C Section and Not Being Able to Breastfeed

I would ask a specialist. I didn't have any problems producing milk, but neither my girlfriend nor her mother were able to produce with any of their children. My girlfriend has 2 and her mother had 5.

I had a c section and it was hard to breastfeed... I can only imagine how much harder it would be if my milk didn't come in. I'd suggest going to a lactation consultant now to see if they can help/ Hang in there ok

I have always had problem with losing breastmilk when my babies were turning three months old. I was able to continue longer when I found out about Fenugreek, an herbal supplement and I also heard that garlic and peanuts help. NEVER MIND this allergy thing. My mother didn't nurse me and I have peanut allergy. The only thing I can eat is if the nuts were cooked in the foods and natural peanut butter because of my allergies (it's healthier and no sugar). Don't eat parsley, I heard if a mother wants to wean her baby off breastmilk, eat parsley and it will reduce it. Pumping did nothing for me, NOTHING. It seemed to cause more problem for me instead. Fenugreek made it flow and squirt all over like in the beginning. I also learned as soon as possible put the baby on your breast. They are great suckers right after and then two hours later, they don't want to such because they are toooooo tired. So, it's harder then. Hope this helped. I'll pray for you when that day comes.

Hi Amy, I am sending this post to respond to Dianna's request -- breastfeeding and cesareans are ABSOLUTELY related!!! Yes, it is true that for many (not all) moms, the physical and sometimes emotional trauma of a c-section, along with the exposure to the additional anesthesia, and the pain associated with recovering from a c-section impairs the body's natural ability to breastfeed. Many mothers' breasts, as a result, make milk on average a day later than vag-delivery moms, and often the quantity they make when the milk comes in is much less. If that did NOT happen to you, you are lucky - some mothers breasts are determined to make milk no matter what.

I say, since you failed at breastfeeding once before, you are at higher risk of failing a second time. Makes sense, right? You don't even know what went wrong the first time. How can you correct it this time? Now is a good time to look for a good lactation consult that you feel comfortable with. Look for local doulas, try La Leche, call the hospital you will be delivering at and ask to meet the LC, and ask if she sees patients outside the hospital. She will be vital to your breastfeeding success this time around. She will also be like a therapist to you...she'll see you at your most vulnerable, so make sure you find someone that you feel comfortable with. Also, connect yourself with some breastfeeding support groups. La Leche is a great place to start. You can even start going to a few right now, while you are still pregnant, just to hear the common problems moms experience and to get some additional support.

Finally, when baby comes, DO NOT GIVE UP!!! It can take a month to get breastfeeding right, for ANY mom. Keep trying, and no matter what your pediatrician says (believe me, likely this will be your biggest breastfeeding "enemy") listen to your LC and keep plugging along. Once you get it right, you'll feel like the most amazing person in the world.

I cant understand why they would tell you that you cant nurse after a csection. I had a c and nursed my son for 15 months. i would do some research and maybe contact the lactation consultant at your hospital.

Hi! I have a 17 mo. old I'm still nursing who was an emergency c-section. It was hard because my milk came in days later and he was jaundice and losing weight. He has never been a heavy weight gainer and now he eats too. I think because the first was that way don't expect the other one to be the same way. I do not. I already have a team assembled when I get pregnant again to have a v-bac. Keep picking those lactation consultations and nurses in hospital for advice, eat oatmeal, have mother's milk tea, pump and nurse, and keep at it. I know that Valley Hospital has a breast feeding support group. There are resources and you have a lot of support. Good luck!

Hi J.,
Congratulations! Just as most people said it does take longer for you milk to come in. Be persistent, nurse the baby and pump. You should be in the hospital for 5 days. Take advantage of that time to establish your supply. Your milk will come in. From there it is a supply and demand. The more the baby demands (and removes) the more your body will make.

The best advice that I recommend is that you contact your local La Leche League. There are several in Suffolk county. http://www.lllusa.org/NYE/Suffolk/suffolk.htm

Go to a couple of meetings BEFORE you deliver. They have a wealth of information that I found greater and more generous than the hospital lactation consultants. Meeting beforehand will give you all the knowledge you need to successfully breastfed after delivery and as long as you would like. You will also get to know the other moms and here from their experience and build a support system that can be so important!

Good luck, you can do it!

My second child was a c-section and I had as much as milk as I had with my first child (who was a vaginal). I don't think the type of birth determines how much milk you have. I've found that drinking at least 8 glasses of water per day does help (to help keep up your supply as well as keep your own system going). Also, regular feeding and pumping will keep reminding your breasts to supply the milk. Hope you'll have better luck this time!

Just put the baby to the breast immediately. You might want to start eating a very healthy diet,ie. no processed foods, so that you can start building a health milk supply. I had 3 C sections-the last one was 2 months premature and I was able to breastfeed all of them. Please note, I had to supplement with formula, but I still gave them milk from me.I actually had more milk with the preemie because my diet was much more healthy. I should have had less b/c I did not put him to the breast until much later.

I would try to contact your hospital's Lactation Consultant ASAP and explain what happened last time. If your hospital doesn't have a LC, or if she is not helpful, try contacting the La Leche League. They have a website. I've heard that you will have better luck the second time around if you had trouble the first time. Remember, at first all you'll have in colostrum (the yellow stuff) and after about 3-5 days your milk should start to come in.

