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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

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Original poster

OMG, just been called in for op next wk - can I bf after general anesthetic?

18 replies

Lucy1977 · 01/11/2006 19:52

Ever since birth of my 8.5 month old DD I have needed to have a minor op "down below". I had a referral in July and got a call today to say the op will be next wk.

Does anyone know how soon after the general anesthetic I can resume breastfeeding my DD?

The Nurse at the hospital who did my pre-op assessment today was very nice and said she would speak to the anesiatist (sorry about my awful spelling) and then call me to let me know but I wondered if anyone knew here?

I was thinking that women who have to be given a general when there's a problem with the epidural in a c-section would perhaps feed right after?

I realise DD is 8.5 months old but she doesn't take a bottle very well and gets awful wind with cups/beakers and wont take more than an ounce from them. I'll be without DD from 12noon til 8pm anyway so I'm worried she wont be able to have a feed for 24 hours?

Thanks everyone

Lucy

OP posts:

SaintHunkerOfMunker · 01/11/2006 19:54

Soon as you like. Women who've had GA for sections bfeed asap.

Once you're awake, it's pretty much out of your system.

Good luck with the op.

tiktok · 01/11/2006 23:52

Hunker is right - check with the hosp if you really want to, but be very suspicious if they say anything that means you have to suspend bf.

If you are conscious, then the GA is no longer present in your system (if it was, you'd still be under the influence of it!) and when it's out of your system it is out of the milk.

In any case, it's only anaesthetic - if your baby had it at this age for an op for himself, you wouldn't be all that bothered, would you? You'd be worried about the op, but not the whiffs of anaesthetic....

threebob · 02/11/2006 02:25

Once you can hold the baby to breastfeed - you can breastfeed.

FrannyonFire · 02/11/2006 07:26

I was told I would not be able to breastfeed after a GA, so I ended up having a spinal instead. I was having my episiotomy redone so possibly similar to your op Lucy.

It seems like the advice I was given was rubbish, but just wanted to say it is possible to ask for a spinal if you prefer.

Original poster

Lucy1977 · 02/11/2006 07:44

Thanks for your replies, I feel much happier about the whole thing now.

FF - thanks for sharing your experience and advice about the spinal. What they're doing I'm pleased I'm not going to be able to see anything at all so I am bizarrely ok about being out.

Thanks again

Lucy

OP posts:

FrannyonFire · 02/11/2006 07:46

Yes I agree Lucy! It was not the most pleasant experience of my life that is for sure.

Hope all goes well for you.

TheBlonde · 02/11/2006 08:35

As others have said you will be fine to bf
I had 2 GAs whilst bf - DS was 8 mths for the first one and 16 mths for the second

I had the op about 4pm and my ana-wotsit (sorry no hope of spelling it right) was happy for DS to be brought into the hosp to have his 6pm feed
(I didn't do that simply cos I felt too rough)

Original poster

Lucy1977 · 02/11/2006 11:41

TB - thats a good idea, my DH could bring DD in for her last feed (usually around 6.30pm) and then hopefully us all go home together.

Anyone know if laxatives are safe to take whilst bf? I have just got the post and the hosp have sent me Picolax to take the day before my op.
Also, I can't have any water after 10am on the day, and if my op isn't until 4pm I wont be in recovery until... 5 at the earliest - do you think that will have an impact on my milk supply?

I'm sorry if I seem like I'm panicking, to be honest I am a little bit and not sure who to ask these questions

Thanks

Lucy

OP posts:

TheBlonde · 02/11/2006 11:49

Hosp, GP or a chemist should be able to confirm about the laxatives

Daisymoo · 02/11/2006 11:50

Hi Lucy

I had an operation under GA when dd was about 11 months. I came round late afternoon and was feeding her by early evening. There were no problems with my milk supply. Just to mention as well - I had a 4-day stay in hospital recently and so could only feed ds when dh brought him in once or twice a day. My milk supply recovered very quickly from this too.

Hope the op goes well.

FrannyonFire · 02/11/2006 11:52

Lucy, I would phone LLL on 0845 120 2918 - they are so knowledgeable about all medical aspects of breastfeeding and have access to the latest information. Hopefully they will be able to advise you about the GA, the laxatives, and the cessation while you have your op.

tiktok · 02/11/2006 12:18

If you google on picolax you'll find out quite a lot....looks fine! It doesn't work systemically as a 'drug', but directly on the osmotic action of the lower bowel. But check with the chemist.

Ceasing fluid intake for that time will have no effect on your milk supply.

Original poster

Lucy1977 · 02/11/2006 16:42

Hi everyone

Thank you so much for your replies. I feel a lot more reassured now.

I phone LLL and the laxative is a "group 1" drug in their book (0 being lowest, 3 being highest) so that means there probably will be some effect on DD but the lady said probably she'll just have a slightly more loose stool and shouldn't be anything to worry about.

Thanks TT for reassurance that my milk supply wont be affected due to fluids.

Just want it to be this time next week, so that the op would be behind me now. Infact, make that 2 weeks time, hopefully I wont be as sore by that time!

Lucy

OP posts:

Original poster

Lucy1977 · 02/11/2006 22:34

Hi again

I got a call at 18.55 tonight from the nurse who did my pre admission assessment yesterday,she was calling because she "had checked with the anaesthiatist and consultant doing the operation and they say I can resume breastfeeding the day after the operation"!!

So, here's my dilema (don't think that's the right word) - DH was going to bring DD in for her last feed of the day whilst I am still in the recovery bit after the op, now they have said I should resume the day after do you think they'll think I'm going against them? Do you think I should say anything to them?

Thanks

Lucy

OP posts:

TheBlonde · 02/11/2006 22:39

Lucy - she may well have assumed you would only want to feed the following day and thus asked about that

Call back tomorrow and say you've realised you'll want to feed that evening - can she check that for you? Or try and get hold of the ana-wotsit direct

mooshy · 03/11/2006 00:43

Please realise that you are entitled to a side room with your baby if you are still breastfeeding.It doesnt matter if your babe is 2 or 20 months-if you are breastfeeding you are entitled to a sideroom to keep your baby with you during any hospital admission so you can continue to bfeed.Dont be fobbed off.
And good luck-hope all goes well.

pooka · 03/11/2006 06:58

I am so cross! I was told when I had my restitch (dd was 8 months) that I wouldn't be able to have a GA and breastfeed. Wasn't offered a spinal so just had LA injections in my nethers.
It was the worst experience I have EVER had - woudl have been fine if I'd been knocked out or had a spinal, but the injections didn't really completely numb the area and I can remember crying and the srgeon being a bit snippy and saying "we'll stop and give you a GA but you wont be able to breastfeed for 24 hours". I hadn't got milk put by and dd was a bottle refuser and an avid feeder so I just had to get on with it.
On the plus side - the restitch worked beautifully so was worth it in the end I suppose.

Original poster

Lucy1977 · 03/11/2006 07:46

TB, yes perhaps she did interpret my question for the following day - I'll ask them when I go I think because I've made my mind up now that I will bf when required after I come round.

Pooka - sorry your medical people gave you wrong information. How awful you had to go through that experience when there was no need.

Mooshy - that sounds great but I'm just going to out-patient, I don't think they have siderooms there? Do you just know that for a fact or is there any online info I can look up?

Thanks for all your input

Lucy

OP posts:

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