Breastfeeding and kidney stones

[Daisyandbabies]

Ok, could really do with some advice! I'm currently exclusively breastfeeding my 2 1/2 month old and it's going really well. However, just found out I have 2 kidney stones (found during scan for something else) and am due to have the shock wave therapy next week.

My main worry is that something will go wrong and I will be hospitalised and not be able to feed my baby. The procedure is done as an outpatient and doesn't take long so this alone shouldn't be an issue. The urologist was going to give me a medicine which is unsafe for breastfeeding but has said I can leave that one. However, I'm terrified that something will go wrong afterwards when passing the stones and I will have to be away from my baby. Never tried her on a bottle and don't have a stash of frozen milk.

Obviously, even though I'm in no pain, it's best to have the procedure done so the stones don't cause any problems. The urologist has said it is none urgent though as is willing to defer (no idea how long for through.)

Has anyone had lithotripsy or have any advice for me?

Thank you

I'd say introduce formula or breastmilk in a bottle now.

my baby is 3 months old, but had to have top ups from 5 days old. which came handy in August when I had biliary colic and was jaundiced and spent 3 nights in hospital.
gallstones and infection were confirmed. the stone/s passed so I didn't need endoscopy to remove it/them, but because of all the drugs they pumped in me I couldn't breast feed for 4 full days.

but here's what I could do. I expressed breastmilk every 2-4 hours and threw it away. it's called "pump& dump". I couldn't use the milk obviously, but needed stimulation going
ZingBaby was fully formula fed for the duration of medicines being given and waiting for any traces to leave my body I was able to bf again!

I'm awaiting surgery (this Monday I'll have my gallbladder removed) so we will just repeat the process of pump& dump while he is formula fed, the n get back to mixed feeding (he has top ups anyway)

hope that made sense, I'm listening to my other kids fighting while I'm bf baby and typing this

and I recommend the Avent electric breast pump if you want to express milk to save it & freeze it before your appointment

otherwise don't bother, just give him/her ready made formula to see how he/she takes it (that's what I do, sod the expense, it's way easier for now!)
just a few ounces will do, if they are happy, you know your back up plan is going to work!

good luck

You have an exclusively breastfed baby under 6 months, if you are admitted to hospital then they have to allow you to take baby with you. Contact the Infant Feeding Co-ordinator at your hospital (through your health visitor if you can't find contact details), who should be able to advise you on your rights.

My good friend had an operation when her baby was about 4 months old - she was admitted with her baby and her husband was there to look after baby while she was in Theatre. She never did manage to get her baby to take a bottle of expressed milk but after talking to the anaesthetist she was able to breastfeed once she came round from the anaesthetic.