Colonosopy, bowel prep & breastfeeding

[alicewingold]

Hi!
I have a colonoscopy booked tomorrow and am due to start taking my PlenVu bowel prep at 6pm today. I have a 3 month old baby who won't take a bottle despite us trying very hard! I've been told different things by different nurses about whether or not i can still breastfeed whilst taking the bowel prep. i wondered if anyone could give me any advice?
I have done some research and read some reports saying it should be fine but if the experts from the endoscopy department are telling me no then who should i believe?
Thanks in advance!

Believe the experts from the endoscopy department

I have Crohn’s disease and my consultant said he wouldn’t scope me whilst I’m still breastfeeding ideally - but I’m not in a flare, just overdue a scope to have a check over things. He may of felt differently if I was experiencing signs of a flare. Sorry not entirely helpful just my anecdote. It’s also worth baring in mind they’ll offer sedation and you shouldn’t be left in charge of bubs for 24 hours after having it, at the very least you need to have someone with you.

Is it urgent you have one done now or is it something that could wait a bit?

Have you looked on the Breastfeeding Network?

www.breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk/colonoscopy/

This. Not randoms on the internet.

And I would believe actual experts in medication while breastfeeding over any others. A lot of medical professionals sadly advise stuff isn't safe when it actually is, leading to people stopping breastfeeding when they don't have to

Maybe try emailing [email protected] about your specific situation too.

Hi OP, I had a colonoscopy while breastfeeding (although a 7 month old so she was feeding a lot less often). I was advised no issues with taking the laxatives while breastfeeding, though you might want to check your specific drug with the Breastfeeding Network as a previous poster said. My experience was I had enough breaks during the prep to be able to feed my daughter.

You're also fine to breastfeed after the sedation and painkillers. I didn't have the sedation because I wanted to be alert enough to care for my baby afterwards and it was fine, not distressing or painful, but people's experiences of the procedure differ.

Good luck, the whole thing is a huge hassle when you're trying to look after a baby but over after 24 hours!

And this is by Dr Wendy Jones who is an expert in medication while breastfeeding:

breastfeeding-and-medication.co.uk/fact-sheet/bowel-cleansing-before-colonoscopy-and-breastfeeding

Also yes I agree on prioritising advice from the Breastfeeding Network, the doctor who carried out my colonoscopy didn't know if I could breastfeed after taking the painkillers so he checked their website, they are the experts.

Worth noting 2 experts have told me yes and 2 have told me no

Thank you for your advice! Can I ask how you know it’s ok to breastfeed after the sedative and pain killers?

Breastfeeding Network has information about both. Look at the drug fact sheets.

@alicewingold I cancelled mine originally as I got pregnant, but not sure about breastfeeding sorry. Did you not mention it at booking appointment?
But reaon for reply is that mine is tomorrow too. Not looking forward to the prep so here for moral support.

@CottonSock I’ve mentioned it so many times hence the conflicting information!
good luck for tomorrow and with the prep. It’s nice to think I’m not the only one going through it

@alicewingold again from the breastfeeding network but also confirmed with the doctor on the day. Mine was deferred because I was pregnant then again because I had a c-section (they don't like to do it until you're completely healed from the surgery) though so I had loads of time to research everything about it.

I would definitely take advice from BFN over colonoscopy doctors. I'm sure they are experts in their field but so many medical professionals have literally no understanding of, or training in, breastfeeding and literally don't know what they are talking about.

Thought I'd come back on here and say I took all the bowel prep and continued to breastfeed as per advice from the Breastfeeding Network and baby was absolutely fine. It doesn't get absorbed into your body it just draws liquid into your gut.
Didn't have pain relief or sedative in case it got into my milk supply and I found the colonoscopy to be quite painful. If I have to do one again I will definitely take all the drugs I can!
Hope this helps anyone in a similar situation to me :)

Hope it wasn't too unpleasant, OP! And glad you continued to feed Much less stressful for you all I'm sure!

I'm glad it went ok!

Glad you and your baby are OK OP.
Incase this comes up in searches for another mum in the same situation, definitely drink extra water. My nurse said an extra litre for anyone, onto of what the instructions say, then more again to help maintain supply.

Well done op. I had all the drugs offered and it wasn't bad at all. So if you ever need one again don't be worried.

Hi @GrannieMainland I know this is am old post but due to have same procedure and BFing 6 month old, did they offer you gas and air or something else other than Sedation? I ideally don't want to be sedated. TIA

@121gigawatts no problem, I'm happy to help. I wasn't offered gas and air but I did have a painkiller (fentanyl) and found the procedure fine. Sedation is safe for breastfeeding if you want it, but you would need to be supervised when holding and feeding the baby afterwards.

Thanks for the info @GrannieMainland will ask for the painkiller. Have a toddler too, and although husband will be able to take time off, I would rather avoid the sedation if I can so I can feed safely as I cannot seem to express much at all.

@121gigawatts I had lots of gas and air instead of sedation, however I still found it quite uncomfortable

Yes, unfortunately so