3 Tips for Breastfeeding After C-Section (and a Breastfeeding Supplies Giveaway - 8/30; ARV $88; US & CAN)

In celebration of National Breastfeeding Awareness Month, I wanted to share my tips for breastfeeding after C-section and stimulating milk production, as well as to offer you a breastfeeding supplies giveaway.

I have been fortunate to have now experienced two very different, but also very wonderful breastfeeding journeys with my children. My second child was born via VBAC (vaginal birth after C-section), and it still astounds me how much easier everything about breastfeeding was this time around. My first child was born via C-section due to a very stubborn breech position that we could not get him out of for many months, so although it was not the birth experience I had hoped for, it was still a beautiful and life changing experience nonetheless. I was very committed to breastfeeding, but it was an extremely challenging process, and I know that much of this was due to my C-section. I wanted to share my tips for how I got through this very difficult time and wound up being able to breastfeed my son for a long and happy time period.
Be sure to scroll to the bottom of this post for a Tommee Tippee Closer to Nature Breastfeeding Supplies Giveaway valued at $88!
1. Have realistic expectations.If you give birth via C-section, chances are it will take your milk much longer to come in than it would if you gave birth naturally. This will be a frustrating time, but you have to be prepared to be patient and to do everything possible to help your milk come in. Having a C-section is a traumatic experience for your body. You've had major surgery. C-section is unfortunately extremely common in our country, but it doesn't lessen the impact that it has on your body. You need to give your hormones and body some time to catch up. Also, stress doesn't help milk production, so try to relax as much as you can and soak in every amazing moment of your first days with your newborn.
2. Help your milk come in.There are several things you can do to help your milk come in:- Go topless and have as much skin to skin contact with your baby as possible. This will help trigger your hormones to produce more milk.- Nurse your baby as much as possible. Whether there is milk or not, nothing stimulates milk production like your baby's natural sucking reflex.- Pump after every nursing session. This is SO much work. Believe me, I know. Just have faith that the pumping after feeding stage will end, and it will be SO worth it. If possible, use a hospital grade pump to maximize each pumping session.- Take a fenugreek supplement and drink mother's milk tea often.
3. Have a support team in place.The more support you have, the better off you will be. You need to surround yourself with people that are 100% on board with getting your breastfeeding journey started. It is all too easy for people to just suggest supplementing with formula rather than giving you the assistance you really need. Having a doula, particularly a postpartum doula if you know in advance that you will be having a C-section is key. She can be your advocate and make sure sure you are getting all of the resources you deserve. A hospital can be a very busy place, and nurses and lactation consultants may not have as much time to spend with you as you really need. If the help you are getting is not helping you as much as you hoped it would, do not be shy about asking for someone else to help you. Every day is essential in getting breastfeeding started, so don't lose time because you feel badly asking for someone different to help you.
If you would like to visit more resources on breastfeeding, please see:- What I Wish I Knew About Breastfeeding During Pregnancy- What Does Breastfeeding Feel Like? (And 8 other questions I wanted to ask before becoming a mama)- 10 Ways to Play With Your Toddler While Breastfeeding Your Baby- 5 Unexpected Uses for Breast Milk- 5 Reasons Breastfeeding is the Ultimate Convenience- A Poem from the Middle of the Night with Baby- I Cannot Imagine Parenting Without... My Breasts

Breastfeeding Supplies Giveaway

In celebration of National Breastfeeding Awareness Month, we are giving away Tommee Tippee Closer to Nature products to help a new nursing mama out there. These products are designed for easy transition between breast and bottle. The brand also offers accessories like breast pumps to assist the breastfeeding mom. Of course, these products are all BPA-free. A pump, breast pads, nipple shields, and good bottles were all essential to my experience of starting to breastfeed after my C-section!
The prize package includes:- Tommee Tippee Closer to Nature Single Manual Breast Pump- Tommee Tippee Closer to Nature Disposable Breast Pads- Tommee Tippee Closer to Nature Nipple Shields- (2)Tommee Tippee Closer to Nature 5 oz. Added Comfort Bottlea Rafflecopter giveawayDisclosure: I received Tommee Tippee products, but all opinions expressed in this post are my own.This post is linked up at Simply Natural Saturday.