Breastfeeding after c-section?

heddy79 · April 2013

Hi ladies! I'm a FTM to an 11 day old little girl. I wanted to find out if any of you didn't produce milk due to your c-section. I never went into labor and instead had an emergency c-section due to DD having an elevated heartbeat during an NST. As of today, I'm still only producing 1oz every 3 hours. I just saw our pediatrician and she doesn't think I will produce anymore and she said this is not uncommon for c-section mommas. I'm drinking Mothers Milk tea 4x a day and still not producing. I'm currently supplementing with formula and pedi encouraged me to EFF. Do you have experience with this?

pwyckhouse · April 2013

I wish you lucky. My little guys is 10 weeks old and my milk never came in. My water broke and I was in labor for 31 hours before my C-section.

theta · April 2013

I had 2 scheduled c-sections (and will have my third next month). My milk did come in, but I had to really be on top of things and pump frequently when the baby was not on my breast to encourage as much milk production as possible. I wasn't pleased with the amount and mentioned this to my OB at my 6 week appointment. He suggested that I just stop and switch to formula and I am SO happy that I did not listen to him and I continued to try. Two weeks after that when I had to return to work, I was nervous but things were just starting to pick up (ounces increasing). Whatever you decide to do, I wish you the best of luck. You will know what feels right for you.

jonesygrrl · April 2013

I had a planned c-section (no labor), and my milk came in on one side three days later, and four days later on the other side. DD was boob-obsessed (still is, actually), and was constantly latched at the beginning, which I think made a big difference getting supply up fast. That said, she preferred one side over the other, and I, unfortunately didn't do enough to correct it or pump to make up the difference. The neglected side fell behind early and permanently. So I would say, keep the stimulation (pumping or nursing) up if you're trying to increase the supply -- it does make a difference. Good luck!

ETA: I meant to add that at 11 days PP my supply was still fluctuating and adjusting. I'd say it took a month for things to seem to settle down, so if you still want to try to nurse, I do think your milk supply can still increase.

ladybugpjb · April 2013

Consistency is a major factor in establishing supply - don't go too long without BFing or pumping. Are you ONLY pumping? If so, 3 hours might be too long in between pump sessions until you get your supply established. Try feeding more often. (I made the mistake of not feeding often enough, and my supply was shaky for awhile.)

Also, sometimes you have to be hands-on when you pump. The info in this video helped me pump enough for DS, and I EP'ed for about 5 months. https://newborns.stanford.edu/Breastfeeding/MaxProduction.html

Just keep trying - set a goal (2 weeks, 3 weeks, a month) and push to make it that far. It is REALLY easy to give up. I only kept up because DH encouraged me to, and I'm really glad I was able to pump as long as I did.

emriley84 · April 2013

I had a csection, no labor. DS went to the nicu and never nursed. I started pumping later that night, and I had no supply issues. I don't think the csection is why your milk didn't come in.

RayRay007 · April 2013

I had an emergency c/s without having gone into labour and bf'd just fine for 14 months. It took 3-4 days for my milk to come in. When you say 'producing 1 oz' do you mean you are pumping? Pumping is not as efficient as a baby and is not a good sign of how much your baby is eating. I have never heard of a woman not producing because of a c/s. If your baby is producing wet and dirty diapers and is gaining weight, you are probably doing fine. Talk to a lactation consultant or someone who is more bf'ing friendly than you pedi apparently is.

aemurray17 · April 2013

I too had a c-section without going into labor. I tried to BF for 6 weeks and would maybe get 3-4 oz. per day! I was taking Fenugreek, mother's milk, and brewers yeast all the time, along with pumping between nursing sessions. During the first 6 weeks, I'm pretty sure either my baby or a machine was attached to my boob. It was miserable! My LO would get so frustrated and I would have to end up giving her formula. I felt extremely guilty and like I had let my baby down, but once I finally got over that and just EFF, life was better for me and my LO. You have to remember that c-sections are major surgeries and really hard on your body so if it just doesn't work, don't beat yourself up! I mean you did just pop a human out after all...I think you've already done more than enough Big Smile

Angela814 · April 2013

My 1st was born via csection, but I went into labor first. She was 10 days late, and I had a csection due to failure to progress. My milk came in on day 4, and I had no problems bfing.

