what do i need to know about csections and nursing?

Mainly in the hospital- how was your experience with recovery and BFing, and dealing with the nurses? How long after you were stitched up did you get to start nursing?

I have some friends who've had bad experiences where some nurses tried to push FF. I'm just trying to be prepared in case that happens to me since I will have the double whammy of csection and twins, but I am determined to do this. I'll be delivering at LIJ, I'm pretty sure they have LCs and I'll be supported, right?

What do I need to do to advocate for myself in case I face adversity? Any good books to recommend? TIA

Re: what do i need to know about csections and nursing?

I hope they got rid of the nasty and unsupportive nurses I dealt with! When I did get supportive help they went above and beyond. BE PREPARED to deal with unsupportive people. I was not. Hopefully someone on here can point you to the right stuff to read and educate yourself with so you WILL be prepared.

I was able to try nursing as soon as I was out of recovery. I am honestly not sure if they offered it to me in recovery - it was a blur, but I was an unplanned c/s so i'm sure it's very different. I do know they did not push formula on me. There were just some nurses that were not helpful, period. With anything.

Re: what do i need to know about csections and nursing?

I had two totally different experiences. With my oldest dd I had an emergency c-section but I had a fabulous anesthesiologist. I felt great and was able to bf my dd as soon as I was in the recovery room. She latched right away and they let me keep her with me for over an hour.

With my second dd I was sick as a dog during and after my c-section. I was vomiting everywhere (sorry for tmi) and the room was spinning. When I was in recovery they brought a lactation consultant in and she and my dh basically held me up and the lc held my dd close to me so she could attempt to bf, all while a nurse held a bucket for me to throw up into. It was miserable and I would not recommend attempting to bf to anyone who is as sick as I was. I felt sort of forced to do it by the lc who made me feel like if I didn't do it right than and there I was missing out on an opportunity to bound.

Do what you are comfortable doing. If you need some time to recover let yourself. If you feel great and its going to be a bounding experience go with it.

what do i need to know about csections and nursing?

I was able to try breast feeding pretty much right away. As soon as they wheeled me to the recovery room the nurse put DD on my chest and helped guide her to my breast. The entire nursing staff was very supportive of breast feeding and they also sent a lactation specialist to my room a few times. This was at st Charles hospital but I have a feeling most hospitals should be this way.

It definitely was harder to hold her up to feed her while recovering, but the nurses were good about helping to prop me up and position the baby with pillows so I could feed her. A nursing pillow like a bobby (I have a mombo and like it) helps but pillows work too. In the beginning I mostly did the football hold with the baby tucked under my arm on my side with a pillow or two propped her up. By around 3 weeks or so I felt well enough to hold her up without needing the help of pillows to support her.

what do i need to know about csections and nursing?

Oh boy- the c-section. **What I am about to say is my opinion only**

I didn't come out puking, thank God. But I came out shivering and shaking violently. I wasn't cold- just couldn't stop shaking. My whole family came over to see me litle by little but I could barely talk to them. My mom rubbed my head the whole time. In order to leave recovery, you have to be able to pass some tests. I remember the one where you have to scoot your feet back against your butt and lift your butt off the mattress.
After recovery room, they wheeled me to my room and had me shimmy myself out of the stretcher into the bed MYSELF. Sounds cruel, but they need to make sure you can do it! Great nurses- amazing. The epidural I had was still hooked up to me and it distributed pain meds through my catheter. AMAzing meds. Say yes! Then they offer you a med called (Torridol?) where it's basically liquid motrin as a booster/supplement to the other stuff. Yep- felt great with those too. They have you get up and walk, go to the bathroom etc.

Here's the hard part- you can't go see your babies for 24 hours. This was so hard. DH kept going down to the nicu.
They're busy stabilizing the meds and making sure you recover. There are more tests to pass: you have to pass gas before you're allowed to eat and you have to pee a certain amount, which they catch in a big pee cup in the toilet called a "hat". Drink the water, the urine wlll come, otherwise they get worried.

