BF after a c-section

Kcirar726 · July 2011

I was wondering what experiences you had with BF after a c-section since bf immedietly after delivery is recomended. I had a cs with my daughter and she was given a bottle before I attempted to BF. We had latch issues, and I partly blame that. This time I'm going to try for a vbac, but I know there is a chance of a repeat cs. I just wondered if anyone had latch issues since you can't BF right away after delivery. TIA

PunkyBooster · July 2011

My friend BF after c-section! Going on 8 months now.

I'll show her this thread so maybe she can comment.

Latches can be corrected- go see an LC!!

starlettedir · July 2011

I'm sure mine had a bottle as well. I was still kinda out of it when I finally saw her. We didn't have any kind of issues and are still going at 8 months. I agree with Punky to see a LC if you do have issues.

SpartanChick88 · July 2011

I had an unscheduled c/s so I don't know if it makes a difference.

CJ was given to DH as soon as she was cleaned up and weighed and he held her until I got to recovery, about 25 minutes after she was pulled out. I know she never got a bottle, but I also went to a very pro-BF hospital. I put her to breast immediately upon taking her and we are still going strong to date! I've never had to supplement and she has gone back and forth between the breast and the bottle (from Daddy while I'm working) without issue.

Kcirar726 · July 2011

At the time I was very uninformed about breast feeding. I wish i had learned more going into it, but I was young and thought it was a simple natural thing. This time Im trying to get as much info as I can. I now know to read the early hunger signs and to ask for help while in the hospital. And to tell them no bottles or pacifiers.

Jaimels78 · July 2011

I had a cs and breastfeed within an hour of delivery in the recovery room. I can't understand why they would give your baby a bottle just because you had a section. The baby won't starve if you wait until you are in recovery to breastfeed. I had no latch issues. My only problem was my milk did not come in until day 5 which is common in cs. I had to supplement with some formula until it was in only because DS lost more birth weight than recommended. By the time he was 10 days old, I was exclusively BF. Be sure your doctors and support system are aware that you want to breastfeed as soon as possible and request that no bottles be given. We haven't had a hitch with breastfeeding. I haven't had so much as a cracked nipple. Good luck with it all!

Quizzle · July 2011

DD went straight to the NICU and she absolutely had a bottle (and formula!) in the two and a half days she was there. I tried to BF some, but didn't get a ton of support at first in the NICU proper even though the hospital was very pro-BF.

We had latch issues, but that was just her in general. My overactive letdown didn't help. My c-section did NOT effect my supply at all.

Once we got it all down (it took us two months, because I had some terrible cracks) it was all easy. Still going strong.

gymnst1013 · July 2011

I BF right after my c/s. My hospital is very pro BFing so they wouldn't give him a bottle. You don't have to feed your LO seconds after s/he's delivered (as much as you might like to - that was my biggest disappointment in needing a c/s - no immediate skin to skin

). I was able to feed N within the hour. We didn't have any latch issues.

Kristen61607 · July 2011

Jaimels78:
I had a cs and breastfeed within an hour of delivery in the recovery room.

Same here...I was BFing before I could feel my toes! I did deliver at a really BFing friendly hospital though.

I did have to supplement with formula though, but my twins were born a little early (37 weeks) and didn't latch well, plus my milk took forever to come in. We're still working on it though and they are getting better every day!

nic5606 · July 2011

i bf right after they were done sewing me up. my milk took a bit to come in, so he received formula too. latch issues can usually be fixed. see a lc. as for the bottle, it is usually not nipple confusion, it is an issue with flow. the milk comes out a bottle much faster than your breast.

ABizzity · July 2011

I had a planned c-sect due to high BP. I was BF'ing as soon as they rolled me into recovery. We had no problems at all.

Kellina · July 2011

I BF in the recovery room. Probably within an hour of birth, both times. No problems with latching for either one! I delivered at a VERY pro-BF hospital. HTH!

