I should have done this before my last appointment but I thought it was going to be with an OB... ended up being with a midwife so I could have talked about it... but now I don't have another appointment before my little man arrives so I was wondering if you breast feeding mothers could give me a hand with comments and suggestions on my current plan...


• Skin to skin in theatre once baby cleaned up & weighed - Josh to support baby in place if shakes cause problems (The reason for cleaning up first is I won't be able to get up and shower at least until afternoon and would prefer to be uninterrupted skin to skin once started. )

• Skin to skin in recovery - Josh to support

• Once in room Josh to have cuddles skin to skin

• Constant skin to skin for first 4 hours with breast on offer as required (sounds like a milk bar nut means bare chested for baby to find)

• First sign of cracks (not sure how I'll know yet) I'll start using nipple shields (cracks HUGE last two attempts) – Although I read this morning that you shouldn’t use them until your milk has come in???

Still not sure if demand feeding or a routine to try and ensure I'm feeding enough is the better option.

I'm a little worried about making DH (Josh) feel left out so not sure on the constant skin to skin. Also I know my family (mum) will most likely visit as soon as possible and she will basically make me feel like crap if I don't let her cuddle if it's in those first few hours and those feelings aren't worth the pain so I'll end up giving in. My sister won’t be visiting until late afternoon by which time I’ll be happy to share cuddles.


Still to source information for:
Problems with left breast on last two attempts – ways to improve using this side (it doesn't leak at the moment like the right hand side does)

Reasons for it not working on earlier attempts
DS1 - Induced turned Emergency C-Section due to failure to progress - Milk didn't come in, two bouts of Mastitis in the first three weeks results in one 3 day hospital stay and one 12 hour hospital stay. Huge cracks, thrush, un-supportive partner (I drove 2 weeks after c-section to get formula at 10pm)

DS2 - Waters broke, planned c-section brought forward to that day - Milk arrived but still got cracked nipples - HEAPS of milk that I was throwing down the skin day 9 after his arrival ended up in hospital for 3 1/2 weeks with a severe infection, HEAPS of drugs, two more operations, drugs weren't good for milk supply and it dried up, was too weak to fight milk supply.


So any information or helpful hints would be greatly valued... I so want this... and I PROMISE not to throw anything down the skin