I too had a c-section because of my daughter being breech. I didn't have trouble getting my milk, but boy, oh boy, does it hurt in the beginning. Don't give up though...it gets MUCH better. If it wasn't for the help and support from the hospital's awesome Lactation Consultant, I know I would have never been able to do it, much less continue doing it. She's 21 months now, and doesn't want to stop! Try to breastfeed this time, don't be discouraged by what they say!

Hi J.,
Breastfeeding moms can certainly breastfeed. Be sure to request a visit (or more) from the hospital lactation consultant. It can take longer for your milk to come in after a cesarean, the medications can certainly play a role in this. The lactation consultant can give you helpful suggestions for increasing your supply. Be sure to put the baby to the breast early and often, do not supplement your baby with bottles and formula, this causes her to nurse less and your breasts don't get the stimulation they need. In addition to nursing, pump in the early days for added stimulation to encourage the milk to come in. Taking as little medication for pain postpartum as possible can also help
good luck!

I would get in touch with your local LLL (Le Leche League). www.llli.org I believe is the website. If you get the support now, they might also beable to help in the hospital or right after you come home. Something to remember is that it takes 2-5 days for your milk to come in. It's not there right after the birth. Your baby will get the nutrition it needs from the colostrum (known sometimes as the 'first milk'). I can't tell you how many women go to the LLL meetings and have these horror stories about the hospital or first few weeks that went on the nurse for months if not even past a year. Good Luck!!!

Your c-section had nothing to do with your breastfeeding. I had 2 sections and breastfed both those kids. So the two things aren't related. So,just because you had a section last time has no baring on your ability to breastfeed this time around.

My first was a C section. It took me 5 days to produce milk. You just have to be presistant with pumping, and let them latch on as much as possible. Your body will produce. Sometimes it takes time, but it will happen. I let my baby have any colostrum that I could produce, then the nurses gave her formula in a cup. Then, in the middle of the night, BANG the milk was in. Keep at it. It will happen. I agree with the other posters about seeing the lactation consultant. Tell the nurses at the hospital that you want to schedule to see the lac. con. asap

Hey there, I had a c-section with my breech baby too. I thought pumping was terrible and a waste of time for me. It just doesn't work for some women. Yes, nursing is soooo worth it. First off, how did you know your baby wasn't getting anything while nursing? Was she losing weight and or crying for food all the time? Did you try herbal supplements like Blessed Thistle? That worked really well for me and got me ramped up to my son's demand in a couple weeks. It just takes some women a little longer. BF as soon as the baby is born and as often as every hour. After nursing, give your baby some formula. But only do this after nursing so your breasts can meet the needs of your baby. Get lots to drink, eat well, and rest. I found that the football hold worked really well while I was trying to heal. There is no reason (as long as you didn't have a mascectomy or don't have milk ducts) that you can't nurse. BTW, it has nothing to do with breast size either. Good luck!!!

You might want to get another opinion or work with a midwife/doula. Many people have normal births after C-sections but for many, if not most, doctors encourage C-sections for people who have had them before. It's easier for them.

I had 2 c-sections and both spent some time in the NICU. I had a low supply and supplemented with formula but both babies were able to nurse and get some breastmilk (one for 5 months and one for almost 11 months). I pumped a lot and used Fennegreek as well as the prescription medication Domperidone. One lactation consultant told me it can take a day or two longer to have the milk come in after a c-section as compared to a vaginal birth. Definitely ask around and talk to a Lactation Consultant and/or LaLeche leader in advance. If you are in the NY area you could also contact Dr. Mona Gabbay who is in Westchester if you run into problems (she has a web site as well but I don't have the exact address). My friend who has a daughter almost the same age as mine had a c-section and is still nursing at a year. Good luck with everything.

Hey J.,
I also had a c-section and to be honest with you , I had never heard it was harder to breastfeed with a c-section until I read your post. I had my daughter, early on a Friday morning and my milk did not come in until late Tuesday. I was starting to get upset and I think the stress made it even worse. I just followed my plan and breastfed her for 15-20 minutes on each side every 2-3 hours (though I did get very sore ... have the cream, icepacks, and nursing cups ready). If after that she was still a little fussy and seemed hungry, I would top her off with an ounce or half ounce of formula. I only needed to do that until my milk came in. I wasn't too big on the pumping until I had to go back to work when she was 6 months old. And even then, your baby will always get more milk from you then you are able to pump. I am glad I did not give up and the pain in the beginning was well worth it! I breastfed my daughter,Riley,successfully for over 16 months until she weaned herself a few months ago. You sound like you really want to nurse, that your heart is in it, so I'm sure you'll do great. It's definately challenging and a committment but so worth it! Also, I noticed that you work full time as well. I was always just a bottle or so short a day for the sitter because I only pumped when I was at work and nursed whenever I was home. The sitter would use the breast milk bottles first and then the formula one if need be (same thing with my husband say during a night feeding or when I was out). That took the pressure off me to always have to produce and so I didn't have to be a slave to the pump. You'll find a balance that works for you and your family. Good luck to you and congratulations on your new baby.
Also, the "boppy" was very helpful in the hospital with nursing after a c-section.