The question of whether the baby will have enough breast milk after a cesarean section worries all women in labor who will have a planned operation. The excitement is facilitated by the widespread opinion that milk after surgery comes much later, it is not enough, the lactation process itself is associated with big problems. Whether this is so, we will tell in this article.
Lactation after surgery
Breast milk is, from all points of view, the perfect food for a baby. The composition of this product has no analogues, so there is no complete replacement for human milk. It is not surprising that every loving mother would like to give her child as much useful and necessary for growth and development. Therefore, the issue of lactation after childbirth and after cesarean section is most acute.
After physiological childbirth, when the baby is born according to all the laws of nature, the woman's hormonal background fully corresponds to the new need for the baby, milk comes much faster than after the operation. Caesarean sections are tried to be performed before labor begins, which means that the woman's mammary glands are not yet ready to feed the baby. But the closer the operation is scheduled to the due date, the less problems there will be with lactation.
Surgical delivery disrupts the natural endocrine chain, in which the mammary glands mature for almost a full nine months, and then oxytocin and prolactin begin to be produced, which stimulate milk production. First, colostrum is excreted, in many even before childbirth, and only a few days after the birth of the baby, colostrum first turns into a transitional form of milk, and then into full-fledged breast milk.
On average, milk appears on the third day after birth. But in the case of operative delivery, various options are possible. One woman will have milk on the second day, while another - only on the fifth. Do not despair. Lactation can be established even in the most difficult cases, when the caesarean was performed for urgent medical reasons long before the expected date of birth.
Milk will definitely come if a woman is firmly committed to breastfeeding and will do everything possible for this.
What affects the timing?
Surgical intervention itself cannot be considered natural, and this fact is reflected. The drugs that are administered to a woman for anesthetizing the operation, for anesthesia, somewhat inhibit the production of necessary hormones and prolactin in the early postoperative period, which is why lactation after the operation is established later.
Affects the arrival of milk and the timely latching of the baby to the breast. The crumbs correctly form reflex skills, the woman's nipple is stimulated, which increases the production of oxytocin and prolactin. It is believed that the earlier the attachment is done, the better. During a cesarean section, this is possible right in the operating room, if, of course, the operation is performed under spinal or epidural anesthesia and the woman is conscious during all surgical actions and manipulations. If the operation is performed under general anesthesia, attachment to the breast is not possible.
The number of births is also important. In primiparous women, regardless of the method of delivery, milk always comes later than in those who already have experience of breastfeeding and have developed nipples and fairly wide gland ducts.
Lactation is affected by the course of the postoperative period. If it is not complicated, then there should be no problems with milk. The psychological state of the postpartum woman also plays a role. The more calm and positive a woman is, the more likely it is that breast milk will appear earlier. Stress, tears, worries (including due to the fact that there is not enough milk) slow down the complex processes of the formation of nutrient fluid.
Don't worry about your child going hungry. Even a few drops of colostrum can saturate a newborn baby, because colostrum has more nutritional value than milk itself. If it seems to the mother that there is no milk, this does not mean that the baby is hungry. When the baby sleeps calmly after latching on to the breast, you can relax, calm down and come to grips with the implementation of a whole range of measures to stimulate lactation in the postoperative period.
After the operation, the woman will be transferred to the ward within a few hours after observation in the intensive care unit. After 8 hours, she can get up. From the same moment, if the condition of the postpartum woman does not inspire fears to doctors, she can theoretically be with the child.
Often latching on to the baby is a great way to establish lactation quickly and without harming the mother's psyche.
Pumping
Expressing helps to speed up the milk formation process. You need to express, even if there is no milk, because even two drops of colostrum are an excellent result for a postpartum woman during the first two days after childbirth. You need to express your breasts even if you have milk. After each feeding, the glands must be freed from milk residues. Thus, a woman reduces the content in the body of a special substance - an inhibitor, which interferes with milk production if the glands are full. The child's need for nutrient fluid will constantly grow, and therefore it is necessary from the first days to ensure that the child's needs are met by the mother's capabilities.
You can do it manually. How to express colostrum and transitional milk correctly by hand is taught in the hospital. But even if this is not done, believe me, it is not at all difficult. A woman needs to rub her breasts with both hands, warm it up and begin with a slight pressure from top to bottom towards the nipple along all milk ducts. This will allow you to develop your breasts in no time.
You can use a breast pump. This device is both manual (pump) and electric. Choose any one based on your own preferences and the size of the family budget. The principle of operation of all breast pumps is approximately the same - with the help of a vacuum, pressure is created, the nipple is irritated and the production of prolactin and oxytocin is stimulated, milk begins to arrive. Modern electric models do not require much effort to express, they work on their own, at this time a woman's hands can be free for other things.
Milk arrives gradually, not immediately, you should not be surprised that on the second day, and sometimes even on the fourth, there will be little valuable and nutritious liquid. It is impossible to cause a sharp and abundant lactation by any method, and therefore only hard work will help to achieve impressive results.
It is also necessary to express the breasts when antibiotics are prescribed to a woman after the operation. Even if the doctor does not recommend breastfeeding these days due to the possible toxicity of antibiotics to the baby, expressing will help prevent lactation from dying. When the course of antibiotic treatment is completed, the woman will be able to feed her baby without significant problems.
Teas and medicines
After the operation, the woman is advised to drink more, but do so with caution so as not to cause swelling, to which there is a predisposition in the early period of rehabilitation. And if on the first day only water without gas is allowed, then the very next day it is quite possible to drink special teas that increase lactation. According to reviews, tea with fennel and a line of teas for nursing mothers "Babivita" have proven themselves well.
You can also speed up the arrival of milk by using certain medications. Most of the drugs in this group are represented by homeopathic remedies, for example, "Mleoin". But there are also quite serious drugs, and therefore it is imperative to consult a doctor about the possibility of their use immediately after the operation. If the reason for the lack of milk or its lack is in hormonal disorders, hormonal preparations can be prescribed, in other cases, the problem can be dealt with with the help of herbal remedies, for example, "Lactogon".
There are also nutritional formulas for nursing mothers, which not only have a positive effect on the lactation process, but also provide a woman with all the necessary vitamins, microelements and macroelements. These products include "Milky Way" and "Femilak".
Massage
Breast massage should precede each feeding or pumping. Firstly, the very process of outflow of the formed milk will proceed easier after the massage. Secondly, the massage itself stimulates the mammary glands to produce milk. Among other things, a light and short massage will help the processes of involution of the uterus, since oxytocin is produced, which contracts the female reproductive organ more efficiently.
Massage should be done within 5 minutes about 4-5 times a day. There are two basic techniques. It is necessary to alternately stroke each breast from above to the nipples, especially on the sides, in the upper breast. You need to complete the massage by stimulating the nipples. To do this, grip the nipples with your fingers and twist slightly clockwise and counterclockwise.
Additionally, already at home, after discharge from the hospital, you can apply a contrast shower for the mammary glands, using alternate warm and cool drenching of the breast.
Nutrition
On the first day after the operation, a woman is prohibited from eating. This is due to the need to prevent intestinal filling and constipation. The pressure of the bowel loops on the internally sutured uterus can adversely affect the healing of the reproductive organ. Therefore, only drinking is permissible during the first day. On the second day, jelly, broth, white croutons without salt and spices are usually allowed. On the third day, a woman can eat semi-liquid cereals, "smears", and only on the fourth day after the operation, the mother can eat everything that is allowed to nursing mothers.
Dairy products, fermented milk products, milk porridge, boiled vegetables and mashed potatoes, boiled fish, meat, baked or stewed dishes well stimulate lactation.
A plentiful warm drink is important. You need to eat fractionally, but often - up to 6-7 times a day. A nursing mother should not starve in any case. Malnutrition, trying to diet, or being overly concerned about the potential harm of foods to your baby can lead to a decrease in breast milk production.
Reviews
According to women, the main difficulty after a cesarean section is due to the fact that the child gets used to sucking milk mixture from a bottle in the first few days. It is much easier to get food from it than from an undeveloped mother's breast, and therefore after 3-4 days, when milk comes in, the baby may begin to refuse to feed from the breast, demanding his already familiar nipple.
Most mothers deal with this problem successfully by putting the baby to the breast for a short time, before the next bottle feeding. Gradually, the periods of application become longer, and the amount of formula is reduced. After 1-2 weeks, it is usually possible to transfer the baby completely to breastfeeding.
According to the mothers, milk after surgery most often appears on 3-4 days.
All measures aimed at increasing lactation should be moderate, since women often describe situations when a breast pump in combination with massage and medications has achieved not just lactation, but hyperlactation.
Useful Tips
In the first days and weeks, simple tips will help you, aimed at improving milk production.
- Be sure to get enough sleep. No matter how restless the baby is, no matter what happens, enlist the help and support of loved ones, friends, relatives and be sure to find time for sleep. Lack of sleep is the most common cause of low or no milk supply.
- Do not be nervous. All stresses, fears, fears, family scandals and so on should remain in the past (or go into the future - you will figure it out later!). Only a favorable psychological background contributes to the establishment of lactation.
If questions and problems arise, do not be shy. Talk to a breastfeeding counselor. He will help to understand the individual causes of "failure" and establish uninterrupted and long-term breastfeeding.
For breastfeeding after a cesarean section, see the following video.
