Advised to stop bf by hcp's, because of an op to repair botched tear.

[Junebugjr]

I had a small tear which the midwife did not repair properly, so I now have to have a 'refashioning' in a couple of months. I've bf dd for 6 months, and hoped to until she decided to stop.

During my consultation the gynaecologist advised me to stop bf, as the lack of hormones in that area can effect healing, and the op would best work on tissues that are not thin dry and fragile as they can be during bf.

Has anyone else had experience of this? I'm so disappointed bf may have to be cut short, but also want fully functioning bits!

Get further advice/second opinion on this one, june.

There are surgeons who say this and others who say it makes little difference....especially with established breastfeeding like yours.

I may be completely wrong about this but I think I've heard of oestrogen creams or somesuch which can be applied if that area is dry and fragile for hormonal reasons. Maybe that would be a possibility?

A friend was told to stop BFing by one gynaecologist for the same reason, and then was told (after stopping) by another one that it doesn't make a difference, so I'd second getting a second opinion.

I had exactly the same op when DS was 8 months old and I was bfing (still am and he's 13mo now). I was never told this by any of the docs I saw pre-surgery. In fact they couldn't do enough to help support my bfing - I was put first on the surgery list so I'd be ready to go home to him earlier, and was given a different anaesthetic which wouldn't make me groggy afterwards. I healed with no problems at all after the surgery and am very pleased with the result now. So bfing caused no problems at all for me!

That's brilliant to hear lurcher! How long before you healed after the op, if you don't mind me asking.

I've contacted my health visitor to ask also, as she'll know of more mothers who've had the op. She said she has heard it, but there's no research, only anecdotal.

Bf has been unexpectedly very easy for me this time round, and I was very upset at the thought of stopping, and feeding her with a bottle. I'm going to ask about the oestrogen cream. Excuse my language, but I'm pretty pissed off with hcp's really pushing bf, then causing all manner of things, like crap stitch up jobs needing ops, that then undermine it.

I healed pretty quickly - I had some scar tissue removed and a fenton's procedure (re-cut and stitch basically - I was done too tightly after delivery). The first night was really painful (the hosp only sent me home with paracetamol because of the bf, but I'm sure there are stronger things you can probably take - I wish I'd researched this) but after that it felt better quite quickly. After a week I felt much better and by a fortnight I was back to normal.

I had a 3rd degree tear that mostly healed well but with a flap of skin sewn too tightly at the entrance to the vagina - made sex painful and impossible, frankly.

Had it cut and re-stitched when DS was 13mo and still bf, no problem. My Dr even said it was no problem with anasthetic: "the worse thing that could happen would be that he would be a bit sleepy" (no such luck).

Was also prescribed oestrogen cream for months before.

Healed well, was normal to move around, sit etc a week later.

HTH :)

IMO very outdated advice...cream will sort out oestrogen levels and BFing is good...so you shouldn't have to stop if established. tell the anaesthetist so they use inhaled induction (gas) at the start or a suitable injection so minimal transfer to DC.