Local anaesthetic & breast feeding

[UntamedShrew]

Dd is 7 weeks and exclusively breast fed. I'd like to feed her for at least as long as I did my DTs, so 10 months, but I need an operation on my leg and the sooner the better.

My consultant says that after 4 hours the local anaesthetic has left your system so I can express & chuck any milk from that time. We've plenty of my milk in the freezer and luckily DD will take a bottle from DH.

But I just wanted to know if anyone had experience of similar / or knew of any reasons to leave it a bit longer than 4 hours? Obviously the thought of the anaesthetic affecting DD is a concern to me.

Thanks.

Local anaesthetic is not systemic - won't go anywhere near your milk :)

You can check all this with the factsheets at the breastfeeding network site.

No need to express. Just feed as normal.

Yes I was wondering about this last year as I had some work done by the dentist while bf. Local anaesthetic just numbs the area its injected into, not like a general, so you can feed as soon as you like.

I think your consultant is either, playing it very safe or clueless about where milk is made!

I had a horrendous infection and needed teeth out when dd was very tiny, and my dentist was adamant I should express or switch to formula! After a good research on the internet, including Kellymom - she's always a good source of info, and speaking to both a midwife and health visitor, I came to the conclusion that the dentist was being ultra careful and there was no need to worry.

Besides which, my eldest was born by elective cs, so I had a complete spinal block, so what's the worry, frankly?! I think these professionals just cover themselves.

Is it a big operation?
Ask to speak to the anaesthetist.

Thank you all! He's a dad of four himself, you're right you'd think he might know where milk is made :)

Oh and not a big op, vein ablation (yuck)

Surely it can't get in your system as most people have local anaesthetic after giving birth for stitches? I had loads of anaesthetic when she was born. It never occurred to me it could get in the milk.

Sorry, untamedshrew reading back my post is so incredulous it's like I'm questioning you! Just really surprised about what you've been told.