If you had a c/s, were you able to BF?

[JFTB1177]

My first baby was a failed induction that ended up a c/s. I had a horrible time trying to get him to BF, and my milk never seemed to come in. I gave up and bottlefed, which worked out fine but I was devastated BF-ing didn't work out. I blamed my c/s but the truth is, I don't know if that was the cause?

My 2nd baby was a HBAC and he nursed immediately and was a champion BF-er! My milk DID come in big time, and all was great!

This time I will be having/attempting a hospital VBAC. I worry that if things don't go as planned and I end up with another c/s, that BF-ing won't work out. That would upset me more than having a c/s. I do have friends that had c/s's and BF great, my mom also had 3 sections and BF without any problems. That gives me hope.

If you had a c/s, were you able to BF?

[CherryBomb]

My first was a c/s after a failed induction.  Breastfeeding wasn't successful, though it had nothing to do with the c/s.  I was very young and knew nothing about breastfeeding and made a lot of common mistakes.  I also wasn't very committed and gave up quickly.

My second was a c/s after a failed hbac attempt.  She was born with significant brain damage and spent two weeks in the NICU.  Lots of obstacles, she wasn't able to start nursing until she was 11 days old, but she never had formula and nursed for nearly 2.5 years.

My third was a great hospital vba2c.  Latched on right away and never had any problems, not even sore nipples.  Nursed her until shortly after her 2nd birthday, when I weaned due to discomfort from pregnancy.

Number 4 was a c/s after failed induction (induced at my request for PIH at 40w2d).  Since it was my 3rd c/s surgery took quite awhile and I didn't nurse him until about 2.5 hours after he was born.  Some mild problems early on (sore nipples) but resolved easily and he's nursing great now at almost one month old.

So, BTDT and yes, breastfeeding is definitely possible after c/s!

[JFTB1177]

Thanks Cherrybomb! I remember after my c/s with DS1 I had such a hard time holding him, etc, b/c of the pain. I do think I gave up too easily BF-ing that time as well. With my HBAC boy, I ended up nursing him mostly laying on my side- that just seemed to work the best for us. I never tried the side-laying position when I was trying to BF my c/s baby, is it possible to do that position after a c/s?

Hopefully I won't have to have another c/s but I know how unpredictable birth is and want to be totally prepared! If nothing else I want to make sure BF-ign works out!!

[konayossie]

Yes! I had a long, difficult labor with many interventions that ended in c/s. I think the c/s and difficult labor may have played a part in my milk being somewhat delayed coming in (according to the medical definition >72 hours); it did come in full-force on the fourth day after I delivered (I even remember the time of day--it was so sudden!), and DS was a champion nurser from the beginning. I did have soreness at my incision site, but I took pain meds for the post-surgery pain and was able to handle DS enough to bf just fine.

ETA: I don't know if side-lying would work right after a c/s. It seems like it would be hard to lay on your side right after. I know changing positions in general is SO hard when your muscles have been separated and everything's raw. I started side-lying nursing probably 1.5 mos after DS was born.

[ssh]

My first c/s was because my DD1 wouldn't drop at all and they thought she her head was too big. The labor was only about 10 hours after my water broke and there were no other interventions.  I'll always doubt it was necessary. I didn't have any issue with breast feeding though. My over 9 pound DD1 was so alert she nursed at least 20 minutes on each side right from the start. No one told me that was too long and my milk came in on the second day. I had my DDs 20 years apart and my OB didn't trust a scar that old and I had had two miscarriages and a high risk pregnancy so I didn't want to take any chances so I had a second c/s. I went into labor, had the s/c and didn't have any problems with breastfeeding DD2. My milk did take 3 days to come in. I wasn't able to do side lying nursing until about a week and a half after the c/s. I used what they call a "football hold" so none of my DDs weight was on my belly until then.

I wouldn't be surprised if having a long difficult labor and/or feeling stressed can undermine being able to start breast feeding easily.

[AllyRae]

My c/s baby is *still* nursing, at almost 21 months.  We had some obsticles, but none of them were c/s related (I am a chronic low supply mom--always have been, even with my vaginal births.  DD also was a 36 weeker, with an under-developed suck/swallow reflex, a very poor latch, bad jaundice for over a month, etc.  So, breastfeeding her was really really difficult for about 2 months.)