My 2nd and 3rd were planned csections, and my milk came in on day 2 with both. I think my body knew what to do since I'd done it before.

I don't know how an emergency csection without labor changes things. How did your baby nurse in the first few days? Did she nurse at least every 1 to 2 hours? How often is she nursing now? Before you give up, I'd look into getting a prescription to increase milk supply. Also, try fenugreek, make sure you're drinking plenty of water and eating enough, try to get enough rest, and pump after each nursing session.

https://kellymom.com/bf/canibreastfeed/meds/prescript_galactagogue/

https://kellymom.com/bf/gotmilk/supplyworries/lowsupply/

babyonthebrain2010 · April 2013

First of all, I am hoping your pediatrician told you that's not uncommon for c-section moms just as a way to calm you and make you feel better and not because they actually believe that because there is no direct link between having a c-section (with or without labor) and being able to produce milk. I'd get a new pediatrician, I'm not even joking. Milk production is triggered by hormones when baby and placenta leave your body, whether or not there is labor or "natural" birth or c-section, it works the same way.

I had a planned c-section, experienced zero labor, and wasn't able to hold or nurse LO for 3 hours after birth, and I had no issues with supply.

Supplementing with formula (or EFF) is completely fine, but you shouldn't be pushed to EFF by a pediatrician. Even a few oz of BM a day is better for your LO than none. Honestly your pediatrician's reaction really ticks me off

If you are only pumping you should definitely be pumping more than every 3 hours to get your supply up. If you are nursing, you should let baby nurse as often as they like. Milk production is based on supply and demand so the less you pump/nurse, the less milk your body thinks it needs to make. Also, babies are much more efficient milk removers than pumps, so if you are nursing and then pumping in between nursing sessions, that is not a good indicator of how much you're producing.

capulet · April 2013

I have had two c-sections and no issues BFing.

You should do what you want to do. If trying to nurse is a complete headache and you want to quit, then that's fine. But if you want to continue trying to increase your supply, there's certainly no harm in it and PPs have some good suggestions (I can't really offer advice on the topic because I haven't needed to try so I wouldn't know what to tell you). And it sounds like you want to try. I think as long as you are producing something and want to continue trying to BF/pump, there's no reason your pedi should encourage you to EFF. Like I said, I can't offer advice, but I think you need to look to an LC for help because your pedi is not sounding very cooperative.

Runaway22 · April 2013

I had an emergency c/s with about 3 hours of labor (technically uterine hyper stimulation due to the cervidil - not sure if that even counts). I didn't see my son until upwards of 3 hours after he was born. He latched right away and was pretty much attached to my breast (or in my arms) the rest of my hospital stay. My milk came in on day 3, and I have had no issues since - except maybe a little oversupply. We get lots of skin-to-skin, and I let him comfort nurse for as long as he wants, which I think really helped, especially in the beginning.

PP is right, you might want to look for a new pedi, but I'd suggest talking to an LC first. Pediatricians usually aren't very well trained in breastfeeding, or really know what they're talking about when it comes to that.

heddy79 · April 2013

Thanks ladies! I'm only pumping because we were having latch issues. My nipples are flat and even with a nipple shield, we were still having difficulty. I appreciate all of the information. I have a lot to think about.

alopez318 · April 2013

My milk did not really come in until 4 or 5 days after my cesarean. My sons pedi also suggested supplementing with 1oz of formula after each nursing session and then even switching completely to formula. I'm glad I called around for other opinions. What really helped me was to pump immediately after nursing my son for ten to fifteen mins. Both sides. If you have a double pump, do both at the same time: what a stress reducer and time saver If you can try to have your baby in the room with you, it really does stimulate your mind and body when you can see and hear them while you are pumping! I would usually only get about an ounce total from both breast, but that was perfect! Because then I would supplement with my own milk. Remember their tummies are still small and don't need a lot. So after each feeding I would have my husband bottle feed the oz of milk in the same room I pumped. It became a family event. After about a week my milk was coming in abundantly and I was even able to freeze and store it for when I went back to work!
My biggest advice is if you want to EBF, just DON'T GIVE UP!! You can do it, our bodies are amazing creations and they were made for this sort if thing! Good luck!

