I am having surgery but I am still breastfeeding

[Isadora]

I never even though of those women who have babies under GA and breastfeed! Yay! Here I was thinking it would be at least 3 days before I could feed her. Well thats great!

MD - I definately AM looking forward to this surgery, I want my normal belly button back, I want to get the bikinis out again!

[Trillian]

The only thing I'd be worried about would be that you really need to keep the fluids up while bfing and when you have the op you will be nil by mouth for at least 12 hours beforehad. So I'd be setting up a plan of attack to deal with that so you don't struggle with low supply.

[Bloom]

Yup there should be no issues re feeding soon after the operation. I had to have my gallbladder out when DS was only 6 weeks old under GA. The surgeon, the anaesthic guy (sp?) and the nurse all had different opinions as to when I could feed ranging from 24 hours to straight away. I "pumped and dumped" straight after surgery and then went back to breastfeeding. You might want to make sure you have a triangular pillow to put around your stomach to make feeding more comfortable.

[Cassius2]

as the others have said there is no problem (yay!!). i had similar worries when i had my tonsils out and was BF DD1, but they all reassured me it was all AOK

(oh and goodluck with the surgery xx)

[Epacris]

I had day surgery when my DD was about 12 months old and I was still BFing her. Yes Trill is right, it is nil by mouth for 12 hours before surgery. I talked to my anaesthetist about this and she allowed me to have one glass of water when I woke up the in morning. She also suggested I pump and dump the first feed after surgery. But I actually didn’t do this because I just couldn’t be bothered. I just waited a while to feed my DD and she was old enough to have food and water in the mean time.

And congratulations on your BFing journey. Onwards and upwards from here hey.

[Isadora]

Thanks ladies.

Hmmm definately need a plan of attack as I have struggled on and off with low supply. I forgot to drink water yesterday, I think I had one glass, I was just so busy and it slipped my mind. I realllly noticed the difference at night.

[Kmn]

The biggest thing to deal with the "no drinking or eating after midnight" issue is to get up at 11.30pm and have a couple of glasses of water and some food. Anxiety about surgery is bad enough without being overly hungry and thirsty as well...

And fold a big towel over your cut before feeding bub - after my CS a kick from a newborn hurt - a boot from a 6 month old would not be fun!