Breasfeeding after General Anaesthesia

kim051 · Oct 24th, 2011, 07:36 AM

Hi all,
I've got to go in for day surgery tomorrow and I'm really worried after doing my pre-assessment.
THey said I have to pump and dump annd can't breasfeed for 24hours. Are they just being cautious? because this is really going to make our lifes hell for 24hours....I've tried expressing a little but haven't managed to get much at all...maybe enough for a couple of feeds. but to be honest don't recon he will take it anyways, he's never had a bottle or formula before....I really don't know how we're going to get him to sleep?

Is it best to let daddy deal with it as baby might just want milk more if i'm around? or should I try and reassure him/cuddle him etc and keep things as usual as much as possible? I'm really worried about this, I'm considering cancelling the whole thing....

lillmoo · Oct 24th, 2011, 08:17 AM

Humm not sure if it's the same but I was put out when I had Ethan and I could still breastfeed.

Katt · Oct 24th, 2011, 10:24 AM

You will probably find that as you are not feeding lo you will be able to pump more. And remember you don't need to pump lots, just remind your body that it needs to keep producing milk - and relieve the engorgement if you get it. But then that doesnt help with milk for feeding lo during those 24 hours.

If you know which drugs you will be given you can research them individually to see if they are safe to bf.

Is the surgery something that can be put off a little while or does it need doing now?

If you do go ahead, it will be a tough 24 hours. But give lo to oh, rest and recover from your surgery, then spend the following 24 hours feeding and cuddling!

Hopefully you find a way through which is ok for you and lo

good luck

midori1999 · Oct 24th, 2011, 10:48 AM

I'd suggest ringing the Breastfeeding Newtwork drugs helpline for advice, or to speak to one of their BF Counsellors.

BFN do publish a guideline relating to GA's and BF Mums and it seems from that that you do not have to pump and dump but can carry on feeding. Maybe you can print off and show it to yoru anaesthetist?

http://www.breastfeedingnetwork.org....ember_2009.pdf

kim051 · Oct 25th, 2011, 08:42 AM

thanks all for the advice, seems I was worried for nothing, the anaesthetist said they was no need to pump and dump, by th time I was home it would all be out of my system. So went ahead with it and al is well. No hurrendous 24h for my little boy and he was fine all morning with his daddy

PERFECT

Katt · Oct 25th, 2011, 09:30 AM

Oct 24th, 2011, 07:36 AM	#1
kim051 Mum (Mom) Active BnB Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Canterbury, Kent Posts: 101	Breasfeeding after General Anaesthesia Hi all, I've got to go in for day surgery tomorrow and I'm really worried after doing my pre-assessment. THey said I have to pump and dump annd can't breasfeed for 24hours. Are they just being cautious? because this is really going to make our lifes hell for 24hours....I've tried expressing a little but haven't managed to get much at all...maybe enough for a couple of feeds. but to be honest don't recon he will take it anyways, he's never had a bottle or formula before....I really don't know how we're going to get him to sleep? Is it best to let daddy deal with it as baby might just want milk more if i'm around? or should I try and reassure him/cuddle him etc and keep things as usual as much as possible? I'm really worried about this, I'm considering cancelling the whole thing....

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Oct 24th, 2011, 08:17 AM	#2
lillmoo Mum (Mom) Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Plymouth Posts: 1,312	Humm not sure if it's the same but I was put out when I had Ethan and I could still breastfeed.

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Oct 24th, 2011, 10:24 AM	#3
Katt Mum (Mom) Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 1,321	You will probably find that as you are not feeding lo you will be able to pump more. And remember you don't need to pump lots, just remind your body that it needs to keep producing milk - and relieve the engorgement if you get it. But then that doesnt help with milk for feeding lo during those 24 hours. If you know which drugs you will be given you can research them individually to see if they are safe to bf. Is the surgery something that can be put off a little while or does it need doing now? If you do go ahead, it will be a tough 24 hours. But give lo to oh, rest and recover from your surgery, then spend the following 24 hours feeding and cuddling! Hopefully you find a way through which is ok for you and lo good luck

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Oct 24th, 2011, 10:48 AM	#4
midori1999 Other BnB Addict Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 3,457	I'd suggest ringing the Breastfeeding Newtwork drugs helpline for advice, or to speak to one of their BF Counsellors. BFN do publish a guideline relating to GA's and BF Mums and it seems from that that you do not have to pump and dump but can carry on feeding. Maybe you can print off and show it to yoru anaesthetist? http://www.breastfeedingnetwork.org....ember_2009.pdf

Status: Online

Oct 25th, 2011, 08:42 AM	#5
kim051 Mum (Mom) Active BnB Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Canterbury, Kent Posts: 101	thanks all for the advice, seems I was worried for nothing, the anaesthetist said they was no need to pump and dump, by th time I was home it would all be out of my system. So went ahead with it and al is well. No hurrendous 24h for my little boy and he was fine all morning with his daddy PERFECT

Status: Offline

Oct 25th, 2011, 09:30 AM	#6
Katt Mum (Mom) Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 1,321

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