DonnaMartinGraduates · April 2013

Awesome suggestions here, but I wanted to add that you need to be sure you're getting enough food and water. I had major supply issues with both babies, but I think it's just my anatomy. Drinking water definitely helped though!

I'm hoping to avoid the milk issues this time altogether and will be encapsulating my placenta. I'm already having anxiety over my supply problems and I know how frustrating it can be. Hang in there if you really want to BF! Anything is better than nothing!

Ardmhs83 · April 2013

My milk came in about 5 days after my son was born via c-section due to being breech. We went on to nurse for 9 months! My c section didn't do anything to my breastfeeding relationship other than it hurting to pick my son up and some nursing positions weren't comfortable until I healed a bit more.

My son didn't latch well in the hospital b/c he was tongue tied. I kept trying though every time he was hungry and then I also pumped (around the clock).

You have to stimulate the breast to tell the brain/body that it needs more milk. Nurse on demand...always nurse before supplementing. Try pumping after nursing. When you do supplement (like if you skip a nursing session, which I wouldn't suggest) always pump! Just keep bringing baby to breast as much as possible.

You don't have to give up and follow what the dr said and EFF. You can do this, just may take some time and patience. Please call a LC and also put a call in to your local LLL...these women are WONDERFUL and totally saved my nursing relationship with my son!!!

*If it is possible for a woman to stop breastfeeding and to relactate...it is possible for you to get your milk to come in better at only 11 days PP. You just gotta make the right phone calls and get the right help! You can do it!

Ardmhs83 · April 2013

heddy79:
Thanks ladies! I'm only pumping because we were having latch issues. My nipples are flat and even with a nipple shield, we were still having difficulty. I appreciate all of the information. I have a lot to think about.

Ok...since I saw this after I posted let me add.

Check for possible tongue-tie and if that is the case, get it clipped. Find an ENT...they will do it. Like other people said...you can't really tell how much you are producing by a pump. Baby can suck better than the pump. BRING BABY TO BREAST AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE! I would also find a new pedi as well. LC's and ladies from the LLL know more about breastfeeding than most drs, I know that is hard to think, but very true.

A good book, The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding and somebody else suggested Kellymom.com and here is the LLL website: https://www.llli.org/

Good luck!

ThreeBoyCircus · April 2013

Hi there,

I'm so sorry you're having a supply issue. I had two c-sections, and with both babies, my milk came in around 3-4 days and before that, I had colostrum. It's so tough, but try to keep with it. With both boys, they literally spent hours at the boob at a time for the first month or more. I had no idea how much milk they were getting, but they were gaining weight and that's the most important thing. Is you DD gaining weight like she should?

Something really important to remember: you might be producing a lot more through nursing than with the pump. You shouldn't necessarily be making decisions based on how much you pump. I NEVER pumped as much as I could nurse and I know that because the boys gained weight very nicely, but I never seemed to pump much, which wasn't an issue until I went back to work and then I had to supplement with formula. I don't know how our bodies know, but they do know the difference between a baby being at the breast and a pump. In fact, try doing this: try to nurse on one side while you pump on the other side. It's tricky, but you can do it if you have the bra that allows you to pump hands free. The trick is to get the pump started on one side, and then bring the baby over to nurse. You'd be surprised at how much more you get because the baby is nursing at the same time. It's like your body is tricked into releasing more.

One more thing: you're only 11 days post-partum, so you haven't yet begun to be able to pump as much as you're going to be able to. In the first couple of weeks, I was lucky to pump an ounce or so total from both breasts. Later, I did much better. Give your body time and remember, how much you pump does not necessarily correspond with how much you produce while nursing.

And finally, go see a lactation consultant! She might have suggestions. I had a friend who thought her baby was latching on correctly, but the baby wasn't and it caused my friend's supply to drop because the baby wasn't getting nearly enough during the nursing session. So go see a lactation consultant or better yet, if you can afford it, have one come to your home to make it easier on you.

Good luck. Don't give up!!!

Whittyone12 · April 2013

I don't think your milk not coming in is csection related. Try lots of skin to skin and let your baby nurse a lot. Drink lots of water too. Also your pump is not a very good gauge for how much milk your LO is getting. Babies are much more efficient at extracting your milk than a pump. Have you tried a weighted feeding? Is your LO losing weight?