Surgical operation and breastfeeding
If we are nursing mothers, any event that involves a more or less long separation of our children is a source of much stress. If in addition the event is that we are in need of undergoing a surgical operation nerves and anxiety can generate so many doubts and fears that we even decide to postpone th
If we are nursing mothers, any event that involves a more or less long separation of our children is a source of much stress.
If in addition the event is that we are in need of undergoing a surgical operation nerves and anxiety can generate so many doubts and fears that we even decide to postpone the operation until we stop breastfeeding our child.
However, this is not necessary: let's throw a little light on the subject so you can make the best decisions. We tell you what to do to continue breastfeeding in case of surgery.
Continue breastfeeding after a surgical operation
The first good news is that you only have to be separated from your child for the duration of the operation, this is important. If we are talking about a small baby, younger than 6 months, you probably need some milk during the time you are in the operating room.
Maybe you can draw milk a few days before and leave it to the person who will take care of it, or you can simply take formula milk. You can be calm, even if you have never taken anything other than your chest will know how to take from the bottle, cup or syringe that your caregiver offers you. He will not go hungry while having milk and a loving hand that offers it to him.
Immediately after the operation, as soon as you are awake and feel able to do so, you can offer your baby breast. There are many anesthetics, antibiotics or pain relievers totally safe and compatible with breastfeeding. It is also a duty of the hospital to provide you with the adequate comfort so that you can breastfeed your baby while you need to be admitted.
Some hospitals are reluctant to let a baby or toddler spend the day or night in the hospital because their mother is admitted. Try to negotiate before, the solution in many cases is to enter the obstetrics or pediatrics plant en, instead of the surgery plant, and so there will be no problem in a child is also in the plant with his mother.Sometimes hospital staff, anesthetists, surgeons or nurses may raise questions or resistance regarding breastfeeding and medications. However, think that immediately after a cesarean section any woman can breastfeed her baby, and if she has to take antibiotics or analgesics she can take them while breastfeeding.
So, as a rule, these resistances are usually due to comfort or ignorance. The scientific reality is that
you can breastfeed as soon as you wake up from anesthesia, and that most anesthetics, painkillers and antibiotics are safe.
