Does Anyone Know? (baby mentioned)

I am nursing my almost one year old baby and I am wondering if I have to wean before my surgery? My surgery date is March 1st. The doctor said it needs to be done sooner rather than later since there is a possibility of cancer.

I am only 30 and I am wasn't planning on having anymore children, but I am really struggling with all of this and the possibility of having to wean just feels like too much for me. Especially since this will definitely be my last baby.

I am kinda hoping if I pump now I can have a supply for my husband to feed my son while I am in the hospital and I can pump and dump while I am there. I am not sure anyone knows the answer, but any input would be greatly appreciated.

Go ahead and give your doctors office a call and talk to the nurse about it....they need to know so they can give you drugs that won't hurt your baby. Then after you talk with them you can rest easier. Call the office and get the straight scoop on the situation!! Good luck to yea!! Big hugs!!!

I would talk to someone from the La Leche League. They will know what drugs will really cross over to breast milk and be able to help you know what to do.

What type of surgery are you having? Abdominal? Vaginal? Laproscopic? That may make a difference too. I b/f my two and I know it takes a lot out of you. This is truly major surgery and you will need to rest. Is there anyway to pump extra milk (you will need to build your supply up some) to have to continue giving to your baby via bottle? So at least it takes off the pressure on you that you are still giving your baby breastmilk. I know losing that closeness is heartbreaking. My kids weaned on their own and it was still bittersweet. But this is your own health and you need to take care of you.

I am supposed to be having a LAVH and may or may not be losing one or both ovaries.

I guess if nothing else I could pump and give him a bottle but I figure that isn't what I prefer to do if I don't have to.

Thanks for your input ladies.

((pamradmacher))

You really need to talk to your doctor and your baby's doctor. Very likely, you will not be able to nurse your baby for several hours following your surgery--not necessarily because of pain, but because the milk will be harmful for your baby.

I had to have oral surgery when my oldest son was six weeks old. I had to pump and throw away milk for the first 6 hours because the drugs and anesthesia rendered that milk harmful for my baby.

Additionally, if you plan to continue breast feeding following your surgery, it will affect the medications give to you during recovery. Many pain medications can be secreted through your breast milk besides the other medications sometimes given following a hysterecomy--blood thinners, sleeping meds, nausea meds, and more.

So please, talk to your doctor and your baby's doctor prior to surgery so that you will know what is safe for both of you.

I pumped milk prior to surgery so my baby had milk before, during, and after my oral surgery. I also found it helpful to have someone else give him a bottle since he expected something different from me!

Here is an article we have regarding nursing after a hysterectomy:
https://www.hystersisters.com/vb2/article_97142.htm.

Thank you so much Weiser!! That is very helpful. The idea of being forced to wean while going through all of this makes me cry, so now i have hope. I truly appreciate your help.