLP/pre-e. Although I did get a lactation consultant right away. She tried to get us started on breastfeeding. I actually fell asleep because it was in that early period where I couldn't stay awake to save my life. So she held DS up to my breast to try to get him to latch. I still remember her showing DH what I needed to do because I was going in and out of it.

Chances are, you will be a lot more coherent with your c/s. I managed to work through our issues and get DS off the pump and onto the breast. It was really hard, though. I think we had troubles that are worse than your typical c/s because DS was born at 37 weeks (before he was ready) and I was put under for the c/s and just out of it for the first 24 hours.

Best of luck! I think c/s's do make breastfeeding more challenging but not insurmountable.

ryemo

ShansBride:

If I could go back and change only one thing, I would have waited until I went into labor.  Even if I knew I was having a c/s I would have waited.  My son was term, but he was premature for him and had a lot of trouble breathing and had other issues with his heart just because he wasn't ready to be born yet, even though the calendar said he was.  The other benefit to waiting is that sometimes babies turn during labor.

I went into labor naturally at 38w2d but it was early and DD had a lot of trouble learning how to BF. Early babies tend to have more trouble while overdue babies are often good eaters.

I am still nursing at 22 months. I pumped after my feedings in the hospital and I think this is why my milk came in at day 3. I did this because I'd had a breast reduction so it was my plan all along, but I think it would help anyone. Also, if they will let you nurse in the recovery room, DO IT. About 2 hours after birth, babies tend to take a long "birthday nap" that can make feedings hard for the next 24 hours.

Also, have you tried acupuncture to get the baby to turn? I had a friend who's baby was transverse the entire time and at 36 weeks she did acupuncture with moxibustion and it turned. She had a great vaginal delivery.

papagena

I had no issues with my milk coming in at all.  We did have a slightly more difficult time getting DS able to latch on (unfortunately, I didn't get to hold him or try to nurse until a few hours after he was born, which didn't help).  He was just not overly interested at first. However, with the help of the lactation consultant (those women are god-sent!) we did get going, and we had a fabulous nursing relationship. 

 

iris427

I didn't have any c/s-related breastfeeding issues.  My milk came in around 4 or 5 days pp and my daughter latched great from the very beginning.  If you have a c/s because your baby is not doing well, the you might run into more issues initially, but since you are having a scheduled c/s for breech position, your baby should be very healthy and alert at birth.  Even if your baby is sleepy  and doesn't latch well the first time, they will probably do a lot better after they wake up some, so don't let it discourage you!  Vaginal birth babies often need help learning to nurse too, so it's not just c/s moms that have that challenge.

Personally, I did not have any issues with my incision and positioning the baby.  But a lot of c/s moms find the football hold to be very helpful.

GL with everything! 

nosoup4u

I second learning how to do side-lying with your LO, it was the first position I could get DS1 to latch on consistently.

Also, ifyour LO is separated from you for whatever reason, ask to start pumping...my DS ended up in the NICU, and I started pumping a few hours after his birth, and kept pumping the first week (it took awhile to figure out latching on decently). DH finger-fed DS with a supplemental nursing system (LCs have them), so DS wouldn't get nipple confusion with bottles. I('m sure you won't have the complications we had, but figured it's good to hear options if you hit a few bumps!)

Sazhrah

I don't remember exactly how long it took for my milk to come in but it definately was more of a challenge because of the incision. Football  hold was great and eventually bfing became quite fluid. good luck.

DonnaMartinGraduates

I had a hell of a time with BFing. I didn't get my milk in until a week after DS was born. I had a long labor with zero progress so by the time my surgery was over I was drugged and exhausted so badly that I couldn't even hold my son. I wasn't even able to attempt BFing until about 14 hours after birth which I think was a huge mistake. I never really got a supply in and tried a 101 different things to help with it. I don't know if the issues were due to the c/s or my boobs being broken, but I'm really hoping to be successful this time around!

danssugahbugah

I had a c/s with DS#1....had absolutely no issues breastfeeding.  Milk came in right on time (with force!).

The only issue you may run into is if baby is sleepy from the anesthesia, they might have a problem staying awake for their first feedings but this is easily a problem you could run into even without a c/s.

ReeseM

I nursed DD within an hour, and my milk came in at 2 days PP! Things were great, in that respect!

marianj79

I too had a stubborn breech baby! She was breech from 20 weeks onward...at every ultrasound she was "sitting" on my cervix. My water broke at 36 weeks even so we didn't even really get a chance to try and turn her. DD was born fine with a few complications (mostly due to being slightly undercooked) that resulted in her being kept in the nursery for 7 hours after birth. Even with this separation and some supplemental formula we had very few bf issues. She was sleepy all the time so we had to try tricks to keep her up to feed but I'm pretty sure this was due to her coming at 36 weeks. My supply was great - milk came in at about 3 or 4 days. Good luck!!!

Lesley0228

I had a c-section following an induction. I was able to BF about 45 minutes after DD was born and while still in the recovery room. My milk came in on the 4th day. I did have problems latching, but that was just about practice.. practice.. practice and I don't see it as related to having a c-section. Good luck!

Ladydianna

I didn't have problems w/ my milk coming in after my c sec at 37 1/2 weeks.  It was planned I never really went into labor (but I was fully effaced and 3 cm dialated for a few days before that.)  My problem was keeping DD awake.  She would nurse for 10 mins and then fall asleep.  I ended up having to nurse her every hour, but I really think that made my milk come in faster (48 hours.)  I bf'd her for 15 mos.

paula81rosenthal

I had my DD at 41 weeks via c-section. I was able to bf within an hour of the surgery. My lactation consultant told me not to worry if she didn't latch on and eat a lot the first time, but to keep trying and not stress. Well turns out DD was a BFing champ! My milk came in before I left and she went home heavier then at delivery.  

lite-bright

I had a c/s for my DD2, who was also breech despite trying pretty much everything, right up until I went into labor. 

I was nursing within about 45 minutes of her being born, while in recovery -- and she was a champ from the start.

I had no issues with my milk coming in. It was in on day two -- which was actually faster than my vaginal (induced) birth with DD1, when my milk came in on day four.

I didn't need help with positioning, but I'd already nursed one baby and knew what I was doing, so I just worked around the whole c/s thing. The only problem -- and this was more when I came home -- is that I preferred side-lying b/c it was easy to nurse in bed, and she looooved to kick while feeding and would kick right at my incision and it was pretty painful. I had to block her legs with one hand and I got very frustrated sometimes. 

I would say my best advice, regardless of how you end up giving birth, is to make sure you take advantage of any LC support while in the hospital, and know ahead of time who you can call (a BFing support group, your hospital, independent LCs, LLL, etc.) if you run into problems so you can get them resolved ASAP. I didn't start having problems with my DD1 until after we left the hospital (within 24 hours of her birth, before any LCs were available) and then it took me a week to get an appointment. That's a lot of feedings when you're in pain!

GL! 

Kellina

No problems here! I had a very pro-BF hospital and I was able to nurse ASAP back in the recovery room. DS even went to special care for a few hours to monitor BS (I had GD), and they brought him back once or twice to BF!

I don't know if positioning was harder with a c/s because I know no different! And my milk was in within 36-48 hours I think. GL!