1 more week to go! Any tips?

[danielsmom]

Our scheduled C section is only 7 days away at 38 weeks and 3 days! This pregnancy has been SO enjoyable and... night and day different from my last. I thought I would be such a stress case this time, so I allowed myself certain liberties that I didn't with my son's pregnancy. I even rode my horse until about 21 weeks, though I rode like a grandma. I've enjoyed warm baths without looking at a stupid thermometer. I eat what I want. It's been long and boring and bliss! Our worst problem has been low-normal fluid levels for the last few weeks, but it appears to not be lowering.

I go back in Friday for a final check, then Tuesday is baby girl's birthday! Anyone have any tips or comments for the next week, special things to pack, the C section, or breastfeeding? It will be nice to actually be awake during this C section, especially without the mag bag to follow! And nice to get to have my husband there. I hope my pain will be controlled enough to allow me to try to breastfeed. I couldn't sit up for 2-3 days after my last, which they say was because of the pre-e & HELLP. I know it can take awhile for the milk to come in following a section... I guess they just bottle feed the baby until I catch up? How long do they wait until they bottle feed?

[MomTimesThree]

Lol! I have no idea, but I am so super excited for you!

When it comes to the breastfeeding, if you're lookin' to breastfeed, I'd steer away from the bottles when baby is first born. The suckling and all the ups, downs on all arounds of those first few hours/days figuring out breastfeeding all help milk come in- though take with a grain of salt since I've never breastfed after a c/s only after a vaginal birth.

Wow... 7 days 38 weeks plus! So stinkin' awesome!

[mychaelelaine]

I dont have any tips, just wanted to say good luck, God bless, and yay!!

[cmccaffrey]

I agree with momtimesthree. Try to nurse as MUCH AS POSSIBLE before introducing the bottle and you will have an easier time in the end. And make sure you get that lactation consultant in your room as often as you can because you will be having an extended stay with the c-section. I am SO excited for you and cannot wait to see that baby girls photo up in the next week! xox

[angieb]

I breastfed for 12.5 months, without a drop of formula for DS, following my 36-week c-section. DS lost weight, a lot of weight, in the hospital after he was born, and we were VERY VERY pressured to just give him formulas/bottles. He was awake and alert often, wanting/trying to nurse, and having plenty of wet/dirty diapers so we refused and are really glad we did. A lot of people get into the trap of supplementing in the hospital with formula (sometimes I am sure it is necessary but in our case it definitely wasn't) and their supply often never completely recovers. I recommend you keep track of diapers and nursing times in the hospital, just so if they do pressure you, you have that to back you up. They gave me the worst advice that he should only be eating every 3 hours for 15 minutes...uh, no....he needed to eat every 2 hours or so for 45ish minutes. Keep in mind that their stomachs are teeny tiny early on (the size of a marble) so they do not need to get a lot to be just fine. You have likely already been leaking colostrum in pregnancy-that stuff is very calorie rich and your baby only needs a little bit to be full before your milk comes in. Nurse as often and for as long as the baby wants, as soon as possible. Lots of skin to skin time with the baby on your chest will help your milk come in too.

They do not like for babies to lose more than 10% of their birth weight. However, when you have a c-section, you are given fluids before the baby is born and that adds falsely to their weight, some of their weight loss is just from that. DS ended up losing 11 or 12 % of his birth weight (which earned us an extra day of being stuck there) largely because their crappy advice, once I fed him as often and for as long as they wanted, he started gaining like crazy and we never looked back. Our pediatrician (who doesn't do hospital rounds or else our experience would have been a lot better) told me that their daughter lost like 13-14% of her birth weight while they were waiting for the milk to come in...they let them leave only b/c they were 2 ped's, and their daughter successfully breastfed without supplementing for over a year. So anyway, don't let it freak you out. The baby will definitely lose some weight at first, it is normal and not a sign you need to start supplementing. If they do make you supplement, try pumping and giving the baby breastmilk before formula.

Try to avoid nipple shields if you can, yes, they make it hurt less but they can cause supply issues and they baby may not get as much milk/colostrum when you use them. My hospital had lazy lactation consultants who preferred to just give new mom's nipple shields instead of helping them actually learn to latch the baby without it. Nursing actually got a lot easier once we figured it out without them.

Good luck! I am so excited for you!

[claricemaala]

Congratulations!!!! All I can say is enjoy every moment and take lots of pictures.

[jean]

So excited for you! With my 2nd babe I was able to bf right after babe was cleaned up and I was sewn back together. So we didn't wait at all!

[ktsl123]

I am sooooooooo happy for you! Sounds like a dream come true!

[lennoxlm1]

It's coming up so fast! My second c-section went allot easier and I healed much faster, number one rule is drink a ton of water! This will help reduce swelling and also help milk supply, carb yourself up too, I found eating oatmeal for breakfast helped bring the milk in. As soon as you can try to nurse and nurse often! I am so excited for you! Praying you have the best last week of your pregnancy!

[danielsmom]

Oh my goodness, you guys are the best! Thanks for the well wishes and the detailed insights on healthy C sections and breastfeeding.

Angieb - 12.5 months, that's awesome! I'm a numbers girl to a fault, so your post really helped with the nursing intervals and weight loss expectations. When you nurse every 2 hours, and it takes up to 45 minutes... you're spending a lot of time nursing! But sooooo much better than pumping, washing, bottling, feeding, washing.... It reminded me of how much I'm going to want privacy in my room. I talked to my husband last night about moderating that for me. People are already asking about when the baby will be born so they can come and see her. It's nice, but I'm already not looking forward to the parade. Does that sound awful of me? Last time I had some guy from work show up that I barely knew (and hubby was gone), and he camped out in my room for like an hour! It was creepy! I told the nurses NO VISITORS after that, then felt bad because close friends showed up and were told to leave.

My LC just messaged me on Facebook and echoed everything you guys said. She said no bottling should be needed unless there is a medical reason. She also told me how many wet & dirty diapers to expect on each day. This is like a whole new education! I feel like a first time mom again.