Surgery and nursing

[SMR]

Hello.. I had an unexpected 5 day stint in the hospital last week, with my gallbladder removed and some pancreatitis.. My poor 5 month old baby had to be taken from me and given a sippy cup of formula (she did not like the bottle at all!) I returned home yesterday and this morning started introducing the breast again.. my husband gives her formula first then i finish up with breastmilk, our plan is to gradually over a week or so decrease the formula and hopefully bring my supply back to normal. How long does it usually take? Is there anything I can do to bring more milk on faster?! I'm still in a bit of pain, so I'm not up to pumping constantly yet- any suggestions!? Thanks!

[mamanurse]

Oh mama! to you!!! Take as many painkillers as you need to control the pain and nurse, nurse, nurse. Give her your breast FIRST and the formula second. You may also want to think of giving her the formula through an SNS so you are getting stimulation at the breast while she's feeding. You can also add oatmeal and fenugreek to your diet. Make sure you're staying adequately hydrated and don't even think of trying to do any household chores.

I hope your recovery is speedy!!!

[mamaverdi]

Breastfeed first, then give formula. Or use an SNS...I prefer the LactAid.

Take painkillers....and oatmeal is great too.

Take care, and get lots of help and sleep. And tuck your baby in beside you and just nurse nurse nurse.

mv

[SMR]

okay its 345 am and I am feeling so crappy! My baby is in the other room with her yucky food (it really does taste yucky) and I'm here crying cause I can't do what I'm supposed to be able to do! When she woke up in the night I let her nurse from both sides and after 20-30 minutes I just had to stop.. she was getting frustrated and I was just in pain! From the surgery, the sore nipples from her sucking so hard to get stuff out, and from the horrible feeling of not being able to care for my baby anymore.
Then I find myself wondering why me? why couldn't it have been any of the other people I know - ones who leave the babe over night after a month, ones who never put a boob in a babes mouth... no, it had to be ME when it really matters! oh well, that's no way to think, I just can't help it.

[MaryJaneLouise]

Ah Shannon I hope you feel better soon. It's easy to say why me, I know we have all been there, especially when there are so many others who don't even try. No advice just another

[boobybunny]

You CAN do this honey, things will get better. Your body takes time to heal, and that process is both phyically and emotionally draining. Your self esteeme suffers, you feel at a loss on how to make things better.


Take your pain pills, a stool softener, FENUGREEK, and drink plenty of water.


I have sending you a HUGE hug, I have been there.

Surgery # 1 was while pregnant with kiddo
Surger # 2 was at five months
Surgery # 3 (hysterectomy, 1 ovary removal due to high CA 125 and a history of cycst/tumors, reasons for the other surgeries)

We are 19 months old, and still nursing strong.


pm if you need anything
Amy

[SMR]

Thanks everyone for your kind words! I'm feeling so much better.. the babe is still getting formula, but I do feel like my milk is coming back. I just hope it comes back to the same qty as before so I have no need for formula - I seriously almost broke down at target yesterday buying it.. it seems pathetic- anyone in real life would not understand why this is so hard for me. I'm glad I can vent about it here, where people understand and think breastfeeding is important! I need to get to GNC for some fenugreek... I have some blessed thistle here, so I've been taking that.. perhaps tonight I can run to get some fenugreek, now that i'm a little more energized.. it also helps that I'm getting an appetite again, I"m sure that will make me more milky!

[MCatLvrMom2A&X]

Just remember bm first then formula. Let her nurse as much as possible. I am curious tho why u couldnt nurse her while in the hospital or pump to keep ur supply up?? I know that surgery does not = no breastfeeding. Unless u r on some kind of medication that is not good for bfing.

[SMR]

I had a pump in the hospital but I was in so much pain - I think from the pancreatitis that I didn't pump as much as I should.. same goes for the nursing... plus I was on morphine and other stuff, so I didn't really want that in her system.

She seems to drink a lot of formula at a time.. 4-6 oz... I don't know if I ever had that much breast milk at a time.. what if even when my supply is back to normal she still needs formula to feel satisfied? Does anyone have experience with that? I got some fenugreek last night.. I can tell I have more milk now than a few days ago, so I feel more positive! I'd just love to put that can of formula on the shelf asap! It's such a pain!

[MCatLvrMom2A&X]

I bet u did have that much since she was ebf and growing. I dont think u will have a problem with her not being satisfied without the formula. Just keep reminding urself the sooner off the formula the less potential damage to her diagestive system. Are u puming as much as possible? After each time she nurses and at least every 2 hours during the day and 3 at night? Offer for her to nurse even if she dosnt seem hungry. Any little bit of her sucking directly on the breast helps stimulate production. The more u do this the faster ur supply will come up and the faster u can throw out that formula.

[SMR]

I nurse her at least every two hours.. sometimes more and yesterday for the first time since I got home.. she fell asleep nursing... She sleeps with me too.. so that probably helps.. even though I don't sleep well since the surgery. I'm so impatient, I just want my milk back yesterday! waaaaa!!

[mommyto3girls]

Shannon- You can do it. I had surgery #1 (removal of a cantaloupe sized Abcess from my abdomen) when I was pregnant. Surgery #2 (removal of 2 1/2 feet of intestine, gallbladder, appendix, and tubal) when baby was 7 days old and inthe NICU. I began pumping in the recovery room and even though I was on heavy painkillers and baby was a premie, she was given my pumped milk, so if you still have the milk you pumped form the hospital she can drink it.

I was hospitalized for 7 days (pancreatitis and dehydration) when she was 5 months and for 5 days when she was 8 months (pancreatitis again) she was ebf at both stays. My supply did take a hit, but we came out of it though I am taking Domperidone for low supply overall (my chron's seems to affect my supply)

My suggestion is to nurse her first, then offer the formula to finish what she needs. Make sure you are using a very slow flow nipple. When I first went back to work, Sage would guzzle down tons and tons of ebm from the bottle because she was missing the extended sucking of nursing. Once she found her thumb it wasn't an issue and she quit drinking so much. Be sure your daughter is getting her sucking needs from you, not trying to satisfy them with the bottle. Then, everytime she nurses follow it up with 10-20 minutes of double pumping. Make sure you pump at least every 4 hours at night also (after about 5-7 days of this I started skipping a pumping since Sage already slept through the night)

You can do this, and remember, Demerol, percocet, vicoden, dilauded, etc. are all okay for your baby. They may make her a bit sleepy, but they will not damage her as long as you follow the dosing your doctor gave you.