Meeshe · July 2011

I've had 2 c/s (although I wanted a VBAC-good luck) and the first I BF 14 months, and am 7.5 months in with number 2. Neither ever had forumula. I always wonder about hospitals that give bottles barring exigent circumstances. My husband had both babies in the OR after they were done with measurements, and I held them in the bed as they rolled me to recovery and was feeding both immediately upon arrival there. It seemed expected at my hospital. So I was probably BFing within...25 min. or so of delivery? Not really sure how long it took from delivery to arriving in recovery, time is kind of hazy. Good luck!

ConnieRob · July 2011

We didn't have any problems BF after a C-Section. DS was given 1 bottle in the hospital because his sugar levels were low and he was a little jaundiced. MY DH gave him 1 bottle of iron+ formula 2 nights after we came home from the hospital because he thought I needed to sleep (He still cringes from this mistake...I vaguely recall forcefully telling him to "Give me MY baby". My only issue was that it took 5 days for my milk to come in so I had some pretty sore nips by then!

When DS wa 4 months old, I went back to work and pumped. He had no problems going from a bottle to breast at all. We used Dr. Browns bottles.

Good Luck!

ETA - Wound up BF'ing for 16 months...it all worked out in the end Big Smile

Soon2BMrsN · July 2011

I had unplanned c/s with DS (after 22 hours of labor). I was taken right back to my room, not to recovery, so we were able to breastfeed within the first hour. We had some struggles along the way, but ultimately made it 16 months!

I hope to be able to nurse this baby ASAP after my scheduled c/s as well.

klvd · July 2011

I am another sucessful c-section/BF story! I had a complicated delivery that resulted in an unscheduled c-section and I was in surgery and then recovery for 5 1/2 hours! My milk didn't come in until 6 days after delivery, but I BF up until that point, and supplemented with some formula. Even with all of that we are still EBF 7 months later! Good luck with your pregnancy! BF can be challenging at times, especially in the beginning, but it gets so much easier and is one of the best (and unexpected) but is also amazing if you stick with it!

SpartanChick88 · July 2011

I wanted to add that I had a long complicated labor and 2 hours of pushing (almost 30 hrs total) after being induced and starting from 0 dilation and my milk was in within 2 days. I saw a lot of ladies who had a delay in theirs coming in and wanted to say that everyoned is different and a c/s doesn't mean delayed production.

Kered6799 · July 2011

Kredd88:

I had an unscheduled c/s so I don't know if it makes a difference.

CJ was given to DH as soon as she was cleaned up and weighed and he held her until I got to recovery, about 25 minutes after she was pulled out. I know she never got a bottle, but I also went to a very pro-BF hospital. I put her to breast immediately upon taking her and we are still going strong to date! I've never had to supplement and she has gone back and forth between the breast and the bottle (from Daddy while I'm working) without issue.

this for us. DD was breech and didn't know it till they broke my water fully (had leaked from up high) not sure of the time she was away but hubby was with her the whole time. nurse helped me get her latched on and off we went. she is almost 4 months and she had no problems going between bottle and breast.

blondie42107 · July 2011

I had a csection. My hospital has a strong baby/mom bonding preference. My Dh went with LO while they stitched me up. The second I was in the recovery room (had to be in there for monitoring for 1 hr with my nurse) my nurse was calling my room where Dh, LO and LO's nurse were. My nurse and LO's nurse immediately helped me to breastfeed. I really don't think we were apart more than 30 minutes if that. My OB worked very fast to get me back to my room. Also every time the nurses came to check me and LO (about every 1-2 hrs) I had them help me get him latched on. I also met with the hospital LC a couple times before we left.

Good luck!

I'm hoping for a VBAC next time. I was induced due to borderline pre-e at 39 weeks. LO just didn't want to come down even after I hit 10cm. I pushed for 2.5 hrs before we decided on an emergency csection

Kcirar726 · July 2011

Thank you everyone for your stories, they are all very encouraging. Im going to deliver at a hospital that is pro breastfeeding, so I will make it clear no bottles and make sure my husband follows up with that as well.

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