Please help! Dip in supply after surgery. Is it too late to increase my supply? :(

[Itsychik]

I guess this is a multi-part question. My DD is 7.5 months old and ebf. Yesterday I had surgery to have my gallbladder removed and every attempt to pump since the surgery has been a huge failure. I'm up at 6am now for the morning pump (as I can't bf for at least 24 hours after the surgery) and I was only able to pump 1/4 of what I normally could!

Also, in the past 2 weeks I've had a noticeable dip in supply. At first I thought AF was coming back (boo!) but I only spotted lightly for a few days and it's gone again. But I noticed a dip in supply (suddenly not able to pump as much, DD being unsatisfied after a feed and fussy/frustrated at the breast). Now with having the surgery in addition to this I'm really worried my supply won't recover!

Is it still possible to increase supply after 8 months? I know all the 'tricks' (had a low supply with my DS and tried everything under the sun to increase it, but nothing helped) but don't know if it's a lost cause?

Anyone with any experience or suggestions??

Thanks in advance!!

 

[Itsychik]

Anyone?

 

[misspriss]

I didn't want to read and run. I have not had surgery I wish I could help. Is there any chance you might be pregnant? My pumping output has gone down significantly. Seems like the kind of thing they'd check before surgery though.

I wish I could help more!

 

[minties]

Is there a reason why you can't breastfeed? I don't think pumping would be as effective if your baby normally gets the milk directly from the breast.

 

[Itsychik]

Thanks for your responses!!

misspriss- I actually took a HTP the week before the operation just to be sure and it was negative. But that thought had crossed my mind as well

minties- I wasn't allowed to breastfeed for 24 hours after surgery and during the week I pump twice a day while I'm at work (and more recently, also after DD goes to bed to try and make sure I have enough to send with DD to daycare the next day).

I'm now 4 days post surgery and things seem to be getting back to normal, thankfully! I was really stressing out for a few days.

Thanks again

 

[misspriss]

Glad it seems to be bouncing back!!

(Preggo brain moment here, no matter how long I've been on these boards and whatnot, I had to read HPT a few times to remember what it was?!? I'm going crazy...)

 

[MgreenM]

Thankyou for posting this. I am having my gallbladder removed in 2 weeks and am breastfeeding. My daughter is 5 weeks old. I am a bit anxious about it. Did you have any discomfort while breastfeeding since surgery?

 

[minties]

What about the surgery meant you could not nurse? Was it pain relief? When I had mine out I was home a couple of hours later. I wasn't breastfeeding by then but was asked how old my kids were and if I was nursing that it would be fine to.

Glad things are going OK!

 

[MgreenM]

it's the anesthesia. It depends on who you ask. Surgeons and anesthesiologists will tell you to pump and dump for 24-48 hours and lactation consultants will tell you it is fine to nurse depending on the medications used.