I breastfed my daughter when she was born a year and half ago but I had a csection and it was difficult for my milk to get started. That first week or so was awful. We almost gave up because we had to supplement, she didn't like going from nipple to bottle, and I was a tearful mess thinking I was failing. They almost didn't let us leave the hospital because she went from 7 lbs 14 oz to 7lbs 3 oz in two days. I am due in two weeks and I am terrified of going through the same ordeal. Any suggestions? I asked my Doc and she said starting Reglan but I don't think I want to do this because of side effects. Is there anything I can do to get it started better? I thought about pumping in the hospital between nursing but I know that wil be exhausting. My hubby wants me to start pumping now LOL.
Quoting Avajay2:They almost didn't let us leave the hospital because she went from 7 lbs 14 oz to 7lbs 3 oz in two days.
Stupid hospital. Babies NORMALLY lose up to ten percent of birth weight...c-sec babies lose even more. Birth weight of 126 ounces, she was allowed to drop to at least 113 and only dropped to 115. She had yet MORE weight to lose.
You might do better doing your own c-sectionwith a swiss army knife.
I am due in two weeks and I am terrified of going through the same ordeal. Any suggestions?
Ignoring the hospital would be a good start. Vaginally delivered babies are expected to drop ten percent of birth weight. It's a little higher with c-sec babies because they retain more fluid.
I asked my Doc and she said starting Reglan but I don't think I want to do this because of side effects.
And you don't need it either.
Is there anything I can do to get it started better?
Not really...only delivery of the placenta and nursing on demand does it. COUNT DIPES. One per day of life.
I thought about pumping in the hospital between nursing but I know that wil be exhausting.
And you don't need to do it.
My hubby wants me to start pumping now LOL. Won't help.
Seriously. DON"T BELIEVE A THING THE HOSPITAL TELLS YOU. The only thing that matters is that on day one, you change ONE DIPE. On day two, you change TWO. And so on for the first week.
Likely you woulda been fine had the hospital not gotten in the way.
So...you might consider changing hospitals. Or the swiss army knife. Or ignoring everything they tell you and getting the hell outta dodge as fast as you can.
Really the only advice I can give you on that is to nurse, nurse, nurse as quickly as you can after best. Kellymom has an article on their website about C-sections and nursing. It is very interesting. I can't find the link and DH needs to use the computer for work. Maybe someone else can give you the direct link. I would not recommend pumping. It can cause you to go in labor.
I had a c-section and had no supply issue and I know others with c-sections who also never had an issue, so I don't think the two are related. I also gave birth at a VERY breastfeeding friendly hospital, so that helped. I agree with PP that the amount of weight lost was PERFECT. There was nothing wrong with losing that much weight, as it wasn't all that much to begin with. Was it the hospital that told you that you had to supplement? If not, why did you think you didn't have enough milk and felt the need to supplement? Supplementing will only further HURT your supply, so unless there is some dire reason to do so (like there are no wet diapers) then I wouldn't do it. Just nurse, nurse, nurse. That will build your supply. Also, an easy thing to do to bring it up is to eat oatmeal for breakfast every morning. And make sure you're drinking plenty of water.
Oh, and pumping now won't help. In fact it could hurt. Stimulating your nipples like that could trigger labor. Plus, if you're using an electric pump, it could trigger bad labor. It could make your uterus spasm instead of really contract which could be really bad for the baby.
I had a c-section with both of my babies, the 2nd one was planned, and didn't have any supply issues. My daughter was my 2nd and she lost 15 oz in the hospital (she was 9'1) and the doctors weren't too concerned. She had jaundice, plus since she was a c/s baby, the doctor said it was normal to lose so much weight since so much of it is fluid. I nursed, nursed, and nursed some more and drank tons of water.
Nurse as often as possible. I have had 3 c-sections. My second and 3rd my milk came in within 2 days. My second and third babies have lost a whole pound within 2 days. DD2 weighed 9lbs 1oz and we left the hospital with her weighing 8lbs 3oz and DD3 weighed 8lbs 4oz at birth and we left the hospital with her weighing 7lbs 4oz. It is normal for babies to lose up to 10% of thier body weights. You can do it:).
Angelica (6) Keturah (2) and Baby Ruthie (Feb, 17, 2010)
I had a c-section with my first and had supply issues as well with my first. He was whisked away to NICU so I didn't see him for almost 6 hours after he was born. With my son now I had a repeat c-section and got to nurse him in recovery and we have no problems even though we had to supplement for 3 days until my milk came in but I think he only got maybe 3 oz with that b/c my milk came in the day we went home from the hospital and we've been nursing strong for almost 11 months now and he is showing no signs of weaning. My suggestion is to tell the nurses ahead of time while they are prepping you for your c-section that you want to nurse baby as soon as possible after delivery and make them put a note in the bassinet for the nurses in the nursey that baby is to not get any formula.
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In ER with baby
- Avajay2
on Mar. 18, 2010 at 7:48 PM