"Breastfeeding is a mother's gift to herself, her baby, and the earth." - Pamela K. Wiggins

When breastfeeding after a cesarean birth, there are several important points to consider:

• Physical healing: You should know that cesarean birth involves an incision and takes time to heal, it is important to wait patiently for some time till you feel physically comfortable to make an attempt at breastfeeding. About 2-5 days after birth the milk usually becomes abundant, a delay is very common in a mother who went under the knife but it will come in eventually.
• Remember to feed your baby in a good, comfortable and stable nursing position, this will put minimal pressure on your incision. You can either lay on your side with your baby facing you, use a football hold, a cross over hold, or a cradle hold. 
• It is very important to know that breastfeeding is not a painful experience and shouldn’t be specially after the early days. You can use pain medication in the early days, and consult your doctor before its use. 
• Some babies find it difficult to develop a good latch, but don’t fret as over time it will be fixed. Incase it does not you should consult a pediatrician.  
• It is very common for women to experience a delay in milk production after a cesarean section, but with persistent and frequent nursing, your milk supply should increase. 
• Always try to build a support system around you, to help you with the physical needs and emotional help after a cesarean section. Don’t be embarrassed to reach out to friends and neighbours incase you are in dire need of a friend.

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