C-sections and breast feeding

I had a c section with my twins at 38 weeks 4 days. my milk did not come in for a week I had NOTHING for a week! My lactation consultant at the hospital had me use a bottle with a tiny tube taped to my breast so the girls had me and the tiny tube in their mouths but they were only getting formula for the first week. With all 3 of my older boys who I went into labor on my own with and were vaginal deliveries my milk came in pretty quick. Is it common to have nothing for so long after a c section? I will probably have another c section with this baby I am just wondering if the no milk for a week thing is pretty common after a c section or is there hope that this time may be different! I BFed the girls until they were 28 months old so I am hoping my body will just kick in and know it needs to feed this baby when he is born! I hated the little tube!

 

I had a c-section with my twins but not with Evan. My milk came in on day 5. Every baby is different. Just start pumping while you are in the hospital in hopes that it starts earlier than last time. Good luck!

 

I had a csection and my milk came in almost immediately. I'd gone into labor (Alexis's water broke) so maybe the laboring process jump starts it?

 

I do think being in labor helps the milk come in quicker, at least for me it did. With my vaginal deliveries my milk was in within a few days. With my son I was in labor for a day before the c-sec and my milk came in within 3 days. When I had the twins it was scheduled c-sec and no labor and it took 5 days for my milk to come in. The twins were #6&7 for me so I would have thought my body knew what it was doing.

this time you might not have any issues with your milk coming in but at least your prepared if you do.

 

Generally, studies have shown there to be a slight delay in milk "coming in" after a C-section. Its normal, but the important parts are still the same. Put baby to breast EARLY & OFTEN!!! Remember your little one has brown fat and extra fluids to help with the first few days until you are flowing. Lots of skin to skin and as much nursing as baby will do. No supplementation required

 

I had c/s both times. With the twins I was in labour for about 8 hours before the c/s. Milk came in on day 3 I think--but I was under general anesthesia and it took a long time to completely wear off so day one is all a blur.
I had a programed c/s with Drex and milk came in late. Day 5 I think. For the first 36 hours I didn't even have any colstrum, nothing coming out.

Edited because I put the same day for both! but Drex was later than the twins.

 

I had a scheduled C Section at 37 weeks but my milk still came in by day 3 or 4. Every pregnancy is different, so hopefully things will go smoother for you this time. Definitely put baby to the breast early and often, as that's the only way to really encourage your milk to come in

 

Both of my deliveries were scheduled c-sections, and the milk was in by day 3. I didn't go into labor in either case.

 

I had a scheduled c/s and never went into labor, and my colostrum didn't even come in until about day 4. I don't think I had much milk until at least a week after the birth, but it's hard to tell since we didn't put the babies to the breast nearly as often as we should have (in retrospect).

 

Mine came in 3 days after my Csection but my water broke, so I'm no help that way. Here's hoping that this baby decides to go into labor before your Csection.

 

Thank you all!! I am so hoping it happens sooner this time! i will try to feed him ASAP after my c section and keep at it!

 

Heather, have you seen this?


You should talk to your doctor about making your birth as natural as possible for a c/s as in the video. Putting the baby right onto your chest and delaying the cord cutting mainly.

edited to uninbed the video (I hope!)

 

I had a scheduled c/s just after 38 weeks. Never went into labour, and my water never broke. I was able to begin tandem nursing about 30 minutes after they were born thanks to our amazing pediatrician who stopped the nurses dead in their tracks (they were insisting on doing more exams on the babies though they were clearly healthy and fine) and rolled the babies into my recovery room and before I even knew it she popped them onto my breasts! She knew that BFing was so important to me, so I was so glad to have her in my corner from the start!

My milk came in on day 3 and my supply was incredible right away. I don't think that I had any delay or issues with BFing due to having a c/s.

 

HI there! I've had three C-sections and I didn't have a problem with milk coming in for any of them...I think actually it came in faster with each one and then with my twins (my 3rd C-section )it came in by day 2-3 for sure and I had an overabundance...so I would say it didn't affect me at all.

shannon

 

I think it's just one of those things you can't predict. My ilk came in day 4 with my older DS, that was vaginal birth, and day 5 with the twins, emergency c-section after induction.

 

I delivered vaginally with my 1st and milk came in within hours, had c/s with my twins at 32 weeks and could tell something was wrong with my milk after pumping every 2 hours for 20-30 minutes for 2 days and literally getting drops. My twins were in the NICU and so it was not possible for me to put them skin to skin. I was not willing to chance not being able to breastfeed and was willing to do whatever I needed to in order to make that happen. After I explained my concerns to my doctor he put me on Reglan. My milk started within a few hours after taking it and I am forever grateful to my doctor. I was able to then have enough supply to exclusivelly breastfeed for 5 months, and continue breastfeeding with needing to supplement until 14 months.