Any mother who has a stressful birth, such as a cesarean section, may experience their milk coming in a little later than what is considered in the range of normal. For most, milk transitions from colostrum (early milk) to milk coming in by 72 hours of birth.
Colostrum is low in volume but full of antibodies and other protection for your baby. About 2 to 5 days after birth, your milk becomes more abundant. When exactly your milk comes in may be delayed by a few days if you've had a C-section, but it will come in eventually.
Once the placenta has been delivered (whether vaginally or through cesarean) a woman's estrogen and progesterone levels immediately drop. This allows prolactin to shift into overdrive and begins the production of breast milk. On average, milk production surges three of four days after delivery.
After 3–4 days of making colostrum, your breasts will start to feel firmer. This is a sign that your milk supply is increasing and changing from colostrum to mature milk. Your milk may become whiter and creamier, but this varies between women. If your milk takes longer to come in, don't worry.
Even if you need a few hours to recover from your surgery, you will be able to breastfeed as soon as you feel up to it.
Any mother who has a stressful birth, such as a cesarean section, may experience their milk coming in a little later than what is considered in the range of normal. For most, milk transitions from colostrum (early milk) to milk coming in by 72 hours of birth.
Incision Pain
Pain from the incision site and afterpains from your uterus contracting back down in size can make it very uncomfortable to breastfeed. The side-lying and football hold positions are good choices while your incision is healing.
Applying a warm compress to your breast or expressing after a warm bath or shower can help the flow of colostrum. Get yourself comfortable. Perhaps seated and leaning slightly forward but find what works best for you.
If you would like to collect your colostrum, you can start hand expressing for a few minutes once a day when you are 36 to 37 weeks pregnant.
A newborn should be put to the breast at least every 2 to 3 hours and nurse for 10 to 15 minutes on each side. But rather than worry about duration, it's important to know that the best way to ensure that the baby is getting enough breast milk is by feeding frequency, wet and dirty diapers, and weight gain.
Babies born by caesarean section may be a little sleepy. They may need some extra encouragement to stay alert during the first few feeds. Skin-to-skin contact will encourage them to latch and feed more often.
The classic back sleeping position
While back sleeping isn't recommended once you're more than 20 weeks pregnant, this position is recommended for those recovering from surgery. It places the least amount of strain and pressure on your incision site and ensures that your body is aligned in a neutral position.
The most effective way to pump colostrum is hands-on pumping, which is a combination of using a hand massage and an electric breast pump. Because colostrum is thicker than your typical breast milk, pumping might take more effort to express fully.
Checklist for bringing your frozen colostrum into hospital
Please bring between 5 and 40 ml of expressed colostrum to hospital. If you have more than this, it can be brough from home at a later date if required.
For the first 2 to 5 days after your baby is born, you will make a small amount of colostrum, which is all a healthy term baby needs. Colostrum is a thick, rich milk that is high in nutrients. Around day 3 through 5, your milk will come in.
There are plenty of reasons for a delay. Your breast milk supply may take a little longer to come in or increase if: It was a premature birth — particularly if your baby needed to be separated from you right after the birth. You have a medical condition like diabetes or polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).
Many mothers find breastfeeding while lying on their side the most comfortable during the first day or so. It's also an easy way to nurse and rest at the same time. You and baby lie on your sides facing each other. Use pillows under your head, behind your back, and behind or between your knees to help get comfortable.
Just like with any surgery, your body needs time to heal afterward. Expect to stay in the hospital for 2 to 4 days after your delivery. If there are complications, your stay will be longer. Give your body 6 to 8 weeks to fully heal.
What is a 'gentle C-section'? A “gentle C-section” brings elements of a vaginal delivery into the operating room – such as letting the mother watch the birth and hold her newborn right away. A C-section is major surgery. We can't forget that. But we may be able to take a more patient-centered approach.
Emergency and planned c-sections may adversely affect breastfeeding initiation, milk supply and infant breastfeeding receptivity compared to vaginal deliveries. Our study examined mode of delivery and breastfeeding initiation, duration, and difficulties reported by mothers at 4 months postpartum.
If you are awake, you can usually see and hold your baby straight after your C-section birth. You can begin skin-to-skin contact and possibly breastfeeding. Skin to skin contact is important for you and your baby after birth to enhance bonding and establish breastfeeding.