This is a hard one for me to write….
Almost a quarter of women who give birth in Newfoundland and Labrador will do so by cesarean section. In fact, our province has the highest rate of c-sections in the whole country. In Manitoba, for example, the percentage of women who give birth by c-section is a mere 13 percent.
I was one of the women behind these statistics. My first baby was breech and I was offered no choice in the matter of her delivery. Then with my second baby I was one of the almost 96% of Newfoundland women who have a repeat c-section.
In theory I was offered a choice, but in reality I wasn’t. My doctors told me things like:
“It’s too risky, you’ll blame yourself if something happens to the baby”
“You can try, but you might need to have a hysterectomy or blood transfusion”
“It probably won’t work out and then you’ll have to have a section anyway.”
In the end, I went with my doctors’ recommendations. To be honest, I didn’t feel good about it then and I still don’t today.
Like it or not, many women give birth by cesarean. The thing is, it can be hard to breastfeed after a c-section. I mean it can be hard to start breastfeeding anyway; when you are drugged and physically debilitated, it can feel downright impossible.
Probably the biggest thing that made breastfeeding possible for me after both of my births was my absolute determination to breastfeed. I made sure to tell every health care provider that I came into contact with that I wanted to breastfeed as soon as possible after the birth. They must have thought I was obsessed!
I am proud to say that within about twenty minutes of each birth (I had a very speedy surgeon), I was able to nurse both of my babies. I found that the recovery room nurses were very knowledgeable and helpful with breastfeeding. With my second child I had experienced a serious complication which had resulted in me being given a cocktail of meds that made me very sleepy. Even so, with help from my amazing husband and a lovely nurse, I was able to lie flat on my back and nurse my newborn right away. It was difficult and wonderful at the same time.
The recovery from a c-section brings another set of complications for breastfeeding. For instance, doctors need to know that you are nursing so that you can be given pain meds that are compatible with breastfeeding. I found it helpful to self-educate about these meds by looking at Dr. Hale’s website. He’s done a good job of checking to see how much medication ends up in breastmilk.
It can be hard to take some pain meds if they make you sleepy or people blame your baby’s sleepiness on your pills and make you feel guilty. I tried to keep in mind that newborns are sleepy anyway and that I had just went gone through major surgery.
Finally, positioning can be a big factor when breastfeeding after a c-section. The football hold is a lifesaver, as is nursing while lying down (but that can be hard with a newborn).
With the football hold the baby is held on your side with his legs pointing towards your back. Add a comfortable pillow, a tall glass of water, and breastfeeding after a section can be not so bad at all!
Holding the baby in a traditional cradle hold can be excruciating if you feel any pressure on the c-section site. I used the football hold religiously for weeks until I felt I could comfortably hold the baby across my middle.
The bottom line is that is that I feel awful about my birth experience, but great about my breastfeeding experience. A lot of determination and a little information can make breastfeeding after a c-section not only possible, but wonderful too.
Anyone else have advice for those breastfeeding after a c-section?
Felicie is a teacher turned work at home mama to two busy little angels, aged 22 months and 4 and a half years. She is a proud member of La Leche League Canada and has helped to organize three World B[..]
My story is exactly like yours. Two c-sections….the first one was completely unexpected….the second I felt pressured into and still feel guilty that I didn’t try for a natural birth. Like you I was determined to breastfeed….bottle feeding was not even in the back of my mind! I found that the football hold was the ONLY way I could feed my first child. The cradle hold wasn’t even an option…it just didn’t work and was extremely painful.
My second child gave me a really hard time and didn’t want to breastfeed at all. After 2 days and him losing over 10% of his birth weight I was determined not to give in to the pressure of starting formula. I finally got him to feed while I was laying on my side. I don’t know if this was easier because I had the experience from my first child because it took me a while to master feeding while laying down with my first.
To sum up I would highly recommend the football hold or you can also give laying down a try…..
Oh Felicie, you’re singing my tune. My son was born via scheduled c-section in March 2010. I had placenta previa and my section was medically necessary. However, it was a very traumatic procedure. I ended up losing a lot of blood and I was in recovery for 3.5 hours. During those hours, the L&D nurses bent the rules and brought my son to me to nurse once. I was hooked up to machines and, like you, so incredibly groggy that I’m amazed I remember that first nursing session. But I do. I remember everything about it.
My biggest piece of advice for any mom after a c-section, but especially for breastfeeding moms, is to ENLIST HELP. For the first 4 weeks of my son’s life, my only duty was to nurse him and spend time with him, and to sleep whenever possible. I may have changed two diapers during those 4 weeks. I was very fortunate, though, because my husband was off for the first week and my mother stayed with us for a month.
