Breastfeeding After a C-Section

June 7, 2016

C-sections are no joke. After having two vaginal births, I opted to have a scheduled c-section due to some complications that I had with my previous birth. I had read that breastfeeding after a c-section could be challenging and that made me nervous. With my first two babies, my milk came in on day 5. I’ve read that it’s common for milk to be delayed coming in after a c-section, plus my baby #2 never latched/nursed (look forward for a very informative post on extreme pumping) so I was determined to have a ‘normal’ breastfeeding experience after my c-section.

Spoiler alert: After my c-section, my milk came in prior to even leaving the hospital. This was a total first for me.

Don’t let your doctor trick you into thinking that you would have struggles with breastfeeding just because you had a c-section.

Tips for Breastfeeding After a C-Section

Immediate skin-to-skin in the OR. This is totally possible! When you tour a hospital, ask what their procedures are with skin-to-skin immediately following a c-section. After my husband cut the umbilical cord, the nurse immediately brought the baby to me and placed it on my chest. My arms were NOT restrained at all; they were a bit shaky so I had the nurse help me hold my son. We had a ‘norma’ skin-to-skin experience; actually we had more skin to skin than I did with my second born vaginal birth. I’m not an expert on the science behind it, but I know that there is a lot of research backing the importance of skin-to-skin following any birth.
Minimal separation throughout your hospital stay. This can be a controversial topic. I know that there are lots of moms that utilize a nursery while in the hospital. That’s totally fine. For me, my second born was taken away from me for various reasons and I think that’s one of the contributing factors to her never wanting to latch. After my c-section, I kept my baby with me constantly. The nurse took the baby for maybe 30 minutes in the middle of the night and that’s it. Keeping the baby with you with solidify your bond and improve your breastfeeding relationship.
Nurse all the time: Well, maybe you’re not really nursing since your milk hasn’t come in, but the more you bring baby to breast the more you’re telling your body that you need milk. Most (I’ve learned though that definitely not all…hence my baby #2) babies have a natural sucking reflect so even if baby isn’t actually getting milk, just bringing them to breast and having them dream feed will help to stimulate milk production. Any time baby fusses at all, just bring them to the breast.
Teas and Tinctures. There are several brands of teas and tinctures that claim to help with healthy lactation. I was introduced to these while exclusively pumping for my second born and instantly knew I would use these with my third baby.
- MotherLove More Milk Plus- Alcohol Free is a tincture that I have used and feel that it has helped. I will specify that the alcohol free version doesn’t taste as bad as the ‘normal’ version. I’ve tried both.
- Traditional Medicinals- Mothers’ Milk Tea is the tea that I have used. I bought a case of this on Amazon and it has lasted me quite a while. There are other brands of teas, but this is the one that I have preferred over having two babies.
- I brought both of these products to the hospital and started taking them within 6 hours of my c-section. I have bought teas and tinctures in stores and on Amazon and I feel that Amazon does have the best selection and I was able to buy the tea in bulk.
Hydrate!! All breastfeeding mamas need to stay hydrated, but it’s crucial after a c-section. Most hospitals will give you a large cup to use which is super useful and is a nice souvenir. Nurses will fill it for you, but it’s probably easiest to have a family member do it for you. I aim for 100 ounces of water per day. Once home, I use a giant 64 ounce water jug.
Rest. After a c-section you won’t be able to move for awhile, but that doesn’t mean that you are resting. Try to take it easy and get a few hours of sleep if possible.