just had surgery...help

[jessglow]

First time poster. I just got home from gallbladder surgery and pumped my milk after not nursing or pumping for six hours and only got 1 ounce, I pumped two hours later and only got half an ounce!! I usually get about 7 to 8 ounces after six hours. I am really scared about my supply not coming back. All the hospital staff were aware I was breastfeeding and I was instructed to pump and dump for 24 hours. I have a freezer full of milk and my son takes a bottle so he is okay for the 24 hours. My son is six months old.

So I know to eat oatmeal, drink water, pump every 2 to 3 hours. Any other tips? I have some fenugreek and domperidone, but I haven't needed to take them since my son was 4 months. Please let me know any ideas especially mom who have BTDT.

Thanks,
Jessica

[birthgreeter]

When my youngest daughter was just 5 weeks old, I had mine out, the old fahsioned way. I have a scar from just under my left breast slanted across my abd. to above where my liver is. anyway, I was in hospital for a week recovering. My daughter could not nurse for over a week. I pumped every day as often as I could, and at the end of the week, could only get out drops. I worried, but did not need to. Our bodies are so perfect in design, after nursing about one week, my milk supply was back up to the way it was before the surgery. I had special friends from church, (about 3 women) who came to my baby while I was in the hospital, and nursed her. One woman a day, just one time a day so she would not forget how to nurse. (a wet nurse) many people think that is real weird, but I was truely blessed by their gift. So was my daughter. (I knew they had no disease) I am not saying for ou to do that, but just be encouraged that your milk supply can be back to its top! Your body has a perfect design! I did not take any thing special, but my baby was younger. Have you started any foods? If not, then nurse nurse nurse, and he will make your body build back up the supply. You will have a few long days....(I had to supplement for a while, but always after nursing and only a little bit for her)
Goats rue tea, or infusion, tincture, fennel, dill, fenugreek and milk thistle are the best for building up your milk supply. (and lots of fluids!)
best of luck!

[birthgreeter]

P.S. my dd is now going to be 18 years old in a few months. When I say hey honey, there is one of those lovely women...she does this:
but is actually thankful when she thinks about it!

[jessglow]

Thanks for the quick response.

He's not on solids yet as he is actually 4 days from six months, but I plan to start soon. I have plenty of frozen milk so I can supplement for a while depending on how much. Again, thanks for the response. I just pumped again and got one and half ounce so things are looking up.

[mommaC]

More milk!!

Sorry to hear about your dilemma!! Don't drink any papaya juice, it will dry out what you have. Try mothering tea, available at health food stores, OR go to motherlove.com they have some great tinctures called more milk two, and a FAQ on low milk and herbs to avoid. THE BEST ADVICE I CAN GIVE IS:: Try to Relax and NOT stress about it! Easier said than done, but your breasts will respond to your babies suckling and your pumping!! After he has eaten from your stored milk, try letting him suckle to stimulate the flow. PS you will need probiotics to help you recover from the antibiotics they gave you!!! Vitamin C would help you recover better!!

[eirual]

Why can't you nurse??

Is there more behind it than the anesthesia??

[gen_here]

You shouldn't need to pump and dump - I had mine out at 3.5 months PP, I looked up every med that they gave me (I had them write them all out). I couldn't find 2 of them and I gave the LC a call. She came up, and before looking at my list she lifted my gown and latched my son on. She said as soon as I felt comfortable to nurse, I was ready to nurse.

There's a story on kellymom.com about a mom who had her gallbladder out right about the same time as me... same thing.

I fired my first surgeon because, even though I came in with tons of research, he told me, "I won't ask you what you're going to do, but if you kill your baby, don't blame me." Sorry, I'm not funding the yacht for that jerk! I filed a complaint against him with anyone who would listen at the hospital and went with one of his partners instead.

I had NO problems with my son after the surgery. The only thing I did was put those newborn mits or socks back on his hands when he was in bed with me so that he wouldn't pick/scratch the incision sites.

Go ahead and feed your baby, mama!

[gen_here]

Here you go, mama - the link I mentioned...

http://www.kellymom.com/health/illne...surgery01.html

One other note - if you are cosleeping, you might want to be careful of how close to bedtime you are taking your pain killers (if you are) - they can alter your state of awareness, making for unsafe cosleeping. Try to avoid the nighttime dose or else use a cosleeper/sidecarred crib or something if you will be on the strong meds at night.

[jessglow]

Thanks for link and the replies.

I got the spiel from the anesthesiologist to wait the 24 hours in order make sure all the anesthesia was out of my system. I guess I took him for his word and was just following directions. I should know better by now to try and be a little more informed about breastfeeding. I'm going to go ahead and start nursing now; it's been eleven hours.

BTW, I just pumped four ounces before logging on so it appears my supply is coming back. Thanks again for all the help.

[bri276]

it was probably because of all the stress on your body. I'm glad you're getting more now!

[timneh_mom]

I know this is info after the fact, but moms who have c-sections after general anesthesia can nurse as soon as they are awake enough. The anesthesiologist should know how fast those drugs leave your system. It's just a shame that doctors find it easier to say "pump and dump" rather than educate themselves a little better - I hope someday that only becomes a solution for the most dangerous of medications. (That list is really pretty small.)

I am happy to hear your supply is better already, since your babe is young still, your body will probably very quickly respond to an increase in nursing/pumping... and I hope you are feeling better soon too!!

[Ammaarah]

Originally Posted by jessglow

Thanks for link and the replies.

I got the spiel from the anesthesiologist to wait the 24 hours in order make sure all the anesthesia was out of my system. I guess I took him for his word and was just following directions. I should know better by now to try and be a little more informed about breastfeeding. I'm going to go ahead and start nursing now; it's been eleven hours.

BTW, I just pumped four ounces before logging on so it appears my supply is coming back. Thanks again for all the help.

Whew! Thank goodness!

I love the threads that start out scary or sad and by the time I've scrolled down to the reply box, everything is getting better!

By the way Mama, you are a super pumper...Kellymom says average output is between .5 and 2 ounces from both sides combined!

[eirual]

This may be pointless now, but just for the record, shortly after DS's birth I went under general anestetic (big fat waste of everyone's time....talk about needing to have looked into things) and when I asked the Dr. if it would be safe to nurse he said that "it's hospital policy to recomend waiting 24hrs, however at Sick Kids they don't have that policy and they say it's safe to nurse right away, so...." (sick kids is a popular and reputable hospital in Toronto) so basically he was saying go ahead in a way that covered his own tail.

I'm gald to hear that you will be able to nurse though!