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Breastfeeding after a Cesarean Section

Before I had my daughter, I read a great deal about the advantages of breastfeeding over formula. Although I was not die-hard about breastfeeding (if for some reason I couldn't, it would not have been the end of the world for me), I believed that my giving it my best effort I would be giving the best to my baby.

I was thrown a bit of a curve ball when circumstances necessitated a cesarean section. With only six hours notice of the surgery, I had little time to think about, let alone prepare for how I would recover and look after a new baby at the same time. Thankfully my husband was fully supportive and took care of our daughter from the minute she was born. Because I had been taking blood pressure medication I required general anesthesia. When I awoke after surgery the first thing I heard were the cries of my new baby girl.

I cannot begin to describe to you the terrible feeling of helplessness of having a cesarean section and being unprepared. After my surgery I was put on some heavy duty painkillers (think Morphine) for 12 hours. Although the nurses kept asking me to try and breastfeed my daughter, it was about as plausible as a sleepwalker doing complicated arithmetic. I could barely keep my eyes open and stay alert, let alone figure out how to get this little baby to drink from my breast, something that was completely foreign to me at the time.

So how did I manage? I am happy to say that we did survive that first harrowing week and at four months I am still a breastfeeding mother. Below are some tips to help you get by as well.

It Doesn't Have to Happen Immediately

In the hospital, the nurses fed my daughter formula because I could not breastfeed her. When I returned home, I spent a week trying to breastfeed while at the same time giving her formula because I was terrified she was starving. At about the one-week point I became convinced it was too late for me. However, my husband convinced me to give it another go. And lo and behold, by three weeks she was being exclusively breastfed. Don't believe what they tell you about nipple confusion between the breast and bottle. My daughter was happy to take both.

It Will Get Better

Breastfeeding in the beginning was excruciating, not only because of sore nipples but because I had just had surgery on my stomach. Just lifting the baby and getting her into position was agony. Trying to get out of bed to get to her was a whole other story. However, I found that each day I was 50% better than I had been the day before. The early days were torture but they quickly passed. Just hold on and know that things will improve.

Ask for Help

If you've had unexpected surgery like I did, you can really be thrown for a loop. I had not prepared my husband at all to take care of the baby as I assumed I would be the one taking the lead. Thankfully, he quickly jumped in changing diapers and caring for her without really having much clue about the needs of a baby. I could not have asked for more, but looking back I wonder if I should have asked for one thing. I should have asked for his help with breastfeeding. Simply having him bring me the baby through the night while I stayed in bed might have made a difference. But stubborn as I was, I would not ask him for more than he had already done.

My best words of advice? If you can hang in there through the early weeks after a cesarean, breastfeeding can be wonderful. I think not having to prepare bottles in the night is wonderful. And I know that I'm doing the best for my daughter. In the end it has definitely been worth it.

Learn more about this author, Kaarina St. John.
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