Gallbladder op and bf

[mummynumnum]

I have gallstones and just been for hospital appt. Want to take out but bf my 12wk old, so said could not do it whilst bf. Review in 3mths unless have alot of attacks or becomes inflammed. Any tips for low fat diet or how to get through op and continue bf.

Why can they not do the op, though?

How long would it take?

I had gallstones at the end of February. Had one stuck in my bile duct so ended up with jaundice. I was in hospital for a week (baby was with me). Consultant and several DRs kept telling me I'd have to give up BFing and stick baby on formula and I told them to get stuffed.

Had to fight every step of the way to be given BF friendly drugs (antibiotics etc) and had an endoscopy (which meant convincing yet another set of nurses I was OK to BF with the sedatives they use) in the end to get rid of stone with a view to going back at a later date for removal.

It IS possible to have the surgery and continue BFing - it's no different to having a caesarean and breastfeeding as soon as you're awake. Demand your surgeon speaks to the hospital pharmacist about it.

If necessary, go to the maternity ward and find out if they have a lactation consultant on team - that's what I had to do while admitted, just to get her up to my ward to put the nurses/etc in their place.

Good luck.

My husband and I have been pondering te same qs and I am wishing I had been bit more probing on the issue. Is it worth going and speaking to my gp about it.

Just call up the dept where you were referred and ask them - maybe the doc will call you back if they don't have the info to hand.

Surgery is deffo not a reason in itself to stop bf.

If I have no attacks would gladly wait but bit annoyed as doc seemed to think bf was a def no for surgery and could not really explain why!

I had an minor operation when my dd was 4 months old. She stayed with me in the hospital over night and I carried on bf. No problems at all.

I had an appendectomy while pregnant, never mind bfeeding.

It can be done, the docs are taking the easy route by saying 'no bfeeding.'

I had my gall bladder out when DD1 was just under 6 months old. She was excl bf and not yet on solids. There was no question of me stopping bf although I did tell the doctors so they knew when prescribing drugs.

I had it out via keyhole surgery. Went into hospital around 4pm and out again around 11 the next morning. My mom came over from SA to look after DD1. She didn't come into hospital with me, I had expressed milk and my mom looked after her. Mom also stayed the week so she could help me, but I fed DD1 as normal once I got home again.
AFAIR, I fed DD1 as I got to the hospital and then expressed the next morning. I dumped that milk as it probably had some anaesthetic in it. But fed DD1 once I got home.

It's definitely not necessary to stop bf so do talk to your doctor again.

My suggestion would be to wait a bit if you can until the baby isn't feeding so often at night. TBH I wouldn't have liked to have had her in hospital with me that night. I was very groggy when I woke up and generally feeling sore. I was diagnosed when DD1 was 9 weeks and only had the op when she was 22 weeks or so, mostly due to me being away and then arranging for mom to come over.

I do hope you get it all sorted out. I remember how incredibly painful the "attacks" were, and how unpredictable no matter how hard I tried to avoid fatty food. Good luck!!

I had major surgery when DD was 5mo. I had to get her to take bottles (bit of a battle but got there in the end) because I wasn't up to feeding her for a couple of days, but with help I managed to express to keep supply going, started reintroducing bfs as soon as I was able, and I'm stil bfing her 6 months on!
Hospital provided breastpump, steriliser etc and gave me a private room too!