My little guy was delivered via unscheduled C-section. I had supply issues at first (not uncommon for any new mom, but more common with C-section, or so I’ve been told). I had a sleepy newborn who had troubles latching and sucking (and was told the aesthetic may be part of that). We persevered through those troubles! Having support (nurses and LCs, doctor and family support) is key though… Without that I may have given up.
Hi Jodi, Lisa, and Lori- So nice to know that I am not alone! Thank you for your comments!
Jodi- I totally understand the guilt thing, I wake up with it every single morning. Glad to hear that you stuck with nursing and found a position that worked for you and your baby. I always found it very hard to nurse a newborn while lying down. Did you have someone show you how?
Lisa- Isn’t it amazing to be able to remember that first nursing session even though everything else is a blur?? It’s crystal clear for me too. And I think you’re right- help is a big thing postpartum, expecially after a section.
Lori- Sorry to hear about your rough start. Sounds like you were very successful despite the sleepiness and supply issues! You mention professional support and family support, but did you find you had any support from friends or coworkers? I felt like I just had my mom and husband for support in the beginning!
Determination is key. I had three csx and breastfed over 6 years total. The first baby was the hardest. I was lost, had no experience, was in pain and had a terrible time. I was juuuuust stubborn enough to pull through that first two weeks. After that it became easy and great and I am so so glad we made it. The second I had a spinal headache from the epidural that lasted days after I got home. It was just me and that baby locked in my bedroom in the dark. Luckily I had a husband that brought me food/ cared for the older child etc. I spent most of the time crying and breastfeeding was the only thing that got me through because it forced me to pull myself together and feed and love the baby. By the third child it was so much easier and we lay on our sides in the recovery room and never looked back.
The first weeks are tough . . . but by the time the physical pain of surgery goes away you realize you have the hang of breastfeeding! It worked out for me.
Dear Felicie,
Thanks , again, for highlighting the fact that as we embark on that “motherhood journey” , we often grieve the loss of the ideal and are left to resolve our feelings about the reality walk we take with our families. You have helped to arm others with the essentials for that journey: strength and personal conviction; the permission to accept help (it does take a village to raise a child!) and resolve to focus on celebrating what does go well.
Those tools help us all!
Thanks.
Thank you so much for your inspiring story. I’m so glad that you were able to overcome the obstacles and reach your goal!
I would second the suggestions to enlist help. Before birth the birth attend a LLL meeting and meet many awesome breastfeeding moms. We learn to do by seeing. Check out the several out of hospital childbirth education options to help learn how to approach health professionals and get your birth goals met and learn about new baby care etc. A birth doula can help with challenges during birth and help to prepare you for those eventualities, like a child birth education course can. The two compliment each other well!
There are awesome LC’s. Don’t be afraid to reach out for help with breastfeeding after the birth. There is also counselling available specifically for feelings of birth trauma. And there are post partum doula’s available to help through the transition of your new family.
Thank you for a great posting that can help other women!
Very good post!
I’m glad you mentioned determination. That really is key to breastfeeding after surgery because it can be tough. You’re in pain and determination is one way you can press through that.
But also never be afraid to solicit help. The nurses and breastfeeding experts have so many great tips and ideas and they’re willing to work with you and your needs.
Thank you for the comments! I was really unsure about writing this post as my birth experiences are such a source of disappointment for me. I’m glad to hear that you all agree that sheer determination is probably the most important thing when nursing after a section. I admire your determination especially, Donna, to breastfeed while dealing with a spinal headache and an older child!I guess it’s like Janet said, we have to continue on and “grieve the loss of the ideal” (lovely words (-:). Fiona, you offer some great suggestions… I didn’t attend LLL meetings until my first baby was six months old, but I wished I had gone earlier because there were a few other women there who shared my experience. And Elizabeth- you are right on about soliciting help!I’d add experienced breastfeeding moms to your list of nurses and breastfeeding experts who can offer assistance. I’ve learned more from other nursing moms than any public health nurse or lactation consultant I’ve met!
Great post! Like you I had a c-section. My son had several health issues when he was born and spent a week in NICU. After a difficult beginning and a lot of determination I was able to breastfeed successfully.
Skin-to-skin has proven to be so important for breastfeeding and early infant attachment. Skin-to-skin can be done after a c-section (it is just not done here). Women need to ask (demand) they be given the opportunity to have skin-to-skin after the birth of their baby no matter how they are born. The baby can be placed across the mother’s chest for that oh so important skin-to-skin.