Question:
Can I continue to breastfeed my daughter after surgery?
I am currently brest feeding my daughter and would like to continue after surgery. Has anyone ever done this? I realize that I will have to throw away the milk I express while I am on pain meds, how long will that be? Because I will be taking in so few calories, will my milk just stop? Any advise is appreciated. — Denise M. (posted on February 23, 2001)
February 23, 2001
Hi! How old is your breast fed child? I am pretty sure that a surgeon
won't consider surgery on a woman who has given birth within the last three
to six months. If it's been longer than that and you are still breast
feeding, you may need to make a decision. Either to continue breast
feeding and postpone surgery or vice versa. Just as the surgeon's do not
want you to get pregnant within the first year after surgery, I would think
breast feeding would be a part of that. Post-operatively speaking, your
body is going through MASSIVE changes. Not to mention with the first few
days of morphine and such ... you more than likely won't feel up to
pumping. Thus, your body will think you are weening and stop producing
milk. I had foot surgery 6 weeks after my son was born and had planned to
do the "pump and toss" routine. But the first day of surgery, I
was on heavy pain meds. I couldn't even stay awake to eat. So, needless
to say I couldn't pump. By day 2, I couldn't squeeze more than two drops.
(Mind you before that I could pump TWO 8 oz. bottles worth from each
breast!) My best advice is to ask when making your consultation
appointment if the surgeon even considers surgery so soon after pregnancy
and during breast feeding. If they say no, then you know ahead of time you
have time to make a decision. I hope this helps!!
— Rachael R.
February 23, 2001
Hi! I'm a breastfeeding mom also. However my daughter Madison is 15
months old. I have made the decision to make this the perfect opportunity
to ween her. Dr. Wongsa told me that it was a lucky baby who is still
being breastfed at this age. He told me he would provide me with a breast
pump and that I would be able to continue to breastfeed if I wanted. I
didn't think about asking if the baby would get enough nutrients on my
limited diet. She is of course eating solids and the breastfeeding is more
like her pacifier. But he encouraged it. I would ask a few more questions
concerning the diet. I hope this helps in some way. God bless you and
your baby!
— stephanie G.
February 24, 2001
I was on pain meds for 8 days from open RNY.
— Cindy H.
May 6, 2002
My now nearly 3 year old daughter was just 13 months when I had my RNY and
was still breastfeeding her. I was also undergoing the process of becoming
a La Leche League Leader, and so was in contact with quite a few good
resourses! Fortunately, I was able to wait until my daughter was at a place
where the temporary change in nursing schedule wouldn't have blind-sided
her. She wasn't nursing a whole lot at that point, but I didn't want to
wean her either. I was able to nurse going in to surgery, and soon
afterwards (that same day). I was on a morphine pump for a couple of days,
and a few other minor medications, but was told that a 13 month old's liver
was mature enough to metabolize the small amount of morphine that would've
gotten through to her. We did not encounter any problems, and I continued
to nurse until she was about 19 months along. My biggest concern is now:
I'm due with my 3rd child in 2 weeks, and I've been able to gain 20 lbs.
and am very healthy lab wise, etc. I'm still worried about being able to
sustain a baby solely on breastmilk. I was told by both my RNY surgeon and
OB that I should be able to; and I will have my labs closely watched, but
would love to email with anyone else who has gone through these early
stages. I'm currently about 1 1/2 years out of surgery, and my wt. was
leveling out at 138-136 before I got pg. I am now a La Leche League leader,
but still have yet to find much info about post-RNY and breastfeeding
myself.
— Laura R.
September 2, 2002
Hi! This is my first posting. I am a Board Certified Lactation
Consultant- my name is slighty disguised so if you have any direct
questions E-mail me at [email protected]
Anyway.... When breastfeeding the baby gets the same nutrients and
antibodies regardless of the mom's nutritional status. The ammount may be
decreased but it is still wholesome. Mom needs to make sure she is taking
in 200 to 500 extra quality calories a day to account for the calories
being consumed by the child- depending on child's age and intake. I work
with moms that have CF- now THAT is nutritional compromise! They still
nurse quite well for long terms too.
LLL is great for general BF advice but the needs of a gastric bypass
patient may not be in their experience. For really specific medically
oriented advice seek a Board certified LC in your area- call your local
maternity ward or look on the IBLCE web site.
Pain meds are given routinely after C sections and the infants are right at
the breast- unless you are on something unusual I see no need to toss milk.
Morphine is better than demerol because infants can be a little sleepy
with demerol (not noted with MS) But I assume in most cases we are talking
about the infants are established on solids so the percentage of their diet
that is breast milk is not large.
Will your milk stop? Maybe- with the stress of surgery, separation and
rapid weight loss you may find that your milk supply hits the skids. Even
if you don't have a huge supply it is great to continue to put your child
to breast for comfort and there will be some recovery in your supply.
I am looking at surgery when my youngest is about 16 months old and I will
continue to nurse as I am able and as he wishes. The calories consumed will
be minimal and the quality will be fine.
After all said- I would not encourage a mom with a young infant- not on
solids yet- to get WLS. The positive effects of breastmilk are dose
related and I'd hate to see someone wean early for WLS when one of the most
important factors in preventing obesity is the length of the infant's
breastfeeding experience. (Good studies have shown up to a 57% decrease in
obesity later in life associated with long term breastfeeding- 12 mo.+)
Food for thought!
— Edith W.
April 28, 2004
I continued to nurse my two year old -- Of course she gets most of her
nutrition from solids. But there was nothing more comforting to her than
when I came home from the hospital and we could be together. It is so
traumatic for them to be away from us at this age... It was very healing
for her. I am 7 weeks post op and she still nurses more now than before
surgery. Before surgery, she might skip a day or two. Now she nurses
three or four times a day and probably more if I didn't tell her no, that
my belly hurt and ask her if we could just cuddle instead. It is a
wonderful way to reconnect intimately.
— Rachel Propes
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