Question about gallbladder op and breastfeeding..please help!!

[jemimap]

Hi

Im due to have my gallbladder removed hopefully by keyhole in 1 weeks time. The problem is that I have a 5 week old daughter (and a 3 year old and a 1 year old!) I am exclusively bf my baby and have got the feeding into a pretty good routine for 5 weeksd old and I would be absolutely devastated if the op messed up the bf. I bf my other 2 children for a year each nd would hope to do the same this time.

I have asked the anaesthetist and he seems to think that bf straight after the general anaesthetic is ok although the drugs will make baby sleepy and because of this most mums choose to express for a few feeds. This isnt an option for me as I have had extensive breast surgery and cant express so if I miss several feeds it will really damage my milk supply as well as being really uncomfortable!

The nursing staff have also been really negative about my intention to breastfeed and have said that I might be too ill to feed for a while? This really surprises me as I know a couple of people who have had this op and said they felt relatively ok straight after..

Has anyone on here had this op and if so, do you think you would have been able to bf a 5 week old immediately you were awake??

Also, has anyone bf a baby after an anaesthetic and was there baby sleepy or did it do any harm??

Hope someone can help me..

Helen

you need lisad, I think she had a gall bladder op recently soon after her dd was born, and she is bfing.

My sister has her gallblader removed when her second boy wasa about 8 weeks old - she breastfed straight afterwards and was home within about 36 hours if I remember correctly.
HTH

It all depends on how you feel after the surgery. Some people bounce back, others take a little while.

As regarding the breast feeding, you should post this on the breast feeding thread. If the anaesthetist said that it is ok then it should be.

Ask the anaesthetist would it be possible to have a spinal block/epidural. You are awake during the surgery but feel nothing. It certainly would be ok to feed after that.

Thanks for replies.. really helpful to speak to people who have actually been through it themselves or know someone who has. I think nurses are being bit over cautious..

hopefully will get a reply from someone whohas had op and managed to cont bf with no probs. Was also concerned about the nil by mouth for6 hours preop and effect it will have on milk supply??

Nil by mouth will have no effect on milk supply.

I am surprised that you say you cannot express because if a baby can get milk out - so can you. Surgery makes not difference to that. It might be an idea tio have some milk expressed as a backup incase you are unwell.

My friend had key-hole surgery when her DS was 9 weeks but the op was more tricky than expected. She was actually pretty unwell but continued to feed.

I presume you are haveing someone with you to take care of the baby? Is your DD going to be in hospital with you throughout? As long as you have someone briefed to help baby feed even if you are pretty sleepy should be fine.If so, then the nurses have absoltely no say in the matter - it is outwith their area of expertise.

Remember that women who have a GA for caesarean section breastfeed straighht away.

Hope it goes OK for you.

hello

Yep i had my gall bladder out 3 weeks ago and dd is 9 weeks old.
I was in hospital for 2 1/2 weeks before this and was not allowed to breast feed as i was so unwell and on so many drugs, long story
I kept my milk going while there by expressing but understand this isnt possible for you.

2 things, bring baby with you on morning of op and feed before you go in for op (I expressed an hour before op).
The anesthic was all safe for BF, if you ask they will and should do this.
I had to express off an hour or two after op. I continued to express off until i got home 2 days later (but mainly as my recovery was longer than normal due to complications)

Once home i stayed there, placed a pillow on my lap and just feed DD when ever she wanted it. Milk supply was back to normal pretty quick.

Word of warning, one of the stab sites is right where bra sits, make sure you have a slightly loser bra handy.
I hope this helps, and please ask any questions.

Lisa

should say i wouldnt have been able to feed dd straight off, as i was feeling dizzy, but think with some help and a big pillow would be possible in most cases.
Oh and sod the nurses. Ask for a side room, so your LO can come in all day to get BFeeding started asap. Yopu should be home the next day, some people the same day
hope it goes well.

Thanks so much for posting... your experience sounds dreadful..were you in hospital for gallbladder complications for the 2 weeks before you had the op?