[texmati]

Yes!!! I had a section with General Anesthesia, (so, out cold), and I was able to breastfeed. We had a little bit of rough start, but by 2-3 months we were pro's. (My issues were due to my son not rooting and inverted nipples).

The things that helped me (that I'm going to try and replicate this time around)--

1. I was in a baby friendly hospital. Apparently an ld nurse had my son latched on soon after birth (an hour or two?) i have no memory of this.

2. An amazing lc, and supportive nurses-- no one suggested I give my son formula, or pump and feed unless I couldn't get him latched on. I had the lc come to my room for all feedings between 8-5 for days.

3. Rooming in *with* my husband/mom and baby. There was no way I could have stayed alone in my room with the baby-- I couldn't get out of bed, or lift my baby. I was on narcotic drugs! I was very, very lucky to have no visiting hours at the hospital-- my mom could walk in and stay at 3am (and did). Every time the baby cried DH would hand the baby to me, and help me get him latched. This went on for weeks and weeks until I felt comfortable breastfeeding

4. On-Q 'pain ball'. I'd at least ask about getting one of these, if possible. It's a small bag/ball of lido-cane? that is placed along the incision. I never felt the big, scary pain of being cut open that I expected. It really helped me to hold my baby, and also made it possible for me to take less drugs, which made me feel more alert.

5. I'll just say again-- an amazing LC who really supported me in having a good nursing relationship. After my section, I was feeling so low, and disconnected from my child, and so vulnerable. If someone-- Dh, a nurse, lc, etc had even said the words bottle or formula in my presence, I don' t think I'd have been able to nurse.

I know all this stuff is really hospital specific, (I spent 4 days in with my son), but I do feel that it gave me a great start. So much of it was luck for me-- I feel like birthing mom should have access to this info, but don't.

I was so, so, so very lucky, and I can't explain how very grateful I am that I was able to nurse my son.

[MamaJenese]

2 c-sections. One after labor started all on it's own and then lasted for 30 plus hours before the section.  2nd time induction  followed by section. I no problems breastfeeding at all. Both times milk came in about 48 hours after birth.

[Drummer's Wife]

I had 4 c-sections, and was able to breastfeed all of them (including tandem nursing).  Twice I went into labor on my own, and twice I didn't.  Breastfeeding was initiated with each of them while I was in recovery - about 30 minutes after they were born.  The incision was the only issue - had to get creative with holds/pillows. 

[buckeyedoc]

Yes, I breastfed with no problem. He was my second child and only c/s. It was scheduled for breech presentation at 40+4. I breastfed as soon as I got to recovery, which was maybe 20-30 minutes after birth. My milk started to come in within about 12 hours and was essentially fully in by 24 hours.

[CherryBomb]

Re: side laying after c/s, I don't think you could do it immediately after, but certainly as soon as it's comfortable for you to lay  on your side!  I was nursing side laying once I came home from the hospital (so 3 days after), it took some effort to do it, but I managed.  I took my boppy pillow to the hospital with me and that helped a lot with keeping pressure off of the incision!

[GardenStream]

Yes, I was able to BF after both of my c/s.  I've never been in labor or had real contractions even after being induced.

First c/s it took my milk about 5 or 6 days to come in.  DS had some latch issues and it was pretty rough for the first month, but we eventually got it and he nursed until his 4th bday.

Second c/s + BF was amazing.  DS latched on within half an hour of birth, milk came in the next day, and he is still going at 2 1/2 years old.

[kitkat5505]

I had no problem BFing after either c/s.

[Storm Bride]

I've had all c/s. With the two who were scheduled, but labour started before surgery, breastfeeding went fine.

With my emergency c/s (ds1), I was able to breastfeed, but the early days were brutal. I wasn't given enough to eat in the hospital, was highly drugged, and in a lot of pain. By the time I was discharged, my nipples were scabbed over and torn to crap and I cried my eyes out every time ds1 rooted a little bit, because I knew I had to latch him. It was an awful experience, although persistence did ultimately pay off.

