The 411 on Breastfeeding After a C-Section – Cake Maternity Guest Article

Partnering with Cake Maternity last year helped me come to terms with my own pregnancy, parenting and post-c section journey. Connecting with this platform is one of my proudest writing achievements and I love having the opportunity to tackle subjects around motherhood and, importantly, breastfeeding. This month, I’m sharing a post I wrote in collaboration with Cake Maternity back when my son was a newborn. Re-reading it aloud, the subject is still tender but the message is just as important, 20 months on.

In February, I was rushed into theatre for an emergency c-section to birth my son following a twenty hour back-to-back labour. My gorgeous son, Jack, was born in a flurry of emotions, wrapped umbilical cord and shock. The birth I had planned and practiced in my head did not go to plan but my dream baby was here. However, breastfeeding after a c-section was the first thing on my mind.

Little did I know that the birth was only the start of a tough few weeks and that breastfeeding wasn’t going to be as dreamy and easy as I’d imagined.

It’s no shock that major surgery can have an effect on the way you feed your brand new bundle of joy but there are a few things I can share to help make your journey smooth, comfortable and enjoyable!

From the best feeding positions for your incision to tips on how to manoeuvre when in pain, I’m here to encourage, help and save your breastfeeding journey.

From the mummy of a happy, healthy and thriving baby boy, exclusively breastfed five months in, I am here for you!

Can You Breastfeed Right After a C-Section?

The simple answer is yes, absolutely!

C-sections can take away that “golden hour” of skin to skin, complications can lead to not being able to hold your baby and you may not be able to get the picture perfect birth you had planned.

But, you can absolutely 100% breastfeed after a c-section birth.

In my experience, I was lucky enough not to lose tonnes of blood. The surgical team had to take some time to clean my incision and sew me back together again. I was able to see Jack but couldn’t hold him while being stitched back up due to upper body numbness.

Once he was born, I was in theatre for a further 35 minutes being looked over and looked after. As soon as I was wheeled into recovery, I was given my gorgeous boy to hold, coo over and begin establishing skin to skin. 

That’s where our breastfeeding after c-section journey began. Even though I was still numb and in shock (it all happened very fast), I was given Jack and shown how to get him to latch. 

The lovely midwife held most of Jack’s weight, wiggled him around until he found his groove and kept tickling his feet to make sure he stayed awake long enough to get a good first feed in.

Instantly, I felt a bond and we were off and running!

What Are Some Issues You May Encounter When Breastfeeding 
After a C-Section?

Breastfeeding is tough – it’s grueling in the cluster feeding days, it can be tricky to establish and it is also quite painful.

Add to that your recovery from major surgery, swelling and lack of sleep and you’ve got the perfect storm for a tearful new mummy trying to navigate motherhood and breastfeeding.

My recovery meant that I was unable to get myself up unaided – whether that was up from a lying position, up from the sofa or up from the toilet. It meant that my fierce independence was on the back burner for a few weeks.

When discharged from the hospital, you are advised not to lift anything heavier than your new baby and that, ideally, they should be handed to you.

This meant that I had to get myself into the ideal position to feed him before he was handed to me. It took a bit of practice, patience and uncomfortable sitting to get it but we got there!

The toughest part for me when breastfeeding post c-section was not being able to pull myself up at night time when Jack stirred or cried. I was unable to lie on my side and was almost beached in a flat on my back position. Every time he made a peep, my husband had to get up, pull me gently into a comfortable position, get Jack out of his cot and place him on me.

Then, once we were done, he had to do it all in reverse – being careful to help me back down on my back for sleep!

READ THE FULL CAKE MATERNITY ARTICLE HERE

Did you know anything about the potential issues with breastfeeding following a C-Section?

Did you have a C-Section?

LoveRosiee
xxx

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People Also Ask…

How long does it take to breastfeed after C-section?

It is especially important to begin breastfeeding as soon as you are able and to continue breastfeeding your baby on a frequent basis to ensure a good milk supply. Even if you need a few hours to recover from your surgery, you will be able to breastfeed as soon as you feel up to it.

Is it difficult to breastfeed after C-section?

A caesarean birth can affect breastfeeding at first so here are some helpful tips on how to get breastfeeding off to the best start. Some evidence suggests that mums who give birth by caesarean can find it more difficult to establish breastfeeding and are more likely to stop breastfeeding earlier.

Is milk supply affected by C-section?

Generally speaking, a caesarean birth can cause breastfeeding to be a little delayed compared to a vaginal birth because mum doesn’t get the natural surge of oxytocin that can help with her milk supply.

Does breastfeeding help C-section healing?

Faster recovery: Breastfeeding releases hormones that can help the uterus to contract and return to its pre-pregnancy size, which can aid in post-operative healing and recovery

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