Breastfeeding/colonoscopy

[maybe baby]

Has anyone been breastfeeding when having one of these? has it possible? Did you express??

TIA

[Muppity]

I have had a colonoscopy but wasn't BF.

You can eat during the three day prep (I'm pretty sure it was 3 days - was a while ago now) but it has to be incredibly booring things like clear soups. So you probably won't be putting a lot of energy into your milk. Also, the actual prep that they give you (the drugs that you take beofrehand) may pass into the milk - I'm not sure - maybe check with your Dr.

If I were in your stiuation I would try expressing and freezing extra milk for the few weesk before so that you can to top up feeds in the few days when you aren't eating properly and would be checking about bfing with the drugs that you are given.

Hope that they give you the all clear afterwards.

As an aside, I felt great for the few weeks following mine - it was like the ultimate detox - or at least that is what I was telling myself as a way of finding an upside.

[Kmn]

Lots of us have BF with caesareans and the associated medication - which is likely to be much stronger than that for a colonoscopy. Talk to one of the BF pharmacy advice lines - there's a breastfeeding and medications sticky post. Stocking up with EBM is probably a good idea anyway though.

[maybe baby]

thanks all. I have quite a lot of EBM saved and will put in some calls.

[Mumma2three]

Can you please let me know what you find out MB, I am due for a colonoscopy soon....xo

[Muppity]

Lots of us have BF with caesareans and the associated medication - which is likely to be much stronger than that for a colonoscopy.

It isn't the pain medication that I would be worried about. The prep drugs that they give you before the procedure effectively scour out your entire intestinal tract and send you racing to the loo about a million times as they come out the other end - the last thing you want is any of it passing to your bub and them getting the same effect.

[Kmn]

That's true!

[Barb Glare]

Hi,

I think this is one where you need to speak to your health care providers. Let them know that you are breastfeeding, and that it's important to you. The laxatives do not pass into the breastmilk, and there is no issue with the light anaesthetic.
It sounds like the prep for colonoscopy makes mothering difficult - there is the frequent and sudden need to drop everything and go to the toilet. If you proceed with it at this point you may need some-one around you to help out. It would be important to keep breastfeeding where possible. Feeding EBM is an option, but if your breasts become full and engorged they will limit the amount of milk they may - it's probably just as easy to feed the baby as to express. Thankfully, you don't need to eat or drink much to make milk just fine. But you may need support for yourself.

[paradise lost]

I haven't had this procedure but i wanted to chime in that when DD was 7 weeks old XP and i broke up (well, we had a week of back and forth and then decided it was over when she was 8weeks old) and during that week i had 4 consecutive days when i ate nothing. And i mean absolutely nothing. I drank about 1 or 2 litres of water a day (i basically ate and drank when i was hungry and thirsty but i was so distressed by it all i couldn't eat, i just cried all day) but i didn't eat at all. Finally on the 5th day i had some toast and my appetite kicked in hard and i was able to eat normally after that. During that time DD fed in her regular way and i had plenty of milk. In fact i was only thirsty when i fed her so goodness knows what would have happened to me if i'd not been BFing, it was a really hard week.

So though i'd check out the drugs, i wouldn't be overly concerned with having to have a few days of liquids/clear soups as regards your milk supply.

Bx

[maybe baby]

thought I would update you all - went through it all yesterday and today and fine. All clear and baby B survived my milk without any incident. Most of the prep was done after he was asleep so that worked fine. Just had one feed of EBM when I was at the hospital.....

[paradise lost]

That's great news maybe baby. I hope it wasn't too uncomfortable and your results are great/clear.

Bx

[maybe baby]

yes, results all good and baby did not seem to suffer any consequences from the gross prep!