C-section and breastfeeding

I had my boy at 38 weeks with an elective section because of placenta praevia. I was lucky and was able to collect a lot of colostrum, so took some syringes in with me which we did give him whilst we were in hospital. My milk came in day 3, so it was slightly delayed. But was also competing with a tongue tie. He had a big weight loss, but we stuck to exclusively breastfeeding and he had top ups with expressed milk and was back to birth weight after 2 weeks and had his tongue tie cut at 10 days old! Another thing that can contribute to “weight loss” with elective sections is that babies actually have extra fluids because you’re on a fluid drip, which can give them a “false weight.” We did ask for a delayed weighing, which I think they only allowed us to wait for 2 hours in the end. We had a rocky start, but I’m still breastfeeding him at 17 months!xx

Had my boy at 38 weeks due to his size/GD and he was breeched. My milk came in on day 5, but I had a lot of colostrum that he got in those first few days. I didn’t collect any before delivery. It just came with skin-to-skin and the delivery.

I’ve not been thru this however I have heard that a c section can delay your milk coming in and things but since it’s not your first child it shouldn’t effect you as much as your body will already have an idea of what it’s doing. Even tho you couldn’t breastfeed your first your body still would’ve made some milk so it will have that instinct. A lot of people’s milk doesn’t come in straight away mine actually did and the midwife was really shocked and said it’s quite unlikely that peoples milk comes in straight after birth. Be strong and don’t be afraid to ask for help I had multiple midwife’s come in to me all thru the night to help me. Good luck xx

I had a c section he was born around 40 weeks I just struggled to have supply in the beginning but I just kept latching him and my supply regulated I do recommend supplements they helped me a ton

I had my first at 34 weeks and had no trouble with supply.

Having a c-section in itself should not make any difference to when your milk comes in, it’s the removal of the placenta that triggers this, and this happens regardless of how you give birth. It’s other factors like stress, medication and other interventions that are associated with delayed milk production which doesn’t tend to happen with electives as there is none of the preamble that say may happen before an emergency c-section. Everyone has colostrum for the first few days with milk coming in day 3-5. That said some women do struggle but that’s across the board on how they’ve given birth. I’ve had two electives down to maternal choice. My son born at 39 weeks ( know not relevant to your specific question around early birth) but BF from the get go till he was 2 1/2. I had my daughter at 37 weeks, it was booked for 39 but pushed forward due to GD. BF straight away and still going at 9 months.