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My three children were all born by Cesarean section, and all three were breastfed exclusively. The first two were emergency C-sections, so we had no time to prepare or plan for anything, and with the birth of my daughter, my first, I spent the first week after birth in a daze, almost overwhelmed by the challenges of breastfeeding as well as recovering from an unplanned C-section.

Luckily for me the nursing staff at our hospital was extremely supportive and full of advice and suggestions. They spent hours with me during our three day stay, coaching me on how to get the baby to latch on better, how to get baby into position for the football hold easier, every aspect of breastfeeding. If you don't have access to such efficient and thoughtful help after the birth of your child, watch every video, read every book, every magazine you can get your hands on. Or simply ASK the nurses for help. The more questions you ask the more answers you'll get, and most hospitals keep instructional videos and books on hand for when they are requested.

Pressure on the incision is by far the biggest obstacle. For the first few days I used the football hold only, until I was recovered enough to use only arm strength to hold the baby above my incision. With the football hold, the baby is tucked under your arm with his head by the breast and feet beside/behind you. Support baby with a pillw at your side if you can't hold him with just the one arm. If he's under your left arm, nurse on the left breast, not the opposite side. Once the initial intense pain is past, the boppy or even just a plain old pillow laid across the stomach helped a lessen the pressure enough that the pain was tolerable.

I've seen mention that milk comes in slower with a C-section than with a natural birth, but since I've never given birth naturally, I can't compare the two. My milk came in after a day with my first, and after 2 days with my second two children. In my case, the nurses and doctors saw nothing unusual about that, so I assumed that it's perfectly normal regardless of the method of birthing.

No matter whether you give birth naturally or by Cesarean, the first week or two of breastfeeding is strenuous, to say the least. It takes time for your nipples to toughen up and may take up to a month for your milk supply to regulate. Make use of every helpful suggestion you find and figure out what works best for you and your child. Ask questions, and if you're not sure, ask more questions. If your hospital offers it, take advantage of the breastfeeding classes. You can also ask if there are lactation consultants available to advise you if you need help, or rely on friends who have successfully breastfed. Whatever you do, don't give up, after the first month is past, it'll feel like you've always known exactly what to do.

Learn more about this author, Hope W.
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