So my little miss is arriving in just over 6 weeks by c section. I have been leaking colostrum and some thicker creamy coloured liquid from mainly my left boob but both seem to be doing their thing...

I plan on bfing and really would just like to pick brains of some of you bfing guru types please!

So, firstly...I am having a c section. Will this give me any problems when I try to bf? Anything I should expect? Any hurdles?

Secondly...I plan on expressing so my OH can do some feeds (for bonding and so I get time off!!). I will only be off work for a few weeks and will then be working from home part time (but literally just a few hours a day...on the laptop...nothing too difficult!

Is it possible to express enough for OH to take the afternoon/early evening feeds? Cos I keep reading that the more I express, the more I will produce?

How long should I exclusively breast feed before introducing the bottle (with expressed milk)? A few weeks? Is that long enough for Holly to get used to bf?

Now this one puzzles me too...would it work if I were to give her the odd bottle of formula? Say one a day? Because we both work from home we will need to try and get a routine established with Holly as soon as we can. I'm thinking if maybe she could have a bottle of formula for her first night feed (whatever time she falls around 11/12/1am?

Another question...I have been reading a lovely book called the baby whisperer...and she advocates that rather than on demand feeding, or sticking to a 4 hour rota, she recommends a 2.5/3 hr cycle...called the E.A.S.Y timetable...which is eating (25-40 mins), activity (nappy change, dressing, bathing, play etc 45 mins), sleep (half hour to hour as baby wants) you (time for you while baby sleeps).

Now...this system sounds lovely. And calm. And easy to manage. She says do this for first 3 months then as baby naturallly feeds less often, sleeps longer etc, just adjust it. Am I living in cloud cuckoo land thinking this will work?

HEEEEEELP!!!! All advice/tips/answers to questions gratefully received...

Congrats on the impending arrival!

About the cycling system, that sounds close to what we've naturally fallen into. It suits us well, but we are flexible, sometimes it'll be a shorter cycle, and he does tend to sleep less. How calm it is depends on the baby, I think you'll just have to wait and see! I think the routine is good though, feed, change, sleep and repeat - I found it help to know what to do 'next' - I was a bit clueless at first!

Expressing, from what I've read, it is best to wait till 6 weeks before expressing, till your supply is regulated. It is also best to wait till at least 6 weeks before introducing a bottle.

When are you going back to work?

With formula, a lot of ladies mix feed. Just remember that if you give a formula feed, your body doesn't get the cue that that feed is needed. If you give one bottle a day, at the same time, your body will think that the baby doesn't need that feed. As long as you are happy with that, there isn't a problem.

The more you express, the more you produce, but it can be a bit slow to build up a supply. I found that I didn't really get any 'time off' - it is recommended that you express while the feed is being given to give your body the right cues. If you express in the morning, then feed at night, you will have lower supply at night and might find it difficult to switch to direct breastfeeding then.

It is normal for a fully breastfeeding Mum to only get an oz at each pumping session, and a baby requires about an oz per hour, so it can take a few pumping sessions to get enough for a feed. If you express instead of feeding (so when your OH is giving the bottle) you might get a full feeds worth then.

If you introduce a bottle too soon the baby could refuse the breast. Nipple confusion is a very real thing that doesn't affect every baby but you cannot tell by looking at your baby whether it will or won't. If your partner must give a feed then it would be far better to do so from a cup...and yes even a newborn can drink from a cup. (I will post links to videos). Bonding is not something that is ONLY done through feeding!! My kids were both exclusively breastfed until 10 months, never receiving any bottles or feeds from my husband. However, he is very bonded to our kids. He was the only one who bathed them, he brought them to me to be fed and took them after a feed, he walked with them when they were fussy and got spend time cuddling them.

As for introducing formula...well, you need to understand the risks of formula. It is an artificial product which was never intended to replace breastmilk. It can cause intestinal issues in young babies and increases their risk of many illnesses including asthma, allergies, obesity etc. If you do not manage to pump enough and find it necessary to use formula then try to give at least a tablespoon of breastmilk at every formula feed BEFORE the formula. Breastmilk contains enzymes that will coat the lining of your babies gut and prevent the formula from passing through the undeveloped gut wall and can protect your baby.

Another idea might be to invest in a good sling and to have your baby with you when you are working. Most babies will nurse on and off in the sling and sleep there too leaving your hands free to do other things while still providing comfort for your baby :-)

BF problems are more common in c/s babies. We had problems getting going after my emergency c/s, but it is perfectly possible with good support around you. We had trouble getting Jack to latch on and were using nipple shields on mis-advice from a hospital MW. We also had trouble bonding because of the c/s. But we got there eventually.

Recovering from a c/s can be incredibly difficult, you will probably be in a lot of pain for at least a few days and on lots of pain killers, so you will need the support of your OH at feed times. My DH would bring Jack to me and take him away again after feeds, to save me lifting him and having to get up and down a lot. This was especially important at night, so I didn't have to get out of bed, which was very painful for about two weeks.

DH has a wonderful bond with Jack from bathing him, changing nappies and playing with him. He was also the first one to hold Jack while the doctors stitched me up, I am sure that has a large part to play in their strong bond.

As others have said, it's important not to introduce a bottle (or dummy) too soon as it can cause nipple confusion. Usually 4-6 weeks is plenty of time to establish BFing, after which it's fine to bring in a bottle of EBM.

Pumping take practice. It's not uncommon to not get much at first, but it will usually increase the more you do it. Also remember that you will never get as much from expressing as your baby takes direct from the breast, so don't worry if you can only pump a few ml at first, your baby will be getting plenty at each feed.

I made the mistake on day 6 of thinking I had nothing to give by 8pm when I tried to pump and only got 5ml. I was advised to give a formula feed to give my breasts chance to fill again and give me a break from the stress of trying to get Jack to feed. But that was a load of rubbish. I would not advise giving formula at all, never mind at such an early stage when your body relies on the signals given by baby latching on in building up your supply.

I had a c-sections, and was very lucky in not having any problems with BFing. My son was brought to me with in a hour of his birth, and he latched on straight away. Try to be sure that when you have your LO brought to you that you have a Lactation Consultant with you, so she can help you with that first latch. I really credit my MW with helping me with Brenn latching on for the first time, and our continued success.

You are going to be very sore and in a lot of pain those first few days, the key for me was pillows all around me to help support myself and Brenn so he wasn't on my stomach. You will need help, so be sure you have your DH on board.

I really don't think you can schedule a newborn with feeding. Feeding on demand is the best way to go. It will build your supply. Plus a new born has a crazy tiny tummy, so she will be hungry very often. Brenn nursed way more than every 2.5 hours to start with. I think after a few months, you can your little one on a schedule, but it is really hard to do at first.

Start pumping after 6 weeks, let your supply become established. I also wouldn't introduce a formula bottle till well after as well. Your body is going to be working hard to figure out what your baby is needing. If you give a formula bottle, you are telling your body it is producing enough, when it might not be.

Good luck hun. BFing is an incredible amount of work at first, but once you break through those first weeks, it is wonderful rewarding and gets easier and easier.

I don't think this is nessecary!!! the OP did not ask about 'possible' side effects of formula!?!!!

with regards to expressing hon, i waited about 6 weeks before i started, then i would give Fred a bottle of expressed milk sometimes at bedtime xx they do say to wait about this long to avoid any confusion for baby plus your milk supply is still being established before then and its best not to interfere with that. also pumping does take practice, you may not get much at first and someladies never get much from a pump. I found the best time was on a morning first thing, after a while i could get a 9oz bottle in about 10 mins. everyone is different tho you just have to see how you get on, i don't think you can plan bfeeding too much till your doing it!

the others are right there are lots of things your OH can do with baby to bond tho, my Oh was always better at winding than me, so that was his dept.! as well as a nice shitty nappy thats always a good bonding experience!

when Fred was about 4 months i changed the evening bottle of EBM to formula and we had no probs with it, but you just have to remember that if you miss that bfeed with a bottle your body will adjust and not produce milk for that feed xx

not sure about not feeding on demand as i always fed Fred when he wanted it, it only took us a month or so to get into a routine of feeding every 3 hours or so, it just happened naturally xxx

I agree with Brockie - I'm not sure scarmongering about formula is necessary TBH.

I think most things have been covered by the other replies. I would just add that scheduled feeding doesnt suit BFing as your body works on a supply and demand basis. You need to put your baby to your breast to get your supply to match the demand. I started to read that same book and I didnt finish it - it doesnt sit with BFing IMO. My baby found her own routine in a few weeks and slept from 3 weeks. Just go with the flow would be my advice.

I am not scaremongering about Formula. I am stating FACTS. We could all stick our heads in the sand and pretend that there are no risks to formula or we could talk about the truth as some people really have no idea that there even ARE risks to formula. DO you think that not knowing about the risks decreases the risks??? You can only make a truly informed decision about something if you are informed!!!!

I had an emergency section and had absolutely no problems with BF, they gave Ellis to me after they had cleaned her up and she latched on no problem and its been fine since-if you don't count all the first time mum anxieties,of which there are many!!
As the others have said its advised to wait until 6 weeks before expressing and same re giving bottle although i wouldn't hang around as some babies never accept a bottle if you wait too long.
Mixed feeding is a perfectly valid choice-lots of other mums do it but it does interfere with supply.
Dads can bond in other ways rather than feeding and tbh i find expressing a bit of a pain, its much easier just doing the deed for all the time it takes, the first 6 weeks are the worst and its best not to be expressing then anyway so you'll be over the worst by the time you get to share. Its best to get dad involved in the bathing and nappies from day 1 i think.
As for the babywhisperer stuff-good luck with that!!!!
Just try to relax about it all, thats the advice i would go back and give to myself! Easier said than done though.
Enjoy your baby x

Forgot to say about the routine thing... I read Tracy Hogg's book while pregnant and loved the sound of it in principle. I agree with her theory that babies should be part of the family and not the centre of it. But the three hourly feeding really didn't work for us, nor the napping so often. Even now Jack feeds every two hours and only has one or two naps a day. There is just no getting him to nap more often. Go with what works for your family.