posssible op this thursday and breastfeeding, advice needed

[muslimah28]

hi

i have a 'broken down' perineum, 2nd degree tear which may need restitching on theursday. dd is 11do. if they go ahead with the re stitch, i will obviously have some sort of pain relief. i dont know what form this will take, and dont know whether it will be safe for baby.

should i pump some milk in advance, even though general advice is not to pump at this early stage?

actually in this scenario im not really purist about avoiding one or two bottles of formula if i need to let any meds wear off, and im thinking that any risks of nipple confusion would arise whether the bottle is formula or ebm? so given the pain im in maybe its easiest to just wait and see, if necessary then use formula for however many hours and pump and dump during that time?

not sure what my specific question is really, i think i just need advice on a low fuss strategy to get through the possible op and have least effect on bf'ing long term.

would be really grateful for any thoughts, thanks.

www.breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk/drugs-in-breastmilk-information-and-factsheets

These guys are really good. Scroll down for info on BF and anaesthetic, and BF and day surgery.

www.breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk/drugs-in-breastmilk-information-and-factsheets

Ask for painkillers which are compatible with bf. There are plenty of them.

Can you bring the baby to the hospital with you to minimise separation? Obviously somebody would need to come with you to look after her while you are having surgery. If you were only apart for the duration of the surgery, you may not have to pump for comfort either.

I did this whilst having metalwork removed from my leg. I didn't ask the hospital if I could bring ds2, I told them he was coming!

Hi,

Congratulations on your DD, and sorry to hear about the possible op.

You've had lots of good advice, but I had a couple of ideas which may or may not be helpful. Firstly, if you're worried about nipple confusion, whoever is looking after DD could perhaps cup-feed her (whether EBM or formula)? Secondly, at this stage with DS I was very leaky, I don't know about you, but you could perhaps use the BM collection things (can't remember the proper name) on the opposite side when you're feeding her? This could allow you to collect enough for a couple of feeds without needing to pump etc.

I hope it is all sorted as painlessly and as soon as possible.

thanks for your advice and support this is really helpful at a difficult time.

i have a medela swing pump, and dh will be coming with me so separation will be minimised (though not from poor 2yo ds who is missing his mama time atm :( )

i'm not leaky every feed, just in the mornings, so collection isn't really an option, also dd in last couple of days has been feeding from both sides for many of the feeds. actually just the thought of pumping the ebm in advance is tiring because i know i have a decent milk supply but not enough excess to suddenly start pumping.

i think the idea of cup feeding formula is a very good one, i hadn't thought of that, and i think i'll call the breastfeeding counsellor too.

ds was mixed fed for six weeks then i managed to wean him off the formula and get to ebf :) but i have no idea of dd will respond the same way to having a bottle and then reverting to nipple hence my worry.

i guess i also don't want to pump and plan so so much for a possible restitch when i don't know for sure it will happen, basically it depends on teh assessment on thursday.

poor dd, she's already getting the ABs and pain killers i'm taking in her system and the latter are making her sleepy so i'm having to wake to feed for most (but not all) feeds :(

Thank you for the hugs maples they're whati need right now! I will google that lady and find her no. It's difficult to contact her note bc I dont even know if they will do the op yet and if they do I dont know what the anaesthesia will be. But I'll save her no for a phone call from hospital if necessary. Dh is a pharmacist too which is v useful, so will probably get him to call if we need to.

I feel reassured from the advice above now though, so my plan is to learn about cup feeding today, and pack my pump on Thursday should I need to pump and dump. Formula should be available in the hospital if we need it.

Many thanks everyone.

Contact her ' now' not note

Oh wow that's good to hear. MN is great at times like this:) thank you xx

Congratulations. I was admitted to HDU when DD was 11 days old and had to have a CT scan which meant I couldn't feed her for 24 hours afterwards. It was hard, but I found it easiest if she wasn't with me when I couldn't feed her. Otherwise, she just got upset because she could smell the milk but couldn't feed. DH bottle fed her and I'm happy to report there was no nipple confusion at all. Another possibility we looked at was feeding her via a large syringe if she refused to take any milk from the bottle. Luckily, DH didn't have to try it but it may be an option for you. Just ask the hospital for large size syringes.

Good luck.

thank you everyone, it sounds like some of you had even more major surgery than i may have to go through :(

the midwife came today and i asked her about it, she said most likely it would be a local anaesthetic which would be compatiblewith bf'ing. but just in case today me and dh watched some youtube vids on cup feeding so we know what to do.

that helpline is amazing maples i showed it to dh he was seriously impressed. he said that most pharmacists know what is ok with bf'ing and what isn't, but what they lack is the knowledge of how best to manage bf'ing as a consequence. it reminded me actually of when my sister earlier this year had a root canal which got infected, the dentist gave her ABs and told her she shouldn't bf on them, which was not only wrong based on the one she had given (it was amoxycillin which IS fine with bfing) but also she gave no advice whatsoever on what my sis should do to temporarily stop bf'ing (which she didn't have to do as dh told her it was fine but based on what the dentist had said she should have given further advice). hcps really need more info re bf'ing and how to help mums!