Bf after c section

Elisew106 · June 2014

Hi there, so I have scheduled a c section due to the babies positions. I'm pretty nervous about the c section, but even more so about how it may affect my skin to skin time and breast feeding success. I'm very committed to breast feeding and am just wondering if anyone has any tips or suggestions for before and after the c section? Thanks!!

jeephappygirl · June 2014

I had an unplanned c section 3 yrs ago with my singleton. I was induced but did not show much progress, so unplanned but not emergency. With the nurses help, I was nursing her with in 20 min in the recovery room. With my twins I had a planned c section. They were born at 5 pm & I didn't get to see or hold them until 8pm. Was very angry. The hospital had made several changes the week before & I didn't know. They no longer take babies to the recovery room. It took so long due to shift changes. I was furious.

So know the rules at your hospital. As far as the physical part, sitting up is not easy. Ask the nurses to help get you positioned. Extra pillows & football holds worked best for me. Best wishes!

KatieGummow · June 2014

I was induced and ended up with a C. One kiddo went to the NICU (less than 24 hrs) and a nurse would take me over when ever I wanted in a wheelchair. When in his room I could kangaroo him. My other kiddo was left with me the whole time (minus bath and circ) and they encouraged skin to skin.

Also, my colustrum was satisfactory for Patrick and my milk came in three days after birth (before I left the hospital). They provided me with a pump to pump for Carter in the NICU. And the LC told me to pump as much as possible while there. gL!

carrotcake06 · June 2014

I had an emergency c/s under general anesthesia due to baby a's prolapsed cord at 34w. I had them just after 6pm and I was not allowed to go see them in the NICU until about 8am the next morning.

I requested a pump once I was in my recovery room but one "wasn't available" until late the next morning (which made me really mad). I think I tried BFing one of them the first time I saw them, 14hrs after they were born. But it really wasn't successful.

Once I got a pump, I pumped every 3hrs and got ZERO for 3 days. Nothing, not even a drop of colostrum. It was so defeating. I attempted to nurse each baby about once per day. Baby A caught on more quickly than Baby B but neither were getting anything. The NICU made me supplement w formula.

It took 10 days for my milk to fully come in and my boys spent 13 days in the NICU. I pumped every 3hrs around the clock and BFed them as much as I could in the NICU.

We transitioned to BFing once home and have been going strong - with no supplementing! - ever since. My boys will be one at the end of the month and I'll let them self-wean whenever they want.

All that to say that despite a rocky start we have been successful. BFing is extremely important to me and I feel incredibly lucky that we've been able to have a positive BFing relationship despite a less than ideal start.

somewhereincali · June 2014

I had an emergency c section and was nursing in the recovery room where one of my twins latched like a champ!
But then I did have a lot of issues with milk not coming in for ~5 days. I was diligent, we had to give some formula because they were on the small side but I put them both to the breast at every feeding, pumped with hospital grade pump at every feeding and pushed hard to transition them (limitingn formual as long as they had wet diapers once my milk did come in).
Won't lie, it was challenging and took lots of dedication (the nurse bottle pump routine took way longer than just giving a bottle would have, I got much less sleep this way, had to ignore less than helpful advice about giving them more formual, not nursing on demand etc) but I successfully transitioned them and happily nursed for over two years. Like you it was important to me and I was just totally stubborn about making it work

basil2 · June 2014

I've had 2 csections and don't think it interfered at all. (But I did get skin to skin contact both times.)

I agree you want to know how the hospital manages things, but would also make it clear when you go in that you want skin to skin contact (don't wait for someone else to figure it out). Figure out who the nursery nurses are (there will be a bunch of nurses with different roles- it's the nursery nurses who manage the babies and can help make it happen). Let the nursery nurses and docs know BEFORE the surgery that it's important to you.

Also - not Csection related but while in hospital request time with a lactation consultant- they can really help with latch etc which is all that much more important with 2.

Another thought about scheduling the surgery- consider the first part of the week to be able to have more time with lactation consultants (who often don't work weekends)- or find out what their schedule is.

Good luck!

RayRay007 · June 2014

I had an emergency c/s with DD but fortunately had time to get a spinal and didn't have GA. My MW made it just before they started cutting, and was there for when the baby was born. As soon as the NICU team cleared her (5 minutes?), my MW brought her over to me in the OR and put her to my breast. After maybe 10 minutes of snuggles, DH took her to recovery where I soon followed. I held DD the whole time in recovery and tried bfing some more. After a 1/2 a day we realized she wasn't actually latching or getting milk, so had to work on hand expressing milk and cup feeding DD to teach her how to use her tongue. Because of this and the c/s, it took a while for my milk to come in. DD nearly lost a lb in the hospital, but once my milk came in around 4-5 days later she started packing it on pretty good. We went on to bf for 14 months.

ETA: This time I won't have a MW so I'll have to talk to my OB about what I want to happen in the event of a c/s.

karah4816 · June 2014

I had a semi-emergency c-section at 34 weeks due to pre-ecclampsia and wasn't able to see the babies for hours after they were born. They ended up in the NICU for 9 days during which I pumped like crazy. They were supplemented with formula until they were discharged and then I exclusively breastfed and still am at 6 months. for the first few days it was really hard, I was getting nothing but it got better so if that happens to you don't give up. I breastfed them every chance I had and pumped every 2-3 hours even if I had just fed them.

Elisew106 · June 2014

Thanks everyone. I think just hearing success stories after a c section makes the whole c section thing a little less scary. I already feel a little more confident.

lks18 · June 2014

I'm really glad to have heard those stories. It's crazy how different things can be from one hospital to the next. I'm nervous about feeding these two little girls. But all these stories about persevering helps. Thanks, ladies.

Odebdo · June 2014

I just had a c section 2 weeks ago at 33 weeks...my babies needed the NICU and were too little and one had breathing issues so we did not even hold him for 5 days...I got pump the night I delivered so first pump was 15 hours or so post delivery...I had some rough sessions, colostrum came in but had some nothing sessions yet pumped every 3 hours regardless...my twins did need some formula supplement but I have caught up and am now ahead of them. I am now being complimented by nurses when I bring my stash in daily. We are working on getting them to breast now...but at least they get my milk until then....this is not how I planned it, but I have confidence we will work nursing out...

sasky · June 2014

I had a planned c/s on Friday. I was 38w2d, no complications throughout pregnancy or delivery and neither baby needed NICU time. I was able to do skin to skin in the OR (pic attached).

I attempted nursing in the recovery room and have successfully tandem nursed since then. I have been very lucky in my experience so far, but obviously it's very early since I haven't even left the hospital!

megs2011 · June 2014

I had an emergency c section at just shy of 35 weeks. I didn't see them till 12 hours later and didn't get to even hold them till they were 2 days old let alone try to nurse. I got to attempt nursing maybe 2 or 3 times while they were in the hospital for 30 days. I wasn't able to nurse till they were around 3 months old exclusively for weight gain reasons. I was able to nurse them till 14 months old when they got bored of it.

lks18 · June 2014

sasky said:

I had a planned c/s on Friday. I was 38w2d, no complications throughout pregnancy or delivery and neither baby needed NICU time. I was able to do skin to skin in the OR (pic attached). I attempted nursing in the recovery room and have successfully tandem nursed since then. I have been very lucky in my experience so far, but obviously it's very early since I haven't even left the hospital!

Dang, girl! You look gorgeous in that pic. Congratulations on your two little ones.

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