With my one labour-free scheduled c/s, breastfeeding didn't go very well at first, either. I didn't have the same problems as the first time (except for the pain), but I just wasn't producing anything for the first few days. I eventually caved and gave dd1 a small amount of formula in the hospital, because she just wasn't getting anything and attempts to latch were going downhill fast, because she was SO frantic and crazy with hunger. She lost over a pound in the hospitall - enough to concern the staff, but not enough to completely freak them out, as she was a big baby to start. Once I finally started producing something - about 3 days in - things went reasonably well.

So, I've managed to breastfeed all my living children after having c-sections, but there was a huge difference in my experiences from one c/s to the next.

[msmiranda]

I know this isn't exactly what you asked, but my understanding is that birth experience CAN and often does affect breastfeeding, up to and including not being able to breastfeed if it is really traumatic (lots of blood loss, for example).  That does not mean, of course, that it will be impossible to bf if you have a section, but it can be more challenging and it makes sense to be prepared for that possibility, by having a lactation consultant's number handy, doing legwork with the hospital beforehand to ensure that they will do everything possible to help you be successful bfing in the event of a c-section (and more importantly, will not do things to sabotage you like giving the baby formula behind your back), making sure you have a pump available in case baby needs to be separated from you for some reason, etc. 

You are in a better position now because you are not a first-time mom and you have successfully breastfed once already.  I found that my milk came in faster the second time around and that I made more of it.  I think that birth experience is particularly important the first time, for some women.  We all know those women who could have the worst birth ever and still have milk coming out of their eyeballs, but some of us do not have that much margin for error.  Sometimes there is an obvious reason for this -- for example, I have PCOS, which can cause supply issues in some women -- and sometimes there isn't.  Since your birth experience seems to have impacted your ability to BF your first child (makes sense to me, because you had no problems with your second), it can only be helpful to you to have all your ducks in a row/be prepared for all possibilities beforehand so that you can give yourself the best possible chance of having a successful bfing relationship even if you do need a c-section this time. 

[katelove]

I am BFing my nearly-6 month old after a c/s. I had problems with nipple pain (now mostly painfree) for a *long* time but no supply issues.

[CI Mama]

I had a long, difficult labor with many interventions that eventually led to c-section. Due to being at a breastfeeding friendly hospital (among other factors) I was still able to hold and begin breastfeeding my daughter within an hour or so after her birth.

Breastfeeding did not get off to a perfect start. I had bleeding nipples and got a painful breast infection that didn't resolve until 12 weeks later after 4 rounds of antibiotics. However, I didn't have supply issues, and I had outstanding support from my partner, a local breastfeeding clinic, and a family practitioner who helped me with the antibiotics. So I was able to get through it. Also, true confessions, I did supplement with formula a little bit, since I had to go back to work 8 weeks after the birth and trying to keep up with pumping was very stressful for me.

In spite of those obstacles, I did manage to stick with it, and now DD is 25 months old and we are still breastfeeding.

B-reastfeeding is different for every woman and for every baby. It takes a lot of work and support for many of us to establish a successful, long-term breastfeeding relationship, regardless of how we give birth. I do think that it's very possible for women who deliver via c-section to go on to breastfeed successfully. But as with labor & delivery, there is wide variation in women's experiences and many factors that can make it easier or harder for individual women to do it.

That's just a long way of saying, if breastfeeding doesn't work for you, please be gentle with yourself. Breastfeeding is great, but it's not the end-all, be-all of motherhood. (I speak as one who was raised on formula & turned out pretty much OK).

[Simonsez2u]

I had no problems BFing DS after my c-section.  He went at it like a pro! 

[northwoods1995]

I've had three c/s and bf all three kids. With my first it was more of a challenge. Milk was slow to come in, he was tongue-tied but it eventually all worked out. My next two I went into labor first and milk came in really quickly after the c/s. The past two times bfing has been easier than when I first started with my first child.

[buckeyedoc]

I wanted to add that I also brought a Boppy to the hospital for breastfeeding. Also, the after-pains while breastfeeding were really bad post-c/s, much worse than after my vaginal deliveries, but they went away in a day or two.