Tips for Breastfeeding After a C-Section
Breastfeeding after a C-section can feel intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be. Even if you’ll be delivering your baby by Cesarean birth, you can have a great experience breastfeeding your baby.
I was one of those moms who had this beautiful picture in my head of how I would naturally birth my baby and then immediately breastfeed after birth. God had different plans.
I ended up needing a planned C-section, but I was able to breastfeed my baby after having my C-section without issue. So, when I say you can do it too, know that I was right there with you, trying to figure out the best tips for breastfeeding after a C-section. I want to share what I learned along my breastfeeding journey, as well as share some of my own personal thoughts.
All the advice I share is just that, advice. It shouldn’t be taken as medical advice because I have no medical background. I’m just another momma out in the world trying to figure things out, but here is my best advice on having a C-section and breastfeeding successfully!
Tips for Breastfeeding After a C-Section
When I went in for my C-section, I had only planned for a vaginal delivery. When that plan shattered and I had an unplanned C-section, I had to pivot and figure out a new breastfeeding plan. Although I wasn’t able to immediately breastfeed after giving birth, I was breastfeeding my baby within the hour while in recovery. This was such a huge relief and accomplishment for me. You can do this too! Be sure you’ve made your intentions for breastfeeding clear with your medical care team. Make sure they know you want to have your baby on the breast as soon as possible. This will help ensure breastfeeding success!
Here are some tips for breastfeeding after a C-section!
Bring a Breastfeeding Pillow to the Hospital
I highly recommend bringing a breastfeeding support pillow to the hospital. Your incision can be sore after delivery, and having a pillow made specifically for breastfeeding was super helpful. I wasn’t trying to arrange the hospital pillows in such a way that I could help my baby get a good latch. As you read on, I will share some breastfeeding pillow recommendations if you don’t already have a breastfeeding pillow you love!
Bring Your Breast Pump to the Hospital
This may seem like a strange suggestion to you, especially if you plan to breastfeed exclusively. So, if that’s you, you can skip this one. But, if you plan to either pump and breastfeed, or exclusively pump, I recommend bringing your own breast pump to the hospital with you.
The hospital is the best place to learn how to use your breast pump. You can have some of the nurses, or even lactation consultants, help you figure out the settings on your breast pump for maximum output. Also, if something happens and your baby is struggling to latch, pumping breast milk is a great way to still ensure they’re getting the great benefits from the colostrum, or first milk.
(Here is my Complete Guide to C-Section Recovery you should read next!)
Know Your Recovery May Take Longer
Now that I have had a C-section and vaginal births, I can say that I recovered much more slowly after my C-section. Having a Cesarean birth is major surgery, and it should be treated as such. As your body is recovering, give yourself time to recover. Don’t try to be superwoman and hurt yourself. If I were to compare my recoveries, I would say my C-section recovery took about a week or 2 longer than my vaginal births. There’s nothing wrong with that. If you had an unplanned C-section, don’t try to speed up your recovery. Allow your body to heal properly!
When Your Baby is Sucking, Your Uterus Contracts
As if recovering from the C-section surgery itself isn’t already enough, be prepared that for a while, your baby suckling at your breast will cause your uterus to contract. I was not ready for that, and it caused me some discomfort. Talk to your medical team and ask for suggestions. Once I knew it was going to happen, I was able to make sure I had a pillow on my belly to help keep tension on the area so it wasn’t as uncomfortable. But this is a good thing to know as you’re preparing to breastfeed your baby.
Breastfeed on Demand
I cannot stress this enough- breastfeed your baby on demand. Many moms are concerned about the medications, and sometimes the delay of being able to breastfeed their baby after having a C-section. I get it! I had those concerns as well. But, you better believe I was breastfeeding on demand as soon as I was in recovery. Getting your baby to the breast is so important. When your baby gives hunger cues, nurse them.
Have an Idea of the Various Breastfeeding Positions
If you’re new to the world of breastfeeding, welcome! Breastfeeding for me was an incredible experience. I had some struggles along the way, but I had great success breastfeeding my babies and pumping breast milk as well. If you’re unfamiliar with breastfeeding, I recommend getting to know breastfeeding positions, as well as how to properly latch a baby onto the breast. These are essential in having a great breastfeeding relationship with your baby after your C-section.
Ask a Lactation Consultant for Help
If this is your first delivery, please know there are lactation consultants at the hospital who are there to help you breastfeed. They are your greatest resource, and you should seek their advice. Even if you think you’re doing a great job, have them check your latch before you head home.
You may be holding your baby in a way that’s protecting your C-section incision, but it might be deterring your baby from having a great latch. Over time, this could cause your baby to be hungry, and it can cause you to have bleeding nipples or a nipple blister. I can tell you from my experience that neither of those is fun. Ask for help!
If breastfeeding isn’t going well after your C-section, don’t panic. Don’t give up on breastfeeding because it isn’t going as you think it should. You’ll learn that not everything about being a mom is easy if you haven’t already learned that. A shallow or poor latch can be fixed. A bad breastfeeding position can be fixed. If you’re struggling to make enough breast milk, seek advice on how to increase your breast milk supply.
Have a Portable Bassinet at Home
When I was preparing for my vaginal delivery, I had already purchased a nedside bassinet. However, when I ended up with my unplanned C-section, I needed to pivot. Thankfully, I had a pack n’ play with a bassinet and a changing station. This was the perfect space for my baby to sleep safely, as well as a place for me to easily change their clothes and diapers. I highly recommend having something like this near you while you’re recovering from your C-section.
Set Breastfeeding Goals
I understand that breastfeeding all the way to a year may not be everyone’s breastfeeding goal. Maybe your goal for breastfeeding is to make it until you head back to work. Or maybe even just the first few weeks. Everyone’s breastfeeding journey looks different, and that’s OK. If you have breastfeeding goals in your head, it gives you something to work towards.
Try to Do Skin-to-Skin After Giving Birth
Giving birth via C-section is an emotional roller coaster. You’re lying there listening to everything happening on the OR, but more importantly, you’re waiting for that first cry. When your baby is born, ask to do skin-to-skin immediately. My first babe came out crying, and nothing was consoling. However, when placed on my chest, my sweet babe went silent. It was a beautiful moment for me because it wasn’t the delivery I had planned. I continued doing skin-to-skin throughout my C-section recovery because it was good for both me and my baby, but also because it helps you notice your baby’s hunger cues better.
Rest as Often as You Can
Honestly, I look at this one and laugh. The saying, “you should sleep when the baby sleeps,” comes to mind, and I giggle. But honestly, it’s seriously true. Any time you can sleep, you should. As your body recovers and begins to heal, you need to make sure you’re getting sleep. This helps your body produce an adequate amount of breast milk for your baby.
Don’t Let Your Pain Get Ahead of You
First, I am not a doctor, and your pain should be managed with the help of your medical team. What I share here is not medical advice, and shouldn’t be taken as such.
I am not a fan of medication, but I also knew I had major surgery, and it hurt. I was able to skip the narcotics and keep my pain manageable with just acetaminophen and ibuprofen, but I know that isn’t the case for everyone. Regardless of how you manage your post-C-section pain, you need to stay ahead of it. Keep your pain manageable. If you are in pain, your body is going to struggle to produce breast milk, and you may struggle to be able to breastfeed in general.
Have a Great Set of Breastfeeding Clothes
I’ll be honest- I wore the hospital gown most of the time I was in the hospital after giving birth. It didn’t occur to me that I could bring my clothes to wear after giving birth. So, here’s my best advice- bring clothes you’ll be comfortable in. Bring clothes that will help support your belly while also offering easy access for breastfeeding.
If you aren’t sure what kind of clothes to buy, I have created an entire guide on what to wear after giving birth. As a breastfeeding mom, I know what kind of clothes work and what you should skip. Here are my favorite dresses for breastfeeding, too, if you want something easy to get off and on, and breastfeed your baby with ease.
Use a Nipple Shield
I never had to use a nipple shield, but I know plenty of women who have needed them, and using one has saved their breastfeeding experience. A nipple shield protects the skin on the nipple while still allowing you to breastfeed. They’re great if you have shallow or flat nipples. It’s a simple piece of plastic that you hold on your nipple and then latch your baby as you normally would.
Helpful Breastfeeding Essentials After a C-Section
A Portable Crib
As I shared already, I recommend having a place where your baby can safely sleep and a place you can keep all your newborn essentials. This was incredibly helpful for me when I was recovering from my C-section. It allowed me to care for my baby and keep them close by for breastfeeding easily. For me, I loved and would gladly purchase my Graco Pack and Play again because it was such a great help in my breastfeeding journey.
A Nursing Pillow
Without a doubt, one of the things I am most grateful I brought to the hospital was my nursing pillow. I have several Boppy nursing pillows, because I liked having one in each room where I would be nursing my baby. A nursing pillow offers great support for you and your baby while breastfeeding. They also help your baby stay in a great breastfeeding position. There are several types of breastfeeding pillows, so look around and find the one you think will be best for you!
Several Nipple Shields
I personally never had a need to use a nipple shield, but I know several moms find them to be very helpful. A nipple shield basically helps your baby have a “nipple” to latch to instead of your actual nipple. These are great for women with flat or inverted nipples. They’re also helpful if your nipples are sore and need a break from direct contact with your baby’s mouth.
Several Nursing Bras
I bought new nursing bras for each of my babies. Having supportive, functional nursing bras is a must when breastfeeding your baby. There are some great nursing bra brands, but my personal favorite is the Bravado brand nursing bras. I also liked Kindred Bravely nursing bras.
A Quality Breast Pump
Even if you plan to exclusively breastfeed, or at least not pump for several weeks to help build up your milk supply, it’s a good idea to have a great breast pump. If your baby struggles to latch, a breast pump is a great way to still have milk for your baby.
I tried several breast pumps, but my favorite was the Spectra S1 breast pump. The thing I liked most about it was I didn’t have to be connected to a wall. This is a rechargeable breast pump, which was great when I went back to work, and will be great in the hospital because you can stay in your bed and pump if you need to.
A Manual Hand Pump
If you aren’t convinced you need an electric breast pump, consider having a manual breast pump in your hospital delivery bag. This will help you if your milk is struggling to come in. Or, if you’re leaking breast milk, this is a great way to collect and store your leaking breast milk. The haakaa manual breast pump is the most loved breast pump!
Breast Milk Storage Bags
If you think about it, throw a few breast milk storage bags or containers in your hospital delivery bag. Breast milk is the absolute best thing for your baby, especially after a C-section. You won’t want to waste any of that liquid gold. Here are some of my favorite breast milk storage options. I used the Lansinoh breast milk storage bags the most after my C-section delivery.
I hope you’ve found some helpful advice for breastfeeding after a C-section. These tips are great for both planned and unplanned C-sections. You can have a successful experience breastfeeding your baby after a C-section with great planning and communication with your medical care team.
Breastfeeding Help!
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Complete Guide to C-Section Recovery
How to Deal with an Unplanned C-Section
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