no feeding, no expressing, what to do?

[fishie]

ds, 7 months, is having a hernia operation on friday, day surgery only. he's bfing every two hours and is to have last feed at 9am, op around 1pm, will come round about 1.5 hours later, when i can feed him immediately.
i don't express and don't want to leave him if possible. and presumably he'll be starving afterward and will need lots of milk ready, so shan't express while he is in surgery. i've had blocked ducts when he's missed one feed before - this will be 2 or 3. any suggestions to avoid major discomfort?

I would recommend expressing
You can save the milk for him for later

i would express too

Could you use a pump in maternity unit - they are ususually more efficient and should quickly ease any discomfort. Perhaps you can take him with you beforehand.

When you say you don't express is it because you haven't, or because it doesn't work for you or you don't want to?

Poor babe...
Ask the maternity ward for help-their industrial pumps will do the trick.
Hope it goes well.

XX

i haven't expressed mainly because of feeding both sides every two hours, so didn't have anything left and couldn't face milking on top of the feeding. also not very good at it

maternity ward in another building, shame as they have just refurbished the expressing room according to website, and a pump would help no end.

but expressing (badly) in front of him seems really cruel - he will be ravenous but not allowed any.

Can you nip over to the mat ward and express while he's having the operation? You won't be able to stay with him for that, I'm sure. I know it'd be stressful, but you'd be back, comfier, in time for him to feed when he wakes up.

Why not take a handpump? That way you can relieve some of the pressure when you get a chance without having to deal with the maternity ward people

Have a word with the hospital and explain that you are breastfeeding and tell them what you need - they should provide you with a breast pump if you need one. All they have to do is arrange for one to be brought over from the maternity unit. I would also maybe contact one of the breastfeeding organisations like ABM or LLL as they can provide info & tips about feeding your ds before & after an op
Found this link that might be useful to you: kellymom baby surgery

BTW - It does not matter if you express before a feed - by feeding from you your ds will stimualate milk production. Breasts are never empty.

thank you all , the hospital will find a pump for me tomorrow. i really hadn't thought of asking them for help, don't know why. now i can get on with worrying about the op itself

Really glad the hospital are helping, Fishie. Will be thinking of you - hope the operation goes well. It'll be over before you know it, I promise.

Good to hear that the hospital are being so supportive fishie.
Hope everything goes ok.

Hope all went ok.

thank you it is all fine. sodding gits failed to provide a pump, but in the end i managed ok without. just so relieved is all over.

Oh, I'm sorry they didn't provide a pump, Fishie

Very glad to hear it's all fine though - hope he makes a speedy recovery!

Oh
Why not??

Glad it is all over.How is the little lamb?

'spare' pumps being used, maternity wouldn't let me on to ward to use theirs or the expressing room and bf nurse had a day off or some old crap. i was offered a hand pump, but it never arrived. i feel a complaint coming on.....

baby is fine, has stuffed himself and just gone to sleep.

Yes do fishie.
A nicely worded letter will go a long way to getting them to pull their socks up.

I was hospitalised with crippling stomach pains on a weekend trip to Brighton.Dd was about 9/10 months old. Noone was particularly bothered about helping me out..formula was mentioned.

me amd moondog are semi-professional letter writers
do complain
glad your little one is ok

Wotcha popsy!

look at this what a shame they wouldn't let me use it. although they weren't all bad, baby automatically got two hours less starving as bfed.

Lovely link fishie.

Great to know of all the good things happening-we hear too much of the bad stuff sometimes.......

How delighted Celia would be!