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C-sections
Mizsoccer83
member
A couple ?'s...
Mizsoccer83
member
in C-sections
I think I may be choosing a c-section (after much thought and consideration) due to some medical concerns of mine-I believe the benefit of a controlled environment far outweigh trying to deliver our baby naturally, at this point. I have heard a mix of people's experiences in having a c-section. Is it better/easier to have a planned CS than an emergency one? Is recovery THAT bad?
Also, one of the biggest concerns I have about having a CS, is how it may effect my milk supply and ability to BF (I have heard a lot of people had this problem). I have never been one to have a set birth plan (again, because of some medical concerns I have), but I did always know I wanted to BF. Is this true? Has there been anyone out there that has been successful post CS in BF'ing? Why would a CS effect BF'ing? Thanks ladies!
This discussion has been closed.
Re: A couple ?'s...
Is it better/easier to have a planned CS than an emergency one?
This totally depends on the individual's experience. From what I've seen, yes, scheduled sections tend to have smoother recoveries that an emergency one that would occur after labor. But this is just an observation, not medical fact. It's hit or miss.
Is recovery THAT bad?
Again, totally depends on your experience. Try not to think about what others have been through, talk to your doctors and focus on making your own experience as easy as possible for you and your baby.
Also, one of the biggest concerns I have about having a CS, is how it may effect my milk supply and ability to BF (I have heard a lot of people had this problem). I have never been one to have a set birth plan (again, because of some medical concerns I have), but I did always know I wanted to BF. Is this true? Has there been anyone out there that has been successful post CS in BF'ing? Why would a CS effect BF'ing?
I personally had no problems whatsoever with BFing. My milk came in on day four or five, which is normal for any delivery. DD nursed well and thrived on my colostrum up until that point, which is also normal. She never had a drop of formula and we're still nursing at over a year now. My advice is to go into it knowing that BFing is what your body and your baby's body are meant to do after birth, no matter how that birth occurs. Try to be relaxed about it; it's amazing how much anxiety can hinder a smooth transition to BFing.
Lots of luck!
I had an unplanned cs and I EBF. My supply is great and I produce more than enough milk to sustain my baby. I was out of the OR in 15 minutes and put DS to my breast right away.
My CS was unplanned (baby wouldn't come down due to her size). I had labored beforehand and, though the surgery itself went great, my recovery sucked. The first 4 days were the worst. I didn't know what to expect on recovery so it actually surprised me when I was dealing with it. Little things like going to the bathroom and trying to pull up my underwear or washing up down there - those first few days I needed help with.
I have been told by friends and my doctor that having a planned CS is easier on recovery (something i'm looking forward to this time around haha).
As for BF'ding - I have issues making milk at all so I will be of no help there. I didn't make any milk with DD1 and with DD2 I actually DID have some milk come in but it was almost 2 weeks pp.
Good luck!!
I had an unplanned c/s due to infection (fever for me after long labor, my son got tachycardic).
The hardest part of recovery was the emotional one, as I wanted a natural birth so I felt as though I failed. So I think you will be ok from that perspective - as your c/s would be planned and you already said you had thought it might be an option due to medical issues.
The physical recovery wasn't terrible - i am a nurse so i knew i had to get up and out of bed soon after surgery, and i did. i did rely on dh for that, as well as to go the bathroom the first few days.
you can totally be successful with bf - the key is to get the baby skin to skin with you ASAP. After surgery (maybe 1 hour after he was born? - it's hazy) I was wheeled back accross the hall to the room I labored in. Dh was holding our son. I got him on my chest and on the boob right away. If your child has to go to the NICU or nursery, make sure they know NO bottles or pacifiers. Have your dh go everywhere with the baby to ensure this.
I did not sleep more than a couple of hours the first three days after surgery because I put my son to the breast at least every two hours. You must be prepared for that. To stimulate your breasts and milk production, this important. So baby should not go to the nursery.
You can do it, I was worried as well. It made the news of "you need a c section" much harder, because I remember thinking "there goes BF" and I was really sad.
Here we are 4 mos later, and ds is EBF still.
Best of luck for a healthy delivery!
p.s. my dh went to Mizzou - huge Tigers fan
DS born via unplanned C-section at 40w6d
Find an LC now, so you have someone you can call after the baby's born. Also check with the hospital and see if they have LCs on staff - sometimes they only work M-F. Make sure your doctor and the nurses know you want to breastfeed, so they don't supplement with formula right away.
I had an unplanned c-section with DS1, and then we were separated for the first 3 or so days. I ended up pumping within a few hours of the c/s, and the LCs at the hospital were excellent about helping us breastfeed. The beginning was tough, but we went on to nurse for 2+ years.
Good luck!
DS2 - Oct 2010 (my VBAC baby!)
My scheduled c/s recoveries were simple and fast. Definitely no worse than some of my vaginal delivering friends.
I chose not to BF, but have plenty of c/s friends who BFd.
(read it. you know you want to.)
anderson . september 2008
vivian . february 2010
mabel . august 2012
My c-section was semi-planned because we were in the process of planning it (due to DD's size) when my water broke. Instead of trying to go through labor and push, we went straight for the c-section when the OR was available. I can't give you a comparison between an emergency c-section and a planned one since mine was certainly not an emergency. I was sore and uncomfortable for a few days, but my recovery really wasn't that bad. I took very little pain medication beyond the higher doses of Motrin they gave me at the hospital and then prescribed and when I did take it, it was because I was afraid of pain (getting the staples removed) or because I overdid it with physical activity too soon.
DD and I had a latch problem in terms of BF'ing, but my supply was not an issue. I pumped a fair amount no problem. It took a few days to get that going, but I think that is normal anyway.