Yes, you can breastfeed after a c-section! Understand your baby's feeding behaviour and get support.
In most cases, you'll be able to breastfeed soon after your C-section. Sometimes this can even happen while you're still in the operating room. You may have heard that breastfeeding in the first hour after birth is recommended to ensure your chances of successful breastfeeding.
Do C-sections alter your milk production? Some women find that C-sections delay breast milk production, but rest assured that your milk will come in eventually. In the meantime, have lots of skin-to-skin contact with your newborn, and try nursing as frequently as possible.
Incision Pain
Pain from the incision site and afterpains from your uterus contracting back down in size can make it very uncomfortable to breastfeed. The side-lying and football hold positions are good choices while your incision is healing.
Infants born by scheduled caesarean section were not found to sleep any shorter than infants born vaginally. Kozyrskyj said earlier research showed an association between a mother's socio-economic status and shorter infant sleep duration, but this is the first study to determine which factors link the two.
Your milk may come in anywhere from day 2 to day 6 (usually around days 2-3). If your milk is slow coming in, try not to worry, but put baby to breast as often as possible and stay in contact with your lactation consultant so she can monitor how baby is doing.
However, from the current medical evidence, most medical authorities do state that if multiple C-sections are planned, the expert recommendation is to adhere to the maximum number of three.”
Many mothers find breastfeeding while lying on their side the most comfortable during the first day or so. It's also an easy way to nurse and rest at the same time. You and baby lie on your sides facing each other. Use pillows under your head, behind your back, and behind or between your knees to help get comfortable.
Yes, many mothers can successfully breastfeed after several weeks of not breastfeeding. This is called relactation. Success will depend on: • how old the baby is • if the baby was breastfeeding before, how long since the baby breastfed. How do I get started?
Just like with any surgery, your body needs time to heal afterward. Expect to stay in the hospital for 2 to 4 days after your delivery. If there are complications, your stay will be longer. Give your body 6 to 8 weeks to fully heal.
Perhaps you have polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a low or high thyroid, diabetes, hypertension (high blood pressure) or hormonal problems that made it difficult for you to conceive. Any of these issues may also contribute to low milk supply because making milk relies on the hormonal signals being sent to the breasts.
The first few days: Your breast milk coming in
The hormones will get you on track with starting to produce milk. Around day three after your baby's birth, your breast milk 'comes in' and your breasts may start to feel noticeably firmer and fuller.
Drinking water is one of the simplest ways to ensure that your body can produce plenty of breast milk for your baby. While breastfeeding, you should drink even more water than the required amount. 7 This is because breast milk is 87% water and during the postpartum period, your body is losing more water than usual.
What is a 'gentle C-section'? A “gentle C-section” brings elements of a vaginal delivery into the operating room – such as letting the mother watch the birth and hold her newborn right away. A C-section is major surgery. We can't forget that. But we may be able to take a more patient-centered approach.
Ideally, your doctor will cut through the same scar so that you don't have multiple scars on your abdomen and uterus. Sometimes scar tissue can be difficult to cut through but your doctor should be able to cut through it.
At the beginning of a caesarean section, six separate layers of the abdominal wall and uterus are opened individually. Once the baby is delivered the uterus is closed with a double layer of stitching.
Answering the question of whether the second cesarean section is more painful, the answer is: Usually no more pain depending on the condition of the old incision with little or no adhesion, and the surgical technique, and pain relief of the doctors.
Less skin-to-skin contact, a delayed start to breastfeeding and added postpartum stress may lower a women's breast milk supply after a cesarean. The good news is that women who are committed to breastfeeding after a c-section can address and account for all three potential stumbling blocks.
In a skin-to-skin C-section, the baby is put directly on the mother's upper abdomen, and the medical team pushes the baby underneath the drape separating the medical team from the mother's upper body. The baby then settles directly on the mother's bare chest.
Despite views to the contrary, breasts are never truly empty. Milk is actually produced nonstop—before, during, and after feedings—so there's no need to wait between feedings for your breasts to refill. In fact, a long gap between feedings actually signals your breasts to make less, not more, milk.
A newborn should be put to the breast at least every 2 to 3 hours and nurse for 10 to 15 minutes on each side. But rather than worry about duration, it's important to know that the best way to ensure that the baby is getting enough breast milk is by feeding frequency, wet and dirty diapers, and weight gain.
When he stops suckling and swallowing, or when he falls asleep, you'll want to switch him to the other breast. If he hasn't released the first breast, simply slip your finger into the corner of his mouth to break the suction (and protect your nipple) before removing him from your breast.
Women who actively use drugs or do not control their alcohol intake, or who have a history of these situations, also may be advised not to breastfeed. Infants who have galactosemia—a rare metabolic disorder in which the body cannot digest the sugar galactose—should not be breastfed.