....a vagianal birth rather than a c-sec? My little girl will be 1 in 2 1/2 weeks and I only managed to bf for 2 weeks as my milk supply dried up. This has tormented me constantly for the last year as it was something I really wanted to do and I found that I was and still can be jealous of friends who successfully bf. However, these friends all had vagianal deliveries and mine was a planned section. So i was wondering if anyone has had a section and managed to bf for longer than the 2 weeks I managed.

Me and hubby are talking about ttc for number 2 and so I will try to bf again but am afraid of my milk drying up again if I have another sec so am considering a vbac, but then this could leave me in alot of pain as I had and still have bad SPD (that was reason for sect) The other reason I want a vbac is so I can go to bf clinics/groups (couldn't drive for 6 weeks so was house bound unless my mum came over) to help me as I don't feel my daughter ever latched on and also she was a lazy feeder as she was given a bottle in hospital at 3 days old as she'd lost over 10% of her weight in 2 days following her birth due to my milk not coming in quick enough and I had to top up with expressed breast milk so I don't think that helped matters.

The other thing is I didn't have full support from my hubby as he knew how much milk she was getting from a bottle and he said he didn't know how much I was giving her. Although in the first few days I could express what seemed like pints, lol.

Anyway I hope this ramble makes sense and some of you can give me some answers/advice.

Thanks in advance Gemma.xx

Hi - I had a c-section and have bf for 5 months now. From about 2 weeks I started giving one top up of formula before bed time. I think it's just harder to establish bf after a section as you are sore and it's hard to get the baby in a good position to latch on well. You need advice from the midwife/bf counsellor about the best way to do this. Also, I was advised to give little cups of formula in the hospital until bf was established instead of giving a bottle at this stage. Hope that helps a bit and good luck.

I hadan emergency section and managed 12 weeks exclusively breastfeeding before toping up. I'm still feeding him twice a day and has now 28 weeks. My milk has never been overly abundent but its always been enough.

I had an emergency section and fed exclusively for 12 months (obv weaning as well)

I honestly didnt find any major problems with bf - my milk came in on day 3, i had plenty of it and Ollie took plenty of feeds.

I do think it is because he wanted to feed a lot in the first few days is why i had an abundant supply.

I'm having an elective sec this time, and have already discussed this - they say there is no substantial medical proof that sections affect your supply. You may have to put them to the breast more frequently to get it up and running, but there should be no difference.

xxx

Hi, I haven't had c section but my sister has had 3.
No.1 she BF for 6 months
No.2 she BF for 13 months
No.3 is 11 months & still BF
She stopped at those times through choice not through any problems.

Maybe it was something else that caused your milk issues...this is the place to be asking questions & with your 2nd there are loads of people on here to give you support & advice.
xxx

Hi,

I had an em c-section and she is now 3weeks and I have b'fed exclusively, which I am so chuffed about as like EmmaA said it can be difficult as you are quite sore - I was and still am a little, I nearly gave up a few times and am so proud I have done it, I can do the normal cradle hold now instead of lying down( I found this the best position because of my scar). I put her too the breast more frequently in the first few days and my milk came in on day 4 - plenty of it too I think why I had a lot is because I put her too it a lot and expressed from about 2weeks so I built up a better supply.

Best of luck to you hun and if your milk doesn't keep up this time don't beat yourself up about it you are doing your best and you sound like a fab mummy! xx

Amy N Amber xx

Thanks ladies for your replies, at least I know it wasn't the sec to blame so no need to put myself through a vbac if my pelvis isn't upto it during pregnancy. My milk took 3 days to come in but the day Ellie was born she just didn't feed hardly at all and I think as she had a bottle so early with EBM she became lazy on the breast as she was also having bottles through the night with my milk as my husband wanted to feed her too and he said he'd do the nights so maybe that was what ended it for me?!?! Also I did struggle to find a comfy position and couldn't have her in the "normal" cradling position as I was always holding my boob as they seemed so huge (Went upto a G cup!).

Well I definately plan to get alot more support/help/advice when I have No 2 (once i've fallen preg, hehe) My friend had a breastfeeding support nurse come round to her house so I'll look into that if I end up having another section. Thanks again and i'll be on here for advice when the time eventually comes. xxxxx