I need surgery 6 weeks after birth

[PGNPORTLAND]

I found out recently I have to have surgery 6 weeks after my baby is born. Long story short; I have a big cyst on my ovary and have had first, second, and third opinions - all say it must come out and be examined for the good of my health and future fertility. It must come out within 6 weeks of baby's birth (after uterus shrinks back to normal) in order to be fully covered by my health insurance. This is non negotiable - I could not afford to even pay for part of this surgery.

#1 I am sad sad sad that I will have to leave my baby for even a day this soon. It is supposedly an "easy" surgery - Laproscopy (belly button) but will require anethesia.

#2 What to do about breastfeeding? I definetly am planning on breastfeeding. can you breastfeed right after anethesia? Is there a certain type of anethesia I can ask about? Should I plan on pumping before hand?

#3 I am mad that I have to deal with this. This is my first baby and she and her well being is all I want to think about.

Thanks for letting me vent. Anyone else ever had to have a surgery this close to your baby's birth?

[zippymama]

Hi Mama,
Sorry to hear about your surgery....as if you don't have enough on your plate with a little one already! I had colon surgery about 1 1/2 weeks after my daughter was born (complications from a nasty tear) that required general anesthesia. I worked with my pediatrician, the anesthesiologist and mostly some very pro-breastfeeding nurses at the hospital to make sure the anesthesia protocol was compatable with breastfeeding. Just to be doubly sure I pumped before surgery as well. A good La Leche Leader might be helpful too. They have great resources when it comes to bf-friendly medications. Good luck and take care of yourself! Your baby needs a healthy happy mama. :)

[~lioneyes~]

I am so sorry you have to deal with that so soon after your baby is born. I think it is good though, that you are not messing around with your health. This is my first baby too, but the ideas mentioned above sounded really good. Just try not to stress about it, and have a healthy remainder of your pregnancy.

[Boobiemama]

I would definietely contact a La Leche League leader before your baby is born, tell her your situation, and she can give you the info you need to make a decision regarding anathesia.
People nurse after a c section with general, so i am sure you can find meds compatible with breastfeeding.

[boycrazy]

LLL has a pamphlet about being sick in the hospital and how to make it work with BF. You can request this from a LLL Leader..

http://www.lalecheleague.org/NB/NBMarApr00p55.html

[3 Little Monkeys]

:Hug So sorry you are having to deal with this right now

[danav]

I'm so sorry you have to face this....the others have given great advice, though. Definitely contact LLL and/or a good lactation consultant to help you work out the logistics of breastfeeding around a surgery.

I couldn't bear the thought of being separated from my first baby, and in fact she virtually never left my sight until she was more than 6 months old! With my second, my worst nightmare came true and we were forced to be separated immediately when they had to transport him to the Children's Hosp NICU down the street from the birth center. They don't allow you to stay in the NICU around the clock (force you to leave during shift changes, if another baby has an emergency, etc) so we were apart a lot those first 4 days. (Not to mention that I had to be apart from my 2 year old DD almost that whole time so I could be at the hospital! :( ) It was excruciating, but we survived. Hopefully you won't have to be apart from your baby for very long - is it outpatient surgery? If you have to stay overnight, can you get DH to bring the baby to stay in the room with you?

If you go ahead and talk to LLL/LC now and get an idea of how you will be able to work this out with breastfeeding, maybe you can feel a bit more relaxed about it and be able to focus on enjoying the rest of your pregnancy and upcoming babymoon. :hugs

[damyen's mommy]

:Hug Just wanted to lend you my support and tell you how sorry I am for you having to deal with this right now.

[Dreaming]

I had my appendix removed when DD was 1 month old (emergency surgery).
They gave me morphine, general anesthetic and demorol. I was sent home with a narcotic but I cannot remember which one...
Anyway, I had no milk pumped and DD had never taken a bottle so I sent DH to the store with her while I was in surgery and he bought soy formