Step-by-step guide for breastfeeding after C-section

This is the ultimate breastfeeding guide after c-section you need to read.

Birthing is a beautiful experience, whether you deliver your baby vaginally or through a c-section. However, for most c-section mothers, the aftermath of the delivery is a bit painful as they are separated from their child for some time. This makes it difficult for the mother to breastfeed right after the birth of the child.

Most mothers I know, who underwent a c-section, regret not being able to breastfeed immediately after the birth. This is why c-section babies miss out on getting enough of colostrum, which is considered to be their first food. Also known as pre-milk, colostrum is a yellowish, creamy substance that is secreted by the breasts before mature milk is produced. But after a c-section, since it takes some time for the mother to recover from the spell of anaesthesia and become fit enough to hold the baby for breastfeeding, most babies are given formula as their first food. Here is all that you need to know about colostrum.

To know how to start breastfeeding after a c-section, we got talking with Dr Beena Jeysingh, Consultant, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Motherhood Hospitals, Bengaluru. Here is a step-by-step guide on the same.

Day one/day of surgery

Once the baby is delivered, the mother is taken to the recovery room and kept under observation for about two to three hours. If everything, like her bleeding and blood pressure, seems normal, the baby is kept on the mother's chest for a breast crawl to initiate breastfeeding. Since the mother is still reeling under the effects of anaesthesia, it isn t possible for her to sit upright, so a breast crawl followed by breastfeeding is considered the best thing to do, she says. Here are 10 wonderful facts about breast crawl you need to know.

Once the mother is out of the recovery room and shifted to the ward, she is encouraged to breastfeed in the lying down position since it is difficult for the mother to breastfeed her child in a sitting position for at least 24 hours after the surgery. After around five to six hours when the effect of the anaesthesia wanes off and the mother can move slightly on her sides, the baby is placed on one side of the mother for breastfeeding, says Dr Jeysingh. In the lying down position, as the mother turns to a side to feed the baby, care should be taken that there are enough pillows to support her back, head and knees. The mother should hold the baby s back and bottom with her hand to ensure proper back support to the baby.

Day two

Most mothers are in a better position the day after the surgery as they gain some mobility in their limbs and the scars begin to heal. There could still be some lower abdominal pain and discomfort that can prevent them from sitting upright and breastfeeding. So, even on the second day, a lying down position is preferred by most mothers, explains Dr Jeysingh. However, many are encouraged to sit up with pillows propped up for good back support and to keep her baby in her lap to breastfeed. It depends on a mother s pain threshold. If she is comfortable to sit with a proper back support, we encourage her to hold the baby in the football hold position and breastfeed,' she says. In the football hold position, the mother places the baby s head in the crook of her elbow, supporting the baby s, neck, shoulder and back with her arm, she says. If the mother feeds the baby from the right breast, she would be holding and supporting the baby with her right arm. The left arm can be used to caress or gently pat the baby. A pillow can be placed beneath the arm, in which the baby s head rests to avoid putting pressure on the stomach while breastfeeding.

Day three

By the third day, the mother is insisted to start sitting and walk around the ward to improve circulation and hasten the process of healing. With proper back support, the mother is encouraged to hold the baby in the football position and continue breastfeeding.

Day four

By this time, a mother gains back a little bit of her strength and is able to manage the post surgery pain with the help of painkillers. She might still need some help to get up from the bed and sit straight, but breastfeeding in a sitting position is encouraged by now.

Day five

If there are no post surgery complications to deal with and both the mother and baby are in good health, a discharge is given on this day. By now, the mother is capable enough to sit up and feed the child and continue breastfeeding without many problems, considering she could take care of the initial challenges of breastfeeding (engorgement, latch-on problems, low milk supply, etc.,) with the help of the nursing staff.

After that, the mother is advised to breastfeed her baby exclusively for six months as recommended by the WHO and supplement it for up to two years along with nutritious and wholesome food once she starts weaning.

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