Will i be okay??-breastfeeding question

[Tutulafromage]

Hey
Looking for an answer here as the Dr (surgeon) i just spoke to seemed a bit useless...
Background: I had a baby girl 3 and half weeks ago and am breastfeeding however she has had a few bottles and seems fine with both!
So for past week or so i have developed a very painful abcess in my armpit-size of a tennis ball! I had an out of hours GP appointment (based at local A&E) this afternoon and he has referred me to have this surgically removed urgently due to size and amount of pus so am at A&E and should be having it done under general anaesthetic in the next hour! Have been seen by surgeon and anaesthetic doctor.

Now will i be okay if i dont breastfeed in the next few hours and possibly even tommorow?? I dont want to end up with mastitis or my supply stopping! I cant access a breast pump at the moment and dont think i will be up here long!
Also does general anasthetic affect breast milk?

Any help or reassurance would be amazing...

I don't have a specific answer. But ask to speak to the hospital breastfeeding adviser for support. Also have a look at this site it tells you about the risk of various drugs in breastmilk LINK hope all is ok for you OP. While is hospital you maybe able to borrow a pump if you cannot feed to help prevent mastitis.

Should add that hand expressing to relieve pressure in the short term would be sensible in the short term.

I was in a and e a couple of times after giving birth. I was also bf my dd.

If you inform them that you need a breast pump they can contact the maternity dept and have one sent down to you.

If you don't pump you could get very uncomfortable, you also need to keep up your supply.

All hospitals are supposed to promote and support breastfeeding.

The hospital need to lend you a pump as you could end up in a right old state with blockages/mastitis. I am a lactation consultant and my local hospital would supply this to patients.

Ask the hospital for a pump definitely.

GA I'm sure is fine with breast feeding. Just ask about any painkillers they give you though I'm sure they'd be out your system by the time you feed again.

Actually GA must be fine with bf. Both myself and my brother were emcs and my mum was under GA

I was provided with a pump when DS was admitted to the children's ward and I was struggling with bf. It was an excellent pump and the nurses were really helpful. They should also give you bottles to store your milk in. I'm sure if you ask they'll find you a pump. I hope it all get sorted for you.

GA and pain will both suppress your milk supply. Get the hospital to give you a breast pump and use that on the good breast, and hand express as much as you can on the sore one. Expect your supply to drop for a few days, but it will come up. If your supply is lower and you don't want to give formula, your hospital can also supply donor milk that's been screened to make sure it doesn't carry infections.

I had a GA and rang a breastfeeding line. They said if I was awake enough to remember I had a baby I was okay to feed! Just watch any painkillers they give you, you’re not meant to have codeine if you’re feeding as it can suppress the baby’s respiratory rate.