QUESTION - For those of you who had a scheduled C-section AND breastfed..................

...............how did that work???? I want to BF and I just found out yesterday I will be going in on Friday for a scheduled C because of my GD and baby's size. It didn't dawn on me to ask but how will having a scheduled C affect my ability to BF? Is there anything "in there" to feed the baby or does it take a few days for the milk to come in? Will I just need to formula feed for a few days? I have no idea what to expect, any help is appreciated!! Thanks!!!

Re: QUESTION - For those of you who had a scheduled C-section AND breastfed..................

The delivery of the placenta is what tells the body to start producing milk. C-sections doesn't diminish that in any way.

I think the only thing a c-section affects is when you get to hold the baby for the first time.

Re: QUESTION - For those of you who had a scheduled C-section AND breastfed..................

Re: QUESTION - For those of you who had a scheduled C-section AND breastfed..................

I had a csec and am BFing. It generally takes a few days for milk to come in for most mothers - csec or no. You have colustrum which is not quite milk at first and then the milk comes in. Its up to you and Pediatrician if you want to supplement with formula until milk comes in.

I'd reccomend picking up the book "the nursing mothers companion" and bring it with you to the hospital -

Re: QUESTION - For those of you who had a scheduled C-section AND breastfed..................

I wanted to EBF DS. No formula whatsoever even to supplement in the hospital and at home.

I made it clear to everyone around me. Each new nurse that would come by, OB, OR nurses, etc... the I want to BF right after the c-section and that DS would only be BF.

I BFd DS right after the c-section. I was shaking and everyone kept asking me if I was OK to BF. So I do.

It is really up to you if you want to BF only and/or supplement. Your baby does not need to be on formula unless there are complications, your ped discuss it with you, etc...

Some woman supplement so they get some rest at night.

My milk came 72 hours after I had the c-section. And in HUGE excess. I got engorged in a matter of minutes.

I will admit that BFind and a c-section is exhausting. I really felt it took me longer to heal due to the EBF.

Re: QUESTION - For those of you who had a scheduled C-section AND breastfed..................

It shouldn't affect it at all. The collustrum (sp?) comes in first and then your milk should come in soon after that. I was able to feed DS a few hours after he was born.

Re: QUESTION - For those of you who had a scheduled C-section AND breastfed..................

Re: QUESTION - For those of you who had a scheduled C-section AND breastfed..................

The only thing that was difficult the first couple of days after the c-section was the positioning of the baby. It was a little hard b/c of the incision. Otherwise, the milk came in after a few days.

Re: QUESTION - For those of you who had a scheduled C-section AND breastfed..................

I had two schedule c-sections and breastfed both times with no problems. The only thing is...if you try to nurse in recovery, its so hard cause you can't move. My dd wasn't even interested, but by the time I was in my room everything went smoothly. With my first I did not get to nurse until 9 pm and my c-section was at 2 pm. He did fine as well. I would not worry about it.

Re: QUESTION - For those of you who had a scheduled C-section AND breastfed..................

I had a scheduled c-section. I nursed DD as soon as they wheeled me into the recovery room.

Re: QUESTION - For those of you who had a scheduled C-section AND breastfed..................

BF was no problem for me after my c/s

Her first two feed were both formula because #1 - I was in recovery so long (blood pressure) #2 - the next 'feed' was 1am and I didn't think I'd have the energy to try so late since I'd have been up for a full 24hours at that point. (haha.. i was so bored and ASKED for her but she was already fed by then )

After that, it was all me all the time I was in the hospital.. EVERY single feeding time.. 1am and 5am includedl It was a great bonding experience. Especially since later I had to stop

Re: QUESTION - For those of you who had a scheduled C-section AND breastfed..................

This is what happened for me.

After DD was born, they gave her to me. I was wheeled out of the OR with her in my arms. I tried to nurse in the recovery room, but DD wasn't interested. The lactation consultant never came down (it was Good Friday), but the nurse told me not to worry.

Immediatley after the c-section, they hook you up to petossin which signals to your body you gave birth and starts to restrict your uterus. Your colustrum starts to come in, as it does for a woman who have a vaginal birth. Your milk will come in after about 5 days- the same time a woman who had a vaginal birth does.

The nurse took DD from me for about an hour, and then they brought her back and I tried to nurse again. I needed a lot of help because no matter how many classes you take, its a totally different experience when you are holding your little baby. The nurses were great.

Honestly, in the hospital I got the BEST training on nursing. Spending 5 days in the hospital with round-the-clock care and people who can help you BF was amazing!!

Message edited 9/17/2008 1:28:26 PM.

Re: QUESTION - For those of you who had a scheduled C-section AND breastfed..................

Re: QUESTION - For those of you who had a scheduled C-section AND breastfed..................

I had a scheduled c-section and nursed within the hour.

My milk came in on day 4, full force. Overly engorged in minutes...so my body definitely knew it was time to make milk.

Re: QUESTION - For those of you who had a scheduled C-section AND breastfed..................

as the other girls said, your body gets a signal for your milk to come in one the placenta is detached... but you do have colostrum right away... my milk came in the second day I was in the hospital- i woke up and felt like i had gotten implants!

The hardest part for me about the c-section and nursing was once we got home and nursing and taking care of her at night. It wasn't easy getting in and out of bed on my incision area or my back. I really wish I had that button like they had on the hospital bed to help me go up and down...

Re: QUESTION - For those of you who had a scheduled C-section AND breastfed..................

Not a scheduled C, but I gave birth a few minutes after 10, and by 2 or 3 they wheeled DDs in to me to be fed. The doctor told me they have enough stored up that they actually don't even need to eat for a day or two - years ago when women only BF, babies only ate that little bit of colostrum, then had to wait to eat until the milk came in, so those few hours won't do your DC any harm.

Re: QUESTION - For those of you who had a scheduled C-section AND breastfed..................

I agree with the above posters, a scheduled c-section doesn't affect milk production.

As for having a big baby and BF, feel free to FM me any time. I had an 11 1/2 pound baby and I BF. I heard crap from many family members about 'ONLY' giving him breastmilk when he 'clearly needed something else' because he was a big boy. I didn't listen to them. I listened to the pediatrician and my baby.

Re: QUESTION - For those of you who had a scheduled C-section AND breastfed..................

I had a c-section and i BFed it does not affect your milk production...

You just cant hold the baby i think it was about an hour later b.c you will be in recover for about at least an hour...

ETA: where are you delivering? i delivered at South Nassau and the LC were great!!!!! Very helpful...

Message edited 9/17/2008 2:31:59 PM.

Re: QUESTION - For those of you who had a scheduled C-section AND breastfed..................

DS was a c-section my milk came in within 24 hours...
DS was a c-section and my milk was in within 48 hours

Re: QUESTION - For those of you who had a scheduled C-section AND breastfed..................

Re: QUESTION - For those of you who had a scheduled C-section AND breastfed..................

I was nursing 20 minutes after she was born It doesn't change anything. All I can say is nurse, nurse, nurse.

Re: QUESTION - For those of you who had a scheduled C-section AND breastfed..................

I had a C-section almost two weeks ago...I couldn't pump in the hospital (long annoying story alone!) But pumped that following Monday when I got out of the hospital, which was fine b/c my Milk didn't start to come in until 4 days after the delivery...so I forumla fed until then...and I'm supplementing with formula at night, so I can pump and get my supply up for the day.

I pumped every 1-2 hours for 10-15 minutes to get my supply up and now I pump every 2-3 hours for 10-15 minutes and get just enough or a little more than what DD needs to eat.

Also, I had her three weeks early, so the dr's said it might take a bit longer to get my supply up since technically my body wasn't "ready" to have a baby, so it won't be ready to make milk. hence the reason I pumped so often.
You don't have to pump for long, just more often to get your supply up!

Good luck with your section on Friday.

Re: QUESTION - For those of you who had a scheduled C-section AND breastfed..................

I had 2 c/s, one scheduled and one after labor and I bf both times without any problems. Milk came in within two days both times.

Re: QUESTION - For those of you who had a scheduled C-section AND breastfed..................

I BF my DD right after my C/S (within the hour) and my milk came in about 2 days later.

Re: QUESTION - For those of you who had a scheduled C-section AND breastfed..................

I had 2 c sections and BF in the hospital with both With my first, I had pre-eclampsia so I was not able to nurse for 36 hours. Once I was given the OK, I EBF my DS after that.
With my 2nd, I started to pump 12 hours after having him. DS was in the NICU so the colostrum is really important for the baby to get. I pumped as much as I could while I was there and BF whenever I was in the NICU with him. My milk came in within 2 days