⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ 👼🏼 A c-section should not alter a mother’s choice of the way she feeds her baby. The operation should not normally affect a woman’s ability to produce milk. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ 👼🏼 You may find it more difficult to sit or lie comfortably so you may need to experiment with feeding positions to avoid pressure or strain on the wound. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ 👼🏼 If you or your baby are not well, the first breastfeed may be delayed for many hours. If this happens, your baby may not be as eager to feed as would be expected in the first hour or so after birth. Skin to skin contact, cuddles and plenty of patience are the best remedy. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ 👼🏼 You may want to consider colostrum harvesting. Colostrum provides all the nutrition your baby needs for the first few days.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ 👼🏼 The time it takes for the milk to change from colostrum varies from mother to mother. Some caesarean mothers report that their milk is slow to come in, women who have had vaginal births also report this. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ 👼🏼 If your baby has to go to special care you should still be able to give your baby breastmilk. Colostrum harvesting will be of special value in this instance. Colostrum protects the lining of the intestine and gives immunity from many infections. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ 👼🏼 Hand expressing your milk is also an option and your midwife can assist you with this. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ 👼🏼 If you decide to bottle feed your baby, you may want to discuss who is going to give the first feed, and when and where this will be done. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ 👼🏼 If you begin by breastfeeding but late decide you want to switch to bottles you can get lots of help and support from your midwife or health visitor.
📸 @queroserparteira⠀⠀⠀
