percoset and surgery while nursing?

[kimkim]

forgive brevity-i broke my finger on my dominant hand on the same day dd, 8.5 mo was diagnosed w ear infection.

they gave me percs and im scheduled to have surgery on fri for a screw to be put in.

aanyone have experience nursing with percoset? we ebf and cosleep. shes on antibiotics now as well. im trying not to freak about surgery--i dont like being knocked out or being away from my babe...will any of this affect my milk? any advice on helping it go smoothly? she doesnt do bottles and i havent pumped. 

[PatioGardener]

Kellymom has great info about nursing and surgery.

Percoset is L3, and Hale says to watch infant for sedation. I would be less worried about nursing my 8.5 month old than my newborn in that situation. I would be careful with co-sleeping though, if I were taking an opiod pain medication in the evening. I'd find a safe place beside the bed for my baby I think.

Kellymom also says "General anesthesia should not affect breastfeeding. You can safely nurse once you are awake and alert enough to hold your baby."

Good luck with your surgery!

[konayossie]

Percoset is often prescribed for c/s moms. I took it the first two weeks of ds's life. He slept a lot (for him) but not sedation-levels.

[Thandiwe]

I had to have oral surgery last summer while I had a 6 month old.  Because I don't know the exact meds you will have for gen anesth, I cannot speak *exactly* to that, but I can say this: each of the meds they would be using for gen anesth never went above an L3 in Hale's guide.  I opted for local only, but it was reassuring knowing the meds were lower levels.  I agree about finding alternate sleeping arrangements, though.

Also, you could call the hospital/doctor and get a list of each med they will be using for anesthesia.  Then you can take that list and research each med on your own through Dr. Hale's book and KellyMom.  That's what I did last summer, and I was glad I did.

Good luck, and well wishes for a speedy recovery!!

[Subhuti]

I had my gall bladder out when my daughter was 6 months.  At first the drs told me I'd have to stop breastfeeding etc.  because of the anesthesia, but when I actually spoke to a lactation expert and the anesthesiologist  -- they both said it would be fine.  The meds they use on you during surgery are especially short acting.  They are broken down in the body.  As soon as you are alert enough to stand up, you can nurse.  At least that was what they told me, verify that with your anesthesiologist who I would ask to meet with on a day prior to your surgery because of your special concerns.  They do that all the time.

The original drs told me I would have to pump and dump for a day (crazy) and I had never pumped before (never needed to).  It turned out that, according to the anesthesiolgist, the meds don't actually make it to the breastmilk they break down so quickly (that is why they have to be administered constantly thru the surgery... they are very short acting and are, according to him, broken down in the stomach).

I also used percocet after my c-section for a few weeks with absolutely no issue.  

gl!

[Subhuti]

Oh, btw, advice -- bring your baby to the hospital -- they can wait in the waiting room, and ask them to bring her in right before surgery (and do one last nurse right before they bring you in for the proceedure!) 

My husband and my daughter played in my room (til I had a roommate come in) in the pre-op rooms, then were in the family ambulatory surgery waiting area during the surgery, then came in once I felt ready to nurse --- like my I felt like my usual self, not doped -- I forget how long that was but it wasn't long after I woke up. 

That way your daughter won't have much time away from you ... and your breasts!

[hildare]

you've gotten good advice.  i second konayaussie.. i was prescribed percoset for after my c birth (but didn't take it). 

i had to have minor surgery in December.  i told the anasthesia doc that i was breastfeeding and i got assurance from multiple places, i even got the hospital to bring the lactation nurse to reassure me about the anesthesia being non harmful to the babe.  i was told that it processes very quickly in your body, and you can nurse very soon after if not immediately.  i also would suggest asking whether toradol is an option for pain managment-- that's all i have used for both the c birth and the surgery in dec.  it helped and wasn't narcotic (which i hate).  even with the percoset though, you will be fine.. if you're still uncomfortable, you should do like i did and make every person you encounter in hospital reassure you ;) et

eta:  that's weird, i looked up the toradol to check the spelling and saw that it wasn't recommended for breastfeeding.. (i only checked one source though) which is strange b/c i have gotten that particular drug several times and was told that it was pretty safe for b/f.  double check if you do end up asking for that. 

eta a second time: kellymom suggests toredol is an l2, while percoset is an l3, so i feel better at least.

[KempsMama]

I had my gall bladder removed when my youngest was 4 months.  I pumped for during the surgery, my bestie cared for him until I was all settled in a room post op , and he spent the night with me in the hospital.  I was taking percocet both before and after the surgery. (I  had a stone blocking the common bile duct as well, and was in a severe amount of pain-worse than the 56 hours I was in labor for sure.).  DS2 is a crummy sleeper, and I saw no improvement while I was taking the pain meds, so I don't think they were sedating him. 

[kimkim]

Thanks for the support! I had my consultation today and I can't meet the anesthesiologist until before the surgery so ill just print out kellymoms list. It will be general anesthesia ...good to know it breaks down quickly. She's never had a bottle and barely eats solids so I was worried about this pump and dump business. I guess I just need to hope she'll nurse before the surgery! Shes so easily distracted ...but it should only be 2 hours and she'll be with dh. Now I need to get over my fears of being knocked out! I feell Like I'm going to throw up and faint when I think about the procedure.

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[PatioGardener]

I have to leave my baby (12 months) for about 5 hours, once a week. I find that if he won't nurse just before hand I HAVE to pump, or I will explode before those 5 hours are up. If you can't nurse just before surgery you may want to pump just before hand for your own comfort/health!  If you can't pump, have you tried hand expressing? (Obviously baby nursing would be best, but they just don't always cooperate!)

Nursing again as soon as you feel up to it (usually they say as soon as you can hold baby) will help too. Good luck!

[kimkim]

Update
Everything went fine except now I have a sinus infection! But my finger is healing well. I nursed her 30 minutes before surgery then borrowed maternity department 's pump (only to get a call that evening that I bought the parts. Argh). But I pumped about 3oz which dh gave her out of a cup and she happily drank it and took a little nap. When i came back I pumped a few oz to dump then nursed her to her hearts content. Btw I'm still on percoset and she has no worrying symptoms. In fact she's happy and alert and driving dh crazy!

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[PatioGardener]

Super news - thanks for reporting back! (Sorry about the sinus infection!)

Glad to hear that you and baby are doing OK.

If you are on antibiotics after the surgery, you may get thrush (I did ) so be on the look out for symptoms so you can nip it in the bud if needs be.