Can u breastfeed in theatre if u have a c-section?

[little sprocket]

Just wanted to know if u can have your baby latch on while u are still in threatre or is that a big no no.

[PinkPalace]

Usually the room during a c-section is pretty hectic and you will prob be moved into recovery or to the ward within about 30minutes after the procedure (this is saying you have had a spinal and not a general anaesthetic.
So often they wait until you are back on the ward because you cannot move whilst still on the table (you cannot move waist down and you need to be in the same sterile position whilst being stitched etc etc).
While there isnt any reason other than being difficult to position with the drapes/your bodys position you will probably want to wait that 1/2 hr or so so you can sit up and have freedom in your bed back on the ward.
Obviously if you had a general anaesthetic ... you wouldnt be feeding in theatre as you will be asleep.
Also depends on the reasons why you needed the c-section - if it is a reason for the bub then they may need to do extra baby checks during the time you are finishing in theatre.

[{sarah}]

Ask your hospital, some allow it & some don't. You might have to push pretty hard to be allowed to, but I don't see a problem with it personally.

[aussienic]

I will be asking to do this when I have my c/s. Each time however my babies have had to go to special care but I hope this time they won't.

Ideally I would like the baby to stay in recovery with me. So I will be asking about this when I go for my first visit. and I will keep on at them till the very end if they keep saying no.

[{sarah}]

I will be asking about this when I go for my first visit. and I will keep on at them till the very end if they keep saying no.

Good on ya Nic

[Pandora]

I think you need to have a midwife in the recovery with you to be able to have the baby with you, BUT I haven't had a c/s so this is second hand info from someone who has, and it way well just have been the policy of the hospital she was at.

[Inanna]

It depends on the hospital and more importantly on the obstetrician. There are many who just see c/section as an operation and they want to get on with it.

Conversley there are some who will treat your birth with respect and dignity and this means skin to skin contact and b/feeding asap where it is safe and the baby is not needing assistance. This is your right to ask for this and if it were me I would be yelling it from the rooftops and making sure they "get it" very clearly.

YOu can also ask for dimmed lights and soft music and quiet voices, slow movements etc. These are things that are very doable in theatre you just have to ask assertively and choose a care provider who respects your desires...

I hope so much that you get what you need...

[AnyDream]

My friend (Wollongong public hospital) was able to BF in theatre with her third child as she got the head midwife on board, who personally attended the birth and 'overruled' the ob's objections. Basically she needed a midwife there doing all the holding and positioning. My friend credits this experience with the very rapid recovery she had after the CS (two prior CSs with poor recovery both times).

I for one will be gunning for this, but at the very least will keep my babe with my in recovery. Even if I have to hire a midwife to do it for me!!!!

[Inanna]

Good on YOU Marydean...

[mrmoo]

This wasn't allowed when my little miss was born. As soon as she was born she was wisked away to be cleaned up and the apgar scoring then she was placed in the crib and with dh, ushered out so the surgeons could sew me back up. I'd assume that would happen in most cases with a caesarean.

[Janet]

It's your birth and your baby and you should be able to do whatever you like especially since skin to skin and baby led attachment are evidence based practices and separation of mother and baby is demonstrably poor practice. They're providing you with a service so what you say goes. If you go to a restaurant and want chicken the chef doesn't come out and go "No, I only cook steak here so that's what you're getting." You're the boss, no one is doing you a favour so tell them how it will be

[Tobily]

If you really want it, push hard for it and make sure you have an OB's that supportive of your wishes. And have a written birth plan

I actually had stated I wanted this in the event I needed a c/section on my birth plan. I did have a c/section but even though I was allowed to feed him I couldn't do it - I was really woozy for a good hour after the op and I couldn't hang on to him to breastfeed. I suppose I could've got DH to hold him but it didn't occur to me at the time.

[Yael]

Do you need a private midwife in the o/t to be able to bf ? I know you generally need one in recovery if you want to.

Just 'cos my mum is a registered midwife, so DH has strict instructions to call her up and get her to come ASAP, so she will be in recovery with me. Just i don't see them waiting til she gets to even start the operation.. But if i got to b/f in recovery, and not in the o/t, that wouldn't be the worst thing in the world. At least i got something!

[Beach Mama]

I had cuddles in theatre with DH while they stitched me up and then in recovery I had the midwife with me and she pushed for me to breastfeed - actually her and the recovery nurse kind of fought over me - very funny with the recovery nurse saying, "you will have to wait the mother is my priority right now!"! Hee hee - anyway after chekcing my BP I had skin to skin contact and breastfed for the whole time in recovery thanks to the midwife pushing!! The recovery nurse was grumpy with me too as I kept bending my arm where the BP cuff was on - oh well, very worth it!! If I didnt have the midwife there though I doubt I would have been able to - so definately check. I think it comes down to whether they have enough staff available in maternity. Good luck!

[aussienic]

I really I am able to do what you did Tan.. and yes I suppose it does come down to if there is enough staff. So cross fingers..

[christy]

I had Matilda on the breast as I was being taken out of theatre, the midwife put her on my breast for me as we started moving.

[little sprocket]

I was thinking of doing something really really naughty. I was going to ask the OB in the next appointment which is in like 3 weeks. If I get a big no out of him Im not gonna say anything else about it. When it comes to having the c-section however Im gonna wait til they give me the baby and then latch him on myself and not even ask. Surely they wouldnt whisk him away once started. Just hope he latches on ok cos I didnt breast feed with my last baby so Im gonna need some luck.

[Janet]

You will only have one hand free and be lying on your back with tubes coming out of you. Holding a baby is pretty well impossible on your own like that. Better idea is just tell your surgeon to get a grip, it will be happening. Evidence shows us that skin to skin is crucial in so many ways to our early relationships with our babies and it's really no drama for you to be supported in that way. A naked baby left with a naked mama, with intact vernix, will slowly find it's way to the boob and latch on. With surgery the baby has received drugs which can slow it down, and you've had an epidural plus saline IV to counteract some of the effects of the epidural and that makes you retain fluid in your nipples. Those two things can make it harder for a baby to do what it's programmed to do, find a boob and start to latch on.

You don't need luck to establish breastfeeding, mostly you need education, information and support. Join the ABA while you're pregnant, get their information on bfing after surgery, go to some information seminars, spend time with breastfeeding mamas. Starting with surgery can make it more complex but if you learn lots and have plans and ideas about dealing with any contingency, you are already streets ahead than most of us are with first babies. My vaginally born baby crawled up my body and latched herself on when I was still sitting upright in the birth pool and she was 30 minutes old. My caesarean born son latched on pretty well the first time we met but was so tired and sad after our forced separation that he just had a little cry and went to sleep. We boobed fine for 2 1/2 years after 8 days without milk at the start. You have some parenting decisions to make and planning to breastfeed is a great one