I really hope things are settling down now for you. Well done for managing to keep the bfeeding going through all that!

I have ummed and ahhed loads about whether to put it off but have needed it doing since birth of 1st DS 3 years ago. Had pancreatitus after birth of 2nd DS caused by gallstones so dont want to go through that again. I am actually looking forward to the surgery in a weird way as i just so want to be able to eat again!! Im 8 stone after just giving birth which is ridiculous - basically as I cant eat hardly anything.. Imsure you must have been through it too?

My DH will be staying with me and DD at the hospital and will be able to try and get DD tofeed straight away,even if im not really with it after op. Just hoping DD isnt too drowsy from the meds? Was your DD having your ebm? Did she become drowsy?

How has your recovery been? Have you been able to return to a normal diet yet without problems?

Sorry for the questions..Im just really keen to get as much info as poss so I know what im letting myself in for!!

Thanks

I've not had my gall-bladder out but I've had 2 GA's while breastfeeding.

The 1st time was when dd2 was 4 weeks old and an emergency so no time to prepare - was so ill I sent dd home with dh . However, woke up feeling fine (except no baby) and fed her when she came in. Had to express overnight as my breasts became overfull, hard and leaking. Didn't notice any problems with dd

2nd time was when dd3 was 7 months old - anaesthetist said no problem to breastfeed afterwards but then changed her mind when I woke up as op was bigger than anticipated and I was on a morphine pump. Had to express and chuck away for about 12 hours then went back to feeding her. Again, didn't notice any problems with her.

Make sure the hospital and ward are aware and supportive of you, the ward sister told me my baby couldn't stay with me which made everything a nightmare - constantly expressing or making her wait till dh could bring her in.

Another thing I did was express for a few weeks before I went in so there was a supply in the freezer that would have lasted her about 48 hours.

Hope this helps, I'm sure you'll be fine!

i dont mind the questions but please exsuse bad grammer as feeding dd as i type.

i had pancreatitus and jundice caused by the gall stones, which was why i was infor that time. i was very poorly with the pancreatitus as they didnt notice thats what it was, so had chance to take hold. I had op within 3 weeks of developing pain caused by stones, but lost a stone in that short time. i know i was lucky as most people wait ages for their op.
Been advised to keep a good diet but have pretty much gone back to eating normsally but keeping a eye of fat/oil levels. I did over do it a little last weekend and got a few pains but nothing as bad as stone pains.
LO wasnt sleeply but she wasnt feed from me till 2 days later. do be aware codaine is still given as standard "safe" pain relief bit new research says it can cause problems in babies that are bf.
I had my op just over 3 weeks ago and feel great, a few twinges now and then but doing ok.
Please take it easy for first 2 weeks though.

Good luck

Thanks everyone for your replies.. although Im not exactly looking forward to the op, I do want it over with and your experiences really help me prepare..

Lisad..how awful for you to have gone through pancreatitis with such a little baby - i can truly sympathise as had it when ds 2 was 4 months and it was horrendous.. I did manage to hang on for 15 months though til now with no more significant attacks..but have had to cut out all fat. I waited so long for op as got pregnant again with dd so now its finally time for op..

thanks again for all advice

oh yes, one other question.. if codeine isnt particularly recommended anymore, are there any other 'safe for bf' painkillers other than paracetamol that i can be given?

also, on a completely different note - how long before I can have a shower after op??! which really is important to me!!

Hi, just to let you all know, had op wed eve by keyhole and everything was fine. Had to stay in bit longer than planned as needed drain as have given birth recently and aparently that makes you bit 'oozy' !!

Have to say, it has been and still is more painful than i was expecting and I was up to feeding my 6 week old for 12 hours after the op as had to have extra morphine, but all in all was ok and am soooooooo relieved its now taken out.

Am still feeling bit gassy and some sort of phantom gallblader pain etc but its only been 2 days so expecting too much i suppose? Im still bit light headed and dizzy from op I think

anyway, thanks again for advice and any dietary tips now gallbladderless to prevent the 'runs' will be very much appreciated!!

Glad it went well