BF'ing after a general anesthetic.

**Junglemum** · July 18th, 2011, 08:10 AM

My almost 4 week old baby has to have a general anesthetic tomorrow to have a growth removed from her lower gum.

I am a little bit concerned about it effecting breast feeding. When ever i've had a GA i've slept for about 3 or 4 days afterwards and i find it really knocks me around. I'm a bit worried about it doing the same to her and might effect my supply.
She'll also have a sore lower gum, with a few stitches in it. Fingers crossed the relief BF'ing provides is greater than the pain she may feel from it.

I guess i wont know anything until tomorrow but writing it down helps my thought processes!

Has anyone else had a new born who had a general? Did it effect your bf'ing at all?

**Jennifer13** · July 18th, 2011, 08:18 AM

Sorry I can't give any advice, JM, but I just wanted to send you my best wishes that it goes well and she recovers quickly.

I would think they'd be very, very careful with how much they put her under since she's so tiny.

**MamaPan** · July 18th, 2011, 08:33 AM

thinking of you JM... hope all goes well today. Maybe a LC at the hosp will have some advice?

**Junglemum** · July 18th, 2011, 09:02 AM

Thanks ladies. Do they have LC's at the RCH? Maybe i'll ask..... thanks MP. x

**MamaPan** · July 18th, 2011, 09:04 AM

I bet they do.. and if not I bet they have dealt with this question many times. cant hurt to ask...
xxx

**Ginger** · July 18th, 2011, 09:08 AM

Thinking of you xo
Maybe you might have to express and give it to her from a spoon or cup?

**Olive** · July 18th, 2011, 09:34 AM

Maybe ring a LC in your area today JM or ring the aba, will be thinking of you tomorrow xxx

**Trillian** · July 18th, 2011, 09:35 AM

I have no idea but just wanted to say I hope it all goes smoothly for her (and you!) and that it doesn't disrupt things too much for both of you

**Miss.September** · July 18th, 2011, 09:42 AM

DD had a GA at 3 and a bit months, so just out of newborn range. But the first thing she wanted when she woke up was bf. The GA knocked her around for the first day, but after that she was her normal self, but even on that first day, she woke for feeds. Good luck JM

**Khaleesi** · July 18th, 2011, 09:46 AM

I've got no idea either but just wanted to say i'll be thinking of you tomorrow

**PumpkinZulu** · July 18th, 2011, 10:01 AM

Babe if you need, I have a totally awesome new Medela bottle you can borrow if you want, if for whatever reason she won't take to the boob, and an electric pump, so if she's having trouble on the boob you have a back up, and you can pump to keep up tour supply? The bottle is designed for BFing babies, to not confuse them between bottle and boob...if you want to borrow them they're all yours, just let me know

As for her stitch...obviously ask the doctors, but maybe they'll give her sone numbing gel for that area? Poor little babe, times I've been under GA also took it out of me, although I'm sure they know what they're doing down at the RCH

ETA: sorry if my suggestion wasn't good, just trying to help

**Barb Glare** · July 18th, 2011, 11:53 AM

Hi,

You shouldn't have too many problems. When she is awake she should be able to feed. I can't see that there would be a need for a bottle in the equation - best not to complicate things with bottles. If the medela bottle requires the same action as breastfeeding then if she can suck on the bottle she can surely suck on the breast, so no advantage. Talk to the drs about how long they will want her to fast before the surgery. For breastmilk which is regarded as a clear fluid it should be a minimal time. You may want to express to keep up your supply and to keep yourself comfortable during the time she is fasting and in surgery. it is a worrying time, but I am sure breastfeeding will resume normally after the procedure

**Junglemum** · July 18th, 2011, 01:27 PM

She only has to fast for two hours barb, and she's first on the list. I don't think the time it will take will pose an issue with bf'ing, she sleeps 6 hours sometimes without an issue for me. I guess I was just concerned she would be too sleepy to feed afterwards. I know I am totally zonked after a ga.

Hearing that your little one woke up wanting a feed pakrak makes me feel better :-)

Thanks PZ, I'm hoping I don't need I express, in almost 4 years of bf'ing I've managed to avoid it. The two times I tried I failed miserably! But if I do I'll give you a buzz. X

**Miss.September** · July 18th, 2011, 01:54 PM

Hearing that your little one woke up wanting a feed pakrak makes me feel better :-)

She woke up screaming - recovery was at the opposite end of the hospital from where we were and the nurses tried to soothe her with a little bit of water and she absolutely refused to take it. When I got in there a few minutes later, she latched straight on. It was clearly all she wanted.

The nurses tried to give her water out of a bottle mind you, so you might want to make it clear that they aren't to try bottle feeding if you don't want that - it was okay for us because I had expressed and bottle fed on occasion so she was used to it. We weren't at RCH, so not sure if that will make a difference. Good luck