I definitely think there is a correlation. Personally, my first birth was induced, long and traumatic for me, I had gas and pathadine as pain relief, as well as a fairly bad PPH requiring transfusions. After giving birth I was exhausted and was so out of it there was hardly any desire for me to really even cuddle my baby let alone feed her. All I wanted to do was sleep and I gave permission for the nurses to give her a bottle. DD was also very sleepy and too tired to feed when I finally got around to it about 10hrs later. Our BF'ing journey was very tumultous (sp??) and traumatic and she was never fully bf. We combine-fed for 7mths before she weaned when I fell pg with DS1.

When I had my boys, I was so much more 'present'. I had normal, natural onset, drug-free vaginal births with both of them. They both took to the breast straight after birth like they had done it all before and fed for a long time. They were/are both fully bf. DS1 fed until 6wks before his 2nd birthday when I fell pg with DS2. DS2 is still going at 11 1/2mths, with no end in sight so far!

I think alot of it has to do with the drugs I had with DD. We were both just exhausted and the pethadine had me in such a haze and I assume she was too. Plus I was just too sick to do anything, I couldn't even stand or sit up for days after birth, let alone get up to breastfeed a baby. I did try many times, but she had terrible latch, as well as slight jaundice, which made it all the worse. I had horrifically grazed sore bleeding nipples and also ended up with thrush. It was a pretty terrible introduction to bf'ing! I really surprised myself that I persevered and REALLY tried for so long. I tried everything I heard might help, but in the end she gave up on me, lol.