a question for breastfeeding women and epidurals?

Question

i would like to hear responses from women who have had an epidural and c-section and then breastfed their babies. how long were you able to breastfeed? was it more difficult compaired to previous babies you might have had when you didn't have an epidural?
just tell me about your experience?

i have one son and am pregnant. my son was an emergency c-section and wasn't in me long enough to have had any drugs in his system. because of the way they cut into me i am being told that it could be risky for me to give natural birth. i'm hoping to alievate some of my fears. thanks for your help!

Answer 1

With my first daughter, I had an epidural and a c-section. I breastfed her until she was 16 months old and decided to wean her because baby number two was on the way. I ended up having another c-section with baby number two-this time with general anesthesia. I am still breastfeeding her and she is 15 months old. When compared to women who had natural births and breastfed, I don't think there is difference if you can get over the initial pain after the surgery. You can always pump until you feel that you can hold your baby.

I had VERY easy sections. I took them both to breast when they were brought to me after 2 hours. I recovered in good time compared to a lot of c-section patients. I used very little pain medication and I had no complications at all. *One thing that helps with the pain during feedings is learning to lay on your side and nurse the baby. Have someone place him on the bed next to you after you get yourself turned onto your side. You will want to prop yourself up with pillows at your back and under your hip for comfort. There is no pressure on your abdomen if the baby is not there. If I were you, I would not even let them put him on your stomach, because if it is painful, it might discourage you from further attempts.

Mine is a long story, but I have done a lot of research about c-sections and vaginal birth after c-section (VBAC) and I am convinced that my first c-section was totally unnecessary.
That's why I did the research and planned to have the second baby at home with a midwife. I labored until 10cm and 80%, but then she saw blood and we went to the hospital. Because of my own oversight, I ended up with a repeat C-section (again-unnecessary). I didn't check on the hospitals and we went to the only one in our area that REFUSES to do vaginals after c-section. I mourned that unwise decision for a very long time.

If you are interested in the whole story, feel free to EMAIL ME. Like I said, I have done a lot of research and feel pretty educated about this. Even if you just have a few questions, I would love to help.

I CAN tell you that if your incision was horizontal and not vertical, you can definitely have your baby naturally. Sometimes they do a horizontal EXternal incision, but when they get INside they cut you vertically. These are considered very risky for future natural birth. BUT, I have a friend who had an emergency c-section, vertical incision. She was inquiring about my experience because she had planned to have no more children (the incision thing). I asked my midwife, and she said that she could have another baby and have him natural if she took the right precautions. Now they might not let you do that in a hospital, but if your state allows lay-midwives, they will probably do it. (A lay-midwife is totally different from a midwife at the hospital or clinic (the CNM). The Certified Nurse Midwife still answers to OBs and will do whatever hospital policy dictates-which would be to encourage you to have a repeat c-section. There are herbs that you can take to strengthen the scar tissue of your internal incision. There are herbs that help strengthen and tone your uterus so that it endures labor better.

My midwife helped a woman who had endured four c-sections to have her fifth child naturally! She did this over a long-distance. But she told her what to eat, what herbs to take, and excercises to do-and basically encouraged her. The woman waited until she was 9cm to go to the hospital and they didn't have a choice but to let her have the baby.

There are a couple of really good books that helped me in my search for the truth about VBAC.
* SILENT KNIFE: CAESAREAN PREVENTION AND VAGINAL BIRTH AFTER CAESAREAN by Nancy Wainer-Cohen & Lois Estner
This book helped fuel the uproar over cesareans that were not necessary by trying to make consumers more aware of their options. A great book, worth reading even if you are past the baby years.

*The Vaginal Birth After Cesarean Experience: Birth Stories by Lynn Baptisti Richards
A collection of VBAC stories to inspire you and answer your questions.

This website has a list of books on VBAC
http://www.childbirth.org/section/book1.html

*For the record, I will attempt a VBAC (at home) with my next child even though the doctor at the hospital told me I shouldn't. They have no knowledge of the healing herbs and how they can heal and prepare the body for natural child birth.

Answer 2

I had an epidural, and then ended in a c-section (my baby wouldn't drop... I was at 9 cm for 9 hours). I had the epidural running through my system for 10 hours. I was pretty out-of-it during and after the surgery, but I do remember when they tried putting the baby to breastfeed the first time.

If your concern is whether the baby will be affected by the epidural..... mine wasn't... she was very much awake, and healthy. I did have trouble with breastfeeding, but that was due to flat nipples... not to do with my baby, or with the epidural.

If you have another c-section... everything will be fine... breastfeeding won't be any different than a natural delivery.

Answer 3

I had an epidural, a c-section, and am still breastfeeding my 2-year old. It was not too easy at the beginning because I was becoming engorged...Please nurse your baby early and often. Make sure that the nurse gives you the baby asap after the birth. My arms jerked for a while after the surgery, but within a few hours I could hold my baby. It will work out. Don't worry.

Answer 4

I had pre-eclampsia so was in the hospital from 32 weeks til I gave birth at 36 weeks with twins. I had a c-section and was placed on magnesium sulfate after the operation to reduce my blood pressure and prevent seizures (from the pre-e). The mag sulfate is nasty business which leaves you feeling really sick, dizzy, weak, etc. I was still able to breastfeed my boys that same day and begin pumping too to help my supply. I had the LC (lactation consultant) in with me that first day and threw up on her from the drugs but she still managed to get the boys latched on :) I didn't get my milk in for 4 days and since my guys were pretty small (4.13 and 5.3) we had to supplement using a tube taped to my breast, a breast shield, and sometimes formula. But it is something that moms do all the time. I don't think that the c-section and epidural should make breastfeeding more difficult than a vaginal birth. Just use the football hold (baby on your side with feet to the back) to keep pressure off the stitches. Good luck to you!

Answer 5

i had an epidural when my daughter was born and i breast fed her when she was 4 mins old so she would learn how to latch on with out any problems at first it was painful than pus started coming out of the hole in my back where the epidural was and then i had to go to the doctor and i explained to them what was happening they told me "well, continue to breast-feed your daughter bc she needs the nutrients and its the best - but lay on your side when feeding her try not to sit up unless you are reclined in a chair" as far as having a c-section goes and breastfeeding i have no clue i had a natural birth so therefore i do not hae an answer to that you might want to ask the nurse who delivers your baby but i breast-fed my daughter successfully for a year....it was great and I'm glad I did

Answer 6

i had an epidural and breastfeed until 13 months. I think it will be fine. My sister in law had to have a c section and her son is 11 months and still breast feeding. ask your Doctor, but i think it will be fine as long as you watchyour diet!!!

Answer 7

I breastfed right after birth with an epidural.

Answer 8

I only have one child, but i had both an epidural and a c-section and breast fed her soon after. Both the baby and i caught on the first try for feeding, if it wasn't difficult for me with my first i can't imagine it would be for you with your second.

Answer 9

i had an epidural and had no problems with nursing. my only problem was that in the long run, i just couldn't keep up with his food demands, so i supplemented with formula and then just went to all formula when i went back to work.

i had no experience with a c-section, sorry.