Breastfeeding After A Caesarean Section – This Is How It Works!
Breastfeeding after a caesarean section is not always easy. This is one of the reasons why no expectant mother would like to hear the words “We have to do a caesarean section”.
But sometimes there is just no other way. And ultimately, every mother wants her baby to be healthy. Even if that means that breastfeeding after a caesarean section may be a bit of a start-up.
Even if it seems like the simpler solution at first. For many women, there is a catch with caesarean section: breastfeeding. It seems that the milk entry is then delayed in women. According to experts, this is not due to the caesarean section itself, but to the measures that are carried out by the hospital.
Breastfeeding after a caesarean section
The first factor that can affect breastfeeding is the separation between mother and baby. Even today, mother and child are first separated after a caesarean section. Often for a long time. This means that there is a lack of early contact between the two, making breastfeeding more difficult. But why is it like that?
Babies can become lethargic up to two hours after they are born. So the best thing to do is to breastfeed them and then let them sleep soundly. In this way, the child immediately learns how to be breast-fed and how to drink.
However, if the baby falls asleep without being breastfed, it usually sleeps longer. Then when it wakes up, it seems restless. Something that his instinct knows is necessary for survival hasn’t happened.
Some hospitals have therefore decided to bottle-feed the baby after a caesarean section. But that too can lead to problems with breastfeeding. Sucking on the breast is more strenuous than sucking on the plastic bottle.
The mother’s restricted freedom of movement is also difficult. A caesarean section is an operation and leaves wounds that take time to heal. This can make it more difficult to find a breastfeeding position that is comfortable for both mother and child.
What tricks can help with breastfeeding after a caesarean section?
Breast milk should normally flow within 30 to 72 hours after giving birth. This applies to natural, induced and also caesarean births. It is a physiological process that begins with the expulsion of the placenta. Progesterone drops as prolactin levels rise. Prolactin is responsible for milk production.
It is unusual for a woman not to produce milk at all after giving birth. In fact, only around 1% of women experience reduced milk production. Therefore, whether or not you gave birth naturally, even if your child is crying, it doesn’t mean that your milk is not flowing properly. Indeed, many women believe that if the baby cries while breastfeeding, they do not have enough milk and they are hungry. But that’s not always the case.
Here are some post-caesarean breastfeeding tricks that have helped some mothers.
- It is important that you place the baby on your breast as soon as possible. There are nursing pillows that will help you avoid putting pressure on the wound. There are also certain postures that make breastfeeding after a caesarean a little easier. Ask your doctor for advice. Getting your child to breastfeed can also encourage milk flow.
- Let your baby suckle whenever they want, until the milk flows freely.
- If possible, ask not to be separated from your child after it is born. Try to get the nurses to give the child to the father. He can hug him skin to skin so that the baby does not need any energy to regulate his body temperature. This means that it is close to you from the start.
- If you are in pain, there are medications for it. Your doctor can prescribe something that is also suitable for breastfeeding. Because pain can also hinder the flow of milk.
- Try to be calm and relaxed. Fatigue and stress are unfavorable for milk production.
The fact that you had a caesarean section doesn’t mean you can’t breastfeed. As we have seen, there are impairing factors, but there are solutions to all of them.
