The Slate article only mentions that "her milk production faltered." As we
all know, that can happen after almost any birth, especially if the mother
and baby are separated and otherwise messed with. The Baby Friendly Hospital
Initiative Steps apply to Cesarean births too - including getting the baby
to the breast within the first half-hour of birth and 24-hour rooming-in.

 

Mary Kroeger and I researched this quite thoroughly during the writing of
our book "Impact of Birthing Practices on Breastfeeding." Cesarean surgery
has NOT been shown to have a direct, specific affect on milk supply or
breastfeeding. Once the placenta is delivered and progesterone withdrawn,
Lactogenesis II kicks in on its biological time clock. However, hospital
routines and other factors now come into play. If the baby is drugged,
injured, immature and/or separated from mother, then problems with BF can
quickly arise. If the mother is drugged, injured, medically compromised
and/or separated from her infant, more problems arise. Of course, a mother
who births by Cesarean is dealing with major surgery and pain, therefore her
body is more stressed in general than with a vaginal birth. Most of the
delays and problems with milk supply are strongly related to the
CIRCUMSTANCES of the Cesarean, than the surgery itself. Babies born through
Cesarean surgery may transfer less milk in the first 5 days, so alternate
methods of supporting milk supply should be implemented. (Evans KC, Evans
RG, Royal R, Esterman AJ, James SL. Effect of caesarean section on breast
milk transfer to the normal term newborn over the first week of life. Arch
Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed 2003;88:F380-F382.) 

 

No, I'm not going to get into a discussion of Cesareans on this list, except
pertaining to breastfeeding. 

 

Linda J. Smith, BSE, FACCE, IBCLC

Bright Future Lactation Resource Centre Ltd

6540 Cedarview Ct, Dayton OH 45459

937-438-9458 / fax 937-437-3229

www.BFLRC.com  

 


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