They basically give you a squirt bottle and tell you to "wash yourself" down there. I even sponge-bathed myself because i felt gross all over. No shower Beware- there is a lot of nasties coming out of you and there is a disgusting smell all the time. I ended up using the hospital disposable undies because they are SO soft and they don't hurt your scar. Also, when you ruin them you don't care. But the smell- ugh.
I soon transitioned to my own granny panties and had mom buy me deodorized mega pads because I was going to throw up from the smell. Thank God for my mom.... she had to bathe me and help me a lot. I couldn't ask DH to do it for me. I was afraid he'd never forget it and my sex life would be out the window, lol.

When you get off the IV, they'll give you percocet or another pain killer with Motrin in between. It works well. I felt like supermom.

Then they sent me home. MOtrin only. Cate I felt like I hit a brick wall.... painful and uncomfortable. It's 12 days later and it has taken me time to heal. I am in a lot of pain and thank God I have help at home.

FM me if I can help in any way- i think I covered the good, the bad, and ugly of C-sections. My babies are perfect! But I can complain about me, right?

Re: what do i need to know about csections and nursing?

The book mothering multiples is great for breast feeding twins. I can't shed any light on having a c-section, sorry.
Book

Re: what do i need to know about csections and nursing?

I was FFing. I think it depends on the hospital but i felt like they were pushing BFing. I was asked allll the time if i as BF and asked by one nurse if i was not BF just because i had twins and one in the nicu and it would be too hard. I had my girls at almost midnight and they were going to bring my dd in for me to see from the nursery at 2:30 so I'm sure I could have fed her. I also was put out for the sewing up part so I was pretty out of it after.

what do i need to know about csections and nursing?

I can't help with having 2 but I was able to BF right after I got out of recovery. Probably sooner if I had asked. I had an amazing recovery from my section so it really didn't stop me or slow me down

Re: what do i need to know about csections and nursing?

I had a Emergency C-section. So when I was in recovery I was very dazed, and cold. I held the baby for all of 5 minutes. Was shaking and very nauseous. Didnt get back to my room until 1:00am. Then asked if I wanted to breast feed. I was too sick and exhausted so my Dh said she will see the baby tomorrow when she feels better. The next day I felt a little better but was in so much pain. Could barely sit up. I was still puking my blood pressure was through the roof, the room was still spinning 2 days after. (came to find out I nedd 2 bags of blood) I had a nurse come in early morning and force me to breast feed after saying I was gonna FF. She then asked if I could make my nippels longer..I was like sorry thats all I got. She was annoyed and after she left I cried. I tried pumping nothing was coming out. Eventually she came back and was a little nicer and I told her I just couldnt do it and cried again. Anyway dont let them pressure you to do something you dont want to do whether that be BF or FF. WHat ever you choose its your choice and no choice is wrong.

what do i need to know about csections and nursing?

I didn't have a csection, but wanted to add that I found the book, Breastfeeding Made Simple so helpful. I read the first few chapters before delivering and it really helped me understand what to expect. I didn't find the nurses at my hospital very supportive and I regret that they were able to convince me that my 5 hour old baby was starving because she was barely latching on. They tried to give her a bottle and she choked on that and barely took it either. The LC and my peds both reassured me that DD was doing fine and not to stress about how much she ate right away. Keep in mind that in the first few days the babies need very little. Also, realize that while some nurses may be amazing, many don't have a great understanding of how to support nursing moms but they're with your baby for a few days and you'll be there for the rest of the first year! I'd say do some reading, get some family members and DH to give you lots of support, and have some recommendations for a good LC ready to go. GL!

Re: what do i need to know about csections and nursing?

I had a tour of labor and delivery at LIJ this week and the nurse explained that whatever you chose they would support completely. If you are choosing to breastfeed they will only offer you help with that. There are LC there that you can see while in the hospital and you can call them after your home also! I really got a good vibe from the nurse about BF. They believe in skin to skin right away and while your in recovery the babies will be with you and they will try BF. She said even if the babies need to go to the NICU they will help you pump/BF. Nothing is rushed or forced on you.

She did recommend going to the breast feeding class before you give birth. I should have went but its too late now....my csection is scheduled for friday!

Re: what do i need to know about csections and nursing?

I did not have twins, nor did I deliver at LIJ, but I was able to BF immediately after I got stitched up....in the recovery room. It was only for a few minutes but it allowed for the immediate skin to skin bonding. After that the baby was only away from me for maybe an hour, and once she was back in my room I put her right back on the boob.

Like a PP, I was also shaking a lot from the meds during the actual procedure, but that calmed down for me once I was out of the OR and in recovery.

Be your own advocate with your doctor, and the nurses who will be there.

Re: what do i need to know about csections and nursing?

Just wanted to tell you that I delivered my girls at LIJ-the girls ended in the nicu but I can say that the nurses were SO INCREDIBLY supportive. Also, there are lactation consultants available and they make it a point to try and coordinate an appointment-I had multiple!

Also I want to add that my SIL gave birth 3 days after me in the same hospital and she FF. She told me that the nurses/staff actually made her feel a little guilty for not bfeeding. So Id ont think youll have to worry about not having the support you're looking for.

Just make sure you state what your desires are to ensure your plan takes place, but be open for things to change.

Personally, I was way too sick to doa nything after the c-secction. I could not even see straight and I was vomiting for most of the day-dont mean to scare you but even if that happens to you, you can still successfully bfeed within a few days.

Re: what do i need to know about csections and nursing?

I was able to nurse ds about 2 hours after being stitched up. They brought to me in the recovery room and the nursed asked if I was interested in bf. I said yes and she helped me to get him to latch on and helpes with positioning.

I had my c section at St. barnabas in NJ and the staff was amazing with the support given while breastfeeding. I only encountered one nurse who pushed formula on me, but I asked them to keep her away. i only taped white index cards on his clear cradle thing they put him in, tgat said, no formula, no bottles, no sugar water and no pacifier.

My recovery was great. I didnt have to take much as far as pain meds. I took 2 motrin during my entire 4 day stay. The worst pain was in my shoulders. They said it was related to the gas buildup you experience after a c section.

As for nursing because of my incision, the football hold was the easiest for me. I also used tons of pillows to prop ds up.

Re: what do i need to know about csections and nursing?

Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences. I'm thoroughly frightened for the recovery now!! lol
My next question is, if you can't BF the first day or so, do they give the baby formula?

Re: what do i need to know about csections and nursing?

I had twins, a csection, and nursed. I was really sore after the c section and didn't nurse my twins till the next day. They assured me its fine. The babies have all the nourishment they need from the placenta for 24 hours.

The LC was great and helped me. We propped a pillow over my belly cause it was so sore and I fed them one at a time. One had way more trouble latching and did for awhile so she had to help me a lot with him. My other one took to it like a champ.

My boys were ff also because they dropped more than 10% in weight and then it's automtically formula. It did take a little but for my supply to come in so I pumped with the hospital pump, the Medela symphony. It definitely helped and I would recommend it esp for anyone with twins. We rented one as soon as we left.

My boys had no problem switching between breastfeeding and formula and I was actually thankful cause I was so tired so I was able to leav them in the nursery at night to get some rest. When you are nursing if they go to the nursery they have to bring them back to you every 2-3 hours to eat.

Hope this helps. Feel free to ask me anything else. Oh I delivered at North Shore a year ago.

Re: what do i need to know about csections and nursing?

I gave birth in LIJ 2 years ago and having @2 in 2 weeks. At the time, they didn't even ask me if I wanted to BF. I was in the recovery room for a while and didn't see DD for about 4 hours. It wasn't until much later that day that a nurse asked if I was going to try to BF. I said sure but after that, the baby was jaundice and they told me she needed to supplement with formula. I BF'd and formula fed at the hospital at home because I also did not produce enough milk even after having a LC come to my house to help. Good luck.