Planned C-section and Breastfeeding

Hi all,just after a little advice or opinions. I am going to the clinic on Wednesday for a check-up,so i will be asking them as well to get professional advice/info,but im always open for other peoples point of view etc*L*

Im 32 weeks pregnant..33 weeks tommorrow,and i have gestational diabetes(for the 2nd time..also had it with my now 4 yr old dd)

I have been milling over in my mind to have..or ask for..a planned C-section. For various reasons,but my biggest worry and concern is that if i have a c-section,that it will affect my natural production of breastmilk.

Is this true?

Or does breastmilk still produce,no matter how your baby is born or when..with or without going into labour??

I can't wait to be able to BFed again..but scared that if i dont go naturally into labour,that my body wont know its time to produce milk to feed my baby boy.

I guess only more mothers worry and guilt anf hormones..playing on my mind!*L*

Thanks all. Would love to know what others know or think.

I actually found that my milk supply was moreso with my first birth (an emerg c/s) than with my second birth (vbac). There are things you can do to ensure a better milk supply so I wouldn't let the idea of a c/s worry you with regards to that.

Goodluck!

*hugs*
Cailin

Clearbrite - this is one thing which worried me when I was told I`d need to have a c/s but in the end it all turned out fine, I was able to breastfeed Matthew and had enough milk to feed an army LOL Matthew was 3 hours old before he had his first breastfeed and was very hungry by then, he didn`t let go for an hour and never looked back.

HTH

Thank you Cailin,and i just wanted to say sorry for posting up 2 tickers..just having a daughter and pregnant again,i didnt realise i couldnt do this. Now that i know its only one child at a time,and not all that you have,i wont do it again..only fair for all after all..i can only imagine how much space would be taken up if someone had 10 kids or something!*L*

Thanks for the opinion and reminder about tickers.Wont happen again*hangs head in shame*

No worries Clearbrite ;)

Goodluck!

*hugs*
Cailin

I have had 2 c-sections. with the first my milk came in day 5. with the second I also had GD and my milk came in about day 3-4. The difference I feel was because DS was taken from me pretty much for the first 24hrs (only brought in for a few feeds) with DS2- because GD babies can have low BSL- I demanded that he be allowed to feed ASAP (he was feeding in recovery and continued for 1.5hrs) and he didn't leave me for the first 24hrs (I slept him on my stomach in the ward and allowed him to feed whenever).
It may have also helped that I started expressing milk from 34 weeks (just a few mls of colostrum each time) to have on hand in case DS2 needed top up feeds (common with GD babies) but he didn't need them because he fed so well.

I never had a problem with milk after my c-section - I had tonnes!

I think BFing problems associated with CS (delay in milk coming in, problems latching, supply worries) are more about trauma and management rather than the CS itself aren't they...? I know 2 or 3 women who had even emergency C-Sections and were BFing like champs a few hours later.

Any traumatic birth that affects the mother's physical and emotional wellbeing can interfere with the milk supply and having baby taken and put in SCBU can make getting it all started more difficult, etc. But i wouldn't have thought a planned c-section, where it is what the mother wants, and where the Ob is supportive of immediate skin to skin and feeding shouldn't present any more problems than a normal vaginal birth handled in the same way.

I actually thought the issue with milk production after a c-sect was more to do with the drugs given (esp for post surgery pain relief). As Cailin said - there are ways to remedy milk production issues so try not to worry about it too much.

I had 3 c/s, the first with lots of drugs and had no problems with milk production after any of them. I think it's an individual thing. Keep your fluid intake up and you should be fine.:D

I had no trouble at all with my milk supply with my 2 c/s..

I did find my milk came in slower with my first baby who was a natural delivery but I think that was because he was my first ..

Good luck..

I also had a truck load of milk! I think your body knows, no matter how you deliver, that it needs to feed this little person.

Good luck and don't worry what anyone says about you having a cs! if you feel it best for you and your baby then do it! your milk will be fine and being a planned cs you can BF within half an hour!

My milk came in on day 5 and boy did it come in!! Ive had no problems with supply since!! Good luck~!

hi there
i had a planned c/s and my milk came in on about day 3 ...
it came in so fast i was spraying everywhere... i guess it coz i expressed alot of the good stuff ... whats it called? i have forgotten momentarily ...
anyway i was in recovery for over an hour as there were a few isssues with my c/s... i had many probs with b/f and ds came down with severe jaundice... i expressed for 2 months before he latched on ....

my advice is know what you want .... demand that bub is fed shortly after birth , if had of kown this things would have been different... your body will do what it has to do to feed bub... if not there are l/c and help and things you can do to help things along !!!

hope you get what you want and bub is bf asap !!
best of luck !!

Hi
I had an emergency c-section and had plenty of milk. Breastfed for 12 months!
I have a planned c-section this time and am planning to breastfeed - your post has now made me start to think about it again!
Good luck!

hi :) I've had 3 ceasers and breastfed my three children with no problems with supply after having the ceaser. My breast milk came in the same as anyone elses, and with each ceaser I didn't even have one contraction!

Good luck :)

It's really great to have heard/read so many good stories here. The only comment I could possibly add is that if you're concerned you can make an appointment to see a lactation consultant antenatally to discuss your concerns and implement a management plan.

Good luck with everything!

Thank you for the replies everyone..it has eased my mind alot!! I guess i dont really care overly how a baby enters the world..as long as each and every one arrives happy and healthy and safe..but i think if i couldn't BFed for whatever reason,i would be devastated!

Oh sure,given time,i'ld be ok,and yes,there is always formula..but after having a great BFing experience with my daughter,i can't wait to be doing it all over again!

Thank you so much,i feel better now!*L*

It looks like i'll probably end up having a c-section anyhow. Im 33 weeks,and he is 500-600g underweight for his age..though,has all the signs of being happy and healthy..just being smaller,could be a sign that the placenta isnt working as fully as it should,so can cause trouble later on.
He is also still in breech position..though..i;ld think with still a few weeks to go,he still has time to turn heads down*fingers crossed*
Having GD doesnt mean that i have to have c-section,i know that..but with everything else adding up..might be a safer option to see him into the world!

Thanks all

:D