Mom's that had gallbladder removed (or any surgery) while BFing, please come in!

I had gallstone attacks my whole pregnancy, and now that DD has arrived, it's time to get it removed. But I am BFing my one month old and wanted to BF for one year.

I was told I would have to pump & dump for 3 days until the anethesia (sp?) leaves my system. Where you told the same or different?

Also, I had heard that the anethesia could hurt your milk supply...did you experience a dip in your supply at all?

TIA

Re: Mom's that had gallbladder removed (or any surgery) while BFing, please come in!

my best friend had the surgery a few weeks ago and she had to pump and dump, and she didnt notice a dip in her supply

good luck!

Re: Mom's that had gallbladder removed (or any surgery) while BFing, please come in!

I had my gall bladder removed 1 year after I had DS so I chose to stop nursing then. Before making that decision, I was told not to nurse for 4 days by the ped and the anesthesiologist, not 3. I did not notice a drop in supply for about a week and then I began to dry up as planned. I hope you feel better soon.

Re: Mom's that had gallbladder removed (or any surgery) while BFing, please come in!

I had my gall bladder removed when DS was 10 months old and I was still BFing 3x a day. I told them no morphine, and I was told that codeine was "safe" but I also pumped and dumped for 24 hours and DS just drank water that day because he was eating regular food by that age. Good luck!

Re: Mom's that had gallbladder removed (or any surgery) while BFing, please come in!

Thanks everyone. I already have enough frozen to feed her for the 3 days I have to pump & dump. I'm just really concerned the medications will affect my supply.

Anyone else have any experiences?

Re: Mom's that had gallbladder removed (or any surgery) while BFing, please come in!

Re: Mom's that had gallbladder removed (or any surgery) while BFing, please come in!

I just had mine removed on Sept 3rd. I am and was EBF at the time.

I was told by my Ped to pump when I came out of recovery, dump that and then I could BF.

The anesthesiologist and two lactation aides I spoke to said if I was up to it I could BF in recovery.

What I did was pumped and dumped in recovery and once more when I got home.

DS was 2 months at the time and he did very well with the bottle and went back to the breast with little problems.

I never had an issue with my supply dipping at all.

Make sure you tell them you are breastfeeding. Tell every single person you talk to at the hospital. I had told a nurse and she said she was going to put it on my chart. Well I saw 3 other drs that day while waiting to go into surgery and none of them ever saw that note. So I had to keep telling them and asking them what they were giving me and how it would effect my milk. Im sure I was annoying them but whatever lol.

Recovery was pretty smooth. The pain wasn't bad at all. They gave me percoset for pain but I took extra strenght tylenol. I was told percoset was fine to take while BF. I took it but before my surgery for the gall bladder pains. I had no trouble caring for DS. I felt fine about 3-4 days after the surgery. Its going to be a month and I feel fantastic now.

ETA: The percoset had no effect on my milk or my DS. They also gave me a script for Vicotin but I never took it.

They put me on antibiotics after the surgery because my gall bladder was severly infected. It was safe for BF. It did change the way my milk tasted a bit but that was all the side effects I had in regards to BF.

Message edited 10/1/2010 2:13:42 PM.

Re: Mom's that had gallbladder removed (or any surgery) while BFing, please come in!

I didn't have that surgery, but have had anesthesia and other meds and was told 24 hours of pumping and dumping. i would do what your doc says, because the amount and specific type may vary. if you pump and dump as often as you normally BF, your supply should not change. i have had days where my supply dips because i cant pump as often as i like (during work), but it goes right back up in a day or two by pumping and nursing more often.