Breast feeding after a C section

[helsbels]

Hey guys
I am having an elective section in a week cos LO is breech. I want to BF and am really after some tips/ advice from those of you who do/did BF after a section. How difficult was it to get started as I guess you are pretty uncomfortable? Are there positions you find are best? Any experiences from hospital to home would be fab!
thanks so much
xxx

 

[lozzi]

i found feeding bam led on my side easiest for the first 24 hours whilst i was very tender.

I would invest in a cheapie v pillow from argos for when u get home... there about £5. (DONT buy the "nursing pillow" v pillow does the same thing for fraction of the cost

it is possible, to breast feed... however, i found it unconfortable feeding on one side, so i just led on the other side feeding her.. and ended up with engorgement on one side as you do.. soon goes though when u continue feeding


i'll not lie to you and say its the easiest thing after major surgery....


BUT!!

It is sooooo worthwhile, and you'll be so glad you plodded on in them early days


good luck missus x

 

[MissThing]

Hi hun!


I had a c-section and had no problems with starting to brestfeed. Basically, as soon as I got wheeled to the recovery room a midwife (or nurse?) helped to get Daniel to my breast. You are still recovering and you wont feel any pain.

The first night was tought (but only because you cant get up by yourself) and every time you have to breastfeed (for me it was every 2 hours) I had to ring for nurse to come, so she can hand Daniel to me. But, as soon as she did it were no problems again. I found it easier (mind you I have HUGE boobs) to breastfeed while holding Daniel as a rugby ball. Sort him lying on the side of me....

The next day they make you to get up. Its quite sore-but manageble (be catreful not to stand up too quicly. I almoust fainted). I had my shower and went to the loo with no problems and finally felt like a human being again.

The I found it easier to breastfeed while lying Daniel on a pillow which was on my lap. That way I didnt have to bend over. Oh, and I always had a pillow to support my back as well.

Basically there were no problems.

The second night I was able to do everything myself!

Best luck with breastfeeding!

 

[lozzi]

The first night was tought (but only because you cant get up by yourself) and every time you have to breastfeed (for me it was every 2 hours) I had to ring for nurse to come, so she can hand Daniel to me. But, as soon as she did it were no problems again.

The next day they make you to get up. Its quite sore-but manageble (be catreful not to stand up too quicly. I almoust fainted). I had my shower and went to the loo with no problems and finally felt like a human being again.


Best luck with breastfeeding!

Ditto all of that....


It is very frustrating having to buzz the mw's to help but persist!!

 

[hels]

As the others have said, its hard the first night but you just buzz and the MW's will help.
I found it easier to lay on my bed and feed my babies laid down, but maybe thats cos I used to have a little doze while I was there lol!
Although it wasnt a problem for me either time feeding my LO's in any position.
Make sure you take it easy though, C sections are major surgery and it is very easy to over do it!

 

[purplebluered]

I invested in a widgey pillow (discounted, of course, I wouldn't pay all tha money for it!) but I've used other pillows when going to friend's houses and pretty much anything will help I used about 4 pillows in hospital to help make it all comfortable ... think I ended up with 6 pillows on my bed in total buzz the nurses everytime you need help even if it's to adjust a pillow for you, you need to be totally comfortable

Can't really add to what others have already said...rugby ball position I found difficult to do by myself...needed DH to help everytime but was worth the effort as was most comfortable.

it's definitely worth all the effort and pain and difficulty of getting comfortable and what not

 

[Mildly]

I found that my stomach swelled up with gas after my c section really badly. For the first 3 days I looked 35 weeks pregnant and was prescribed peppermint water to drink. It made breastfeeding very difficult (and wasn't helped by the fact that my LO has a tongue tie). We mostly fed with him vertical and curved over my belly which probably isn't recommended. I found lying down difficult because my scar burned like it was being pulled on.

I agree with the others, on the second day my range of movement was so much better and this made feeding a lot easier. I would ask to see a breastfeeding specialist as soon as you can in hospital. I gave birth in the early hours of Saturday morning so wasn't able to see one until the Monday although the midwives on the ward were quite useful for advice in the meantime.

At home, I would recommend the V pillow (although I have heard people say ordinary pillows are adequate)for help with positioning. Also I had my OH help out by bringing LO to me and assisting with the positioning - it can be a two person job at first breastfeeding

The midwives in my hospital were quick to offer formula top ups which I relented to as they implied his blood sugar level was dropping and that he wasn't getting enough from me. I really wish that I'd said no and exclusively breastfed as it made things harder when we got home, however I think that was because of problems latching with the tongue tie as opposed to the c section.

Best of luck with your c section and the breastfeeding

 

[Bexie]

I had a section as my daughter was breech also, as soon as I was down from theatre the midwife came and helped me to establish breastfeeding. We started with the rugby tackle position, her feet under my arms.

We were lucky and my daughter latched on straight away. Once we were home (maybe before I can't remember) I used the V-shape pillow to lie her on and breastfed her the normal position, me sat up, her lying on the pillow. After a c-section I didn't find it was comfortable lying on my side so never tried to feed her that way.

I reccommend you buy some Lansinoh for your nipples as they will get really sore and probably crack, this cream worked wonders for me and helped ease the discomfort.

Good luck and I hope all goes well for you.

 

[helsbels]

Awww thanks so much guys, has prepared me for it to be tough but definately possible
Much appreciated your help and experiences

 

[Carebear2]

I was worried about this too and one of the main reason i did not want a repeat c/s because with my first my milk took longer to come in and in the end i bottle fed so i wanted a VBAC. This time my waters broke at 37+6 and they gave me 24 hours to go into labour but i did not so a c/s it was.

As soon as i got into the recovery room the mw helped me latched him the rugby hold way on a regular pillow and its going great since then. In the hospital he lost weight he was born at 6lbs 15oz dropped to 6lbs 8oz and then at 11 days he was at 8lbs. I always use a pillow so i don't put pressure on my lower back/tummy and i'm still doing the rugby or just him laying on pillow. I'm finding BF the easiest part of the whole experience this time around

 

[Clydesdaleclopper]

One of the best things to help is a "My Breast Friend" feeding pillow. The V pillows are a nightmare as the baby can just fall between you and the pillow if you don't have huge norks It is much more stable for them to lie on which helps when you've had a CS as it leaves your hands free to deal with the latch rather than trying to support them as well. Another thing to try is to co-sleeping then you don't have to worry about getting the MW in the hospital or your partner once you're home to bring the baby to you for feeding. Good luck