By Ruth Maguire, Boobingit Founder & Breastfeeding Advocate
April is C-Section Awareness Month—a time to shine a light on the realities of caesarean births and offer support to parents on their feeding journeys. Whether your C-section was planned or not, it can bring unique challenges when it comes to breastfeeding or expressing. But with the right information and tools, it is absolutely possible to establish a successful feeding journey.
Here are my top tips to help you feel confident and supported when breastfeeding or expressing after a caesarean:
1. Prioritise Skin-to-Skin
Skin-to-skin contact as soon as possible after birth is key. It encourages baby to use their natural instincts to latch and helps stimulate your milk supply. If you’re not able to do this immediately, try once you’re settled in recovery, and repeat it often in the early days—it’s not only soothing but incredibly beneficial for feeding.
2. Start Expressing Early if Needed
Sometimes, after a C-section, baby may be sleepy or need extra help feeding. If direct nursing isn’t possible right away, hand express or use a hospital-grade pump within the first few hours to begin stimulating milk production. The Ardo Carum or Calypso pumps are ideal for gentle but effective expressing.
You can hire the Ardo Carum, a hospital-grade pump that’s ideal for mums just starting out—especially when establishing a feeding routine. Prefer to purchase your own? The Ardo Calypso and Ardo Alyssa are excellent alternatives.
All of the above mentioned Ardo pumps are certified medical devices, designed to support your breastfeeding journey gently, safely and effectively.
You can also read expert-led advice on Ardo’s website, which offers helpful guidance for expressing after a C-section, including how to set up a routine and use the pump most comfortably.
3. Choose Comfortable Feeding Positions
Protect your healing incision by experimenting with positions like side-lying, laid-back nursing, or the football hold. These take pressure off your abdomen while allowing your baby to latch effectively. Use pillows or cushions to support your back and arms—you deserve to be comfortable too.
4. Feed or Express Frequently
Aim to feed or express at least 8–12 times in 24 hours. Early and regular milk removal helps establish and build your supply. If baby isn’t feeding efficiently yet, express to protect your milk production and feed expressed milk using a syringe, or cup.
5. Don’t Be Afraid to Ask for Help
Getting feeding support early on can make all the difference. Ask midwives, infant feeding teams, or a lactation consultant for help with positioning and latch. If expressing, speak to someone about pump settings, breast shell size, and expressing routines—Ardo offers excellent customer support and educational resources tailored for new mums.
6. Be Kind to Yourself
You’ve had major surgery, and you’re learning to feed a brand new baby. That’s a lot. Give yourself permission to rest, to recover, and to take things one feed at a time. There is no one right way to feed—what matters is doing what works best for you and your baby.
At Boobingit, we’ve shared many stories over the years from C-section mamas navigating breastfeeding and pumping—each one a reminder that every journey is unique, and every step forward deserves to be celebrated. You are not alone.
You’ve Got This
Breastfeeding after a C-section may require a little extra patience and support, but it’s absolutely possible—and deeply rewarding. Whether you’re nursing, expressing, combination feeding, or still figuring it all out, trust your instincts, surround yourself with support, and know that you’re doing an amazing job.
About the Author
Ruth Maguire is a breastfeeding advocate, content creator, and founder of Boobingit.com—an online breastfeeding magazine dedicated to honest conversations around breastfeeding, pumping, and parenting. With a background in marketing and a passion for maternal wellbeing, Ruth creates accessible, evidence-informed content that supports and empowers new parents.
Through Boobingit and her consultancy work at The Nourish Consultancy, she champions better breastfeeding support in both healthcare and the workplace. Ruth is also the host of The Boobingit Podcast, where she interviews parents, professionals, and advocates about real-life feeding journeys.
