I am scheduled to have a c-section, but I don't want to start breastfeeding until I get home. With my son I got so stressed out at the hospital because everyone was there... the nurses kept telling me different ways of doing it... and so on... I was wondering if I can wait until I get home to start? Will the colostrum still be available for my baby? I just feel I did much better once I got home and didn't have so much stress and anxiety. Thanks

The risk you run is nipple confusion. Obviously your baby will need to eat while still in the hospital (most hospitals have a rule that they cannot release mom and baby until either nursing or bottle feeding is established) and if you choose not to nurse while there, your baby will be bottle fed.

There's a reason why the nurses encourage that you nurse while still in the hospital. Yes, it can be frustrating and stressful, but there's more to breastfeeding then putting a baby to your breast and hoping for the best. They're there to help.

Perhaps talk to the nurses while you are there, stress the fact that you were made to feel very nervous with your last child and breastfeeding in the hospital. Perhaps you could consult with a lactation consultant. Talk to your doctor as well and see what he/she recommends.

If you want to breast feed then it's important to establish that from the very beginning to avoid complications later on. Also, with a C-section, you'll be in the hospital longer which will make establishing breastfeeding after you get home so much more difficult.

Good luck and congratulations.

It's not impossible to start breastfeeding after a gap, but it is much harder, and as Altenweg said, you run the risk of nipple confusion, and may be painfully engorged yourself by the time you come to feed.

You've breastfed before, so it should be easier this time, you have more of an idea what you have to do, and how to do it. Why not arrange to have ONE lactaction consultant or LLL leader there to help you afterwards, so you are not being bombarded by too many experts?

Every baby is different. This one might be one of those great feeders who get the latch-on right from the beginning!

Thanks guys (or girls). I am actually only going to give the baby breastmilk(no latch on) (once home unless supplement is needed)... I am VERY large breasted and this is what made things complicating/difficult the last time. I know MANY people say that breast size does not matter... but I am a firm believer that there is such thing as too big. Once I got home and pumped everything was great and he fed like a champ from the bottle... so I am not too concerned about nipple confusion. I guess I can always take my single pump to the hospital and use it there so I don't get engorged... but I wasn't sure if the colostrum would go through it? I guess we will see... tomorrow morning is the big day and I will just play it by ear. Thanks again!

Yes, the colostrum will go through it. Just remember, that the hospital will most likely require supplemental formula feeding if you are not actively breast feeding.

Yes, I know, but I am OK with that... Thanks for all your help!!

Good luck to you... hope everything goes great!!

True, breast size is a factor, but not a huge one. It's just a matter of finding the positions that work best for you.

It is possible to feed a baby pumped breastmilk and never actually put the baby to the breast, but it's an awful lot more work than nursing. You spend a lot of time pumping, even during the night, instead of sitting in front of the television cuddling your baby. And don't get me started on the amount of time you'll spend sterlising.