c-section and nursing

[glastrongal]

Hi ladies.

I have scheduled a c-section for the birth of our twin girls.  Doing some research ... I find that the sooner they can latch on - and make that initial bond - the better success of breastfeeding.

I am concerned that breast feeding after a c-section could be very hard - as I am still in recovery mode.  Did anyone else have this happen to them?  How did you handle it? 

I really want my breast feeding experience to be a postive one - and any advice you have for me would be great.

Thank you!!!

[xomrs.chase]

I will say its hard when you're in pain- but its possible! Ask if you can hold each baby one at a time while you're getting stitched up- and make sure you say you want to try and nurse as SOON as you're in recovery.

Pain meds help

Boppy pillow or nursing pillow

Try nursing on your side/ laying down.

Good luck!!!!! :)

[comf]

Yup I had a c section and they offered me to have the baby in the operating room but I waited until we got back to my room. You should talk to the Dr before to make sure they know what you want. Also tell them while they are prepping you. The football hold worked best for me at first so make sure they give you extra pillows!

[gavin423]

I had a c-section with both my LO's unfortunately.

With my first, everything went fine and I was back with my DS in a very minimal time and we were never able to get breastfeeding down. I had a subpar lactation consultant and bad information from nurses and within about 3 weeks, I was supplementing and by 6 months, I was no longer breastfeeding because we still couldn't latch.

With my second, we had problems during the surgery including needing to be put under and having hemhoraging (sp?) and so it was a few hours before I could see my DD. She picked it right up and the day after Valentines will be 6 months without even a bottle, let alone formula.

I'm suring getting to nurse sooner is a big thing but I think having the right support and help is a bigger key to successfully breastfeeding. :)

[JT32606_]

i was nursing my DD about 5 minutes after i came out of the OR...
i had a hard time with the pain and nursing, but i managed. i used a pillow on my belly at the hospital and it helped ease the pain.
you can also try the football hold so baby isnt on your belly.

ill tell ya now, i couldnt lay on my side for almost 10 days, so nursing on my side was impossible. it may be different for you!


talk to the doctor and nurses in the OR and let them know what you want afterwards.

[HoBo86]

I had an emergency section so i was pretty sore, but we still breastfed ok. i got my daughter back about two hours after birth. i also used the football hold at first while healing. extra pillows were a lifeaaver. a boppy works, but sometimes it put to much pressure on the incision and i ended up getting a nirsing pillow that was more L shapped than curved (i think it was luna lullaby pillow). i would just be sure to talk to nurses and doctors about your wishes and ask for help if you need it. good luck and congratulations on twins!

[TaylorFam02]

I couldn't lay down after my c-section, I slept in a lazy boy chair. I just nursed in the chair.. I needed a lot of help picking up the baby ( he was over 9 pounds) the nursing part was the easiest thing at first.. Everything else, getting up and down my stairs, going to the bathroom etc. Were hard.

[mommy2lexinmark]

it was worse for me after my vag births then my csec....i was more crampy after my vag births and it got worse w nursing

[TaylorFam02]

I thought I was like the only one that couldn't lay on my side lol! I couldn't lay down at all in a regular bed for about 2 weeks.

Quoting JT32606_:

i was nursing my DD about 5 minutes after i came out of the OR...

i had a hard time with the pain and nursing, but i managed. i used a pillow on my belly at the hospital and it helped ease the pain.

you can also try the football hold so baby isnt on your belly.



ill tell ya now, i couldnt lay on my side for almost 10 days, so nursing on my side was impossible. it may be different for you!





talk to the doctor and nurses in the OR and let them know what you want afterwards.

[JT32606_]

i had to sleep sitting up. lol. dh had to literally lift me out of bed for a good week. i felt like such crap.
i couldnt even laugh, it hurt so bad.


i had my first naturally, so this csection thing.... not a fan lol!

Quoting TaylorFam02:

I thought I was like the only one that couldn't lay on my side lol! I couldn't lay down at all in a regular bed for about 2 weeks.

Quoting JT32606_:

i was nursing my DD about 5 minutes after i came out of the OR...


i had a hard time with the pain and nursing, but i managed. i used a pillow on my belly at the hospital and it helped ease the pain.


you can also try the football hold so baby isnt on your belly.





ill tell ya now, i couldnt lay on my side for almost 10 days, so nursing on my side was impossible. it may be different for you!








talk to the doctor and nurses in the OR and let them know what you want afterwards.

[aehanrahan]

I was put under during the surgery with my first, so I didn't see him for four hours. We were fine with nursing. Pillows and the football hold helped in the early days.
My second was scheduled and he was brought to me as soon as I got into recovery to nurse. I kept him to the side and I slept a lot while he nursed constantly the first couple of days days in the hospital.