C-Section Gives 5 Problems With Breastfeeding. Here Are The Solutions...

Most C-sections moms are mostly on a difficult route towards breastfeeding their babies when compared to moms who have had a natural birth. On one hand, the milk might generate much later than in a case of a vaginal delivery while on the other hand; the C-section moms have to deal with the pain from the surgery in first few days which makes breastfeeding quite difficult. But it is not impossible to breastfeed even if you had a C-section. You could do that just as successfully in the following ways:

In This Article

1. Pain From The Section

In the initial days, the pains from the incisions will be a lot, and it could make it very difficult to sit in a proper position to feed your baby.

Solution: Start with getting help at the hospital itself. The hospital staff will even volunteer to help you sit or recline on a bed so that you can feed your baby. They could help you with positioning your baby in the most comfortable way. Your partner will be by your side and cooperate in all the way possible be it at home or in the hospital.

2. Delayed Breastfeeding

True, women who have a C-section are roomed-in with their babies quite late. One reason is that the mother is still recuperating from the surgery. It doesn’t make it sound like vaginal delivery is easy, but rather that C-section moms are on powerful antibiotics and painkillers that they may not possibly want to pass on to their babies. Therefore, there is a delayed rooming-in. In certain cases, the baby might not show the same amount of reflex as the one in instant rooming-in because the baby has already got a taste of bottle feed and the feel of its father’s or grandparents’ touch before that of a mother.

Solution: It could be a bit harsh on the mother, but the fact is that the natural instinct of recognizing one’s mother doesn’t fade away, and as you gradually begin to breastfeed, your baby will naturally bond with you. So don’t give up on breastfeeding after a C-section.

3. Difficulty In Generating Milk

The skin-to-skin contact must happen soon after birth. It helps in activating oxytocin that in turn helps in nursing. But C-section moms have difficulty in the activation of oxytocin.

Solution: In case the skin-to-skin contact doesn’t happen soon after birth for any reason, you might have to express colostrum using your hands or a pump. In such an event your baby will be fed through a syringe or spoon or a Supplemental Nursing System until you take recourse to breastfeed the baby. If you know that you are going to have a C-section, it might be wise to choose a hospital that is baby-friendly and can offer you all the care and support to help you nurse while you are on the road to recovery. Make your doctor aware that you are keen on breastfeeding for the skin-to-skin contact to happen even if your surgery is in the finishing stages. It helps the milk to come out sooner than much delayed.

4. Nursing More Often Than Usual

Most C-section moms experience the milk coming out by the fourth or the firth day. It could also get daunting on you.

Solution: You will need to nurse more often to express more milk. The more often you nurse, the more prolactin you produce. And with more prolactin you will have more milk coming out. You could however also seek supplements that will activate your lactating hormones to help you breastfeed your baby. Speak to your doctor to prescribe the supplements if the going gets tough.

5. You Might Underestimate Yourself

Some C-section moms, unless it is an elective section, might get disheartened at failing to give birth naturally. Such feelings also reflect when they are not able to breastfeed just as successfully in the first instance.

Solution: It’s a very psychological situation that you might be in. Bear in mind that the negative thinking might affect your levels of milk production as well. Talk to your medical team and tell them that you need help. A lactation specialist or a therapist will help you out in this regard.

Write back to us if you are a C-section mom and had faced problems in breastfeeding your child and how you overcame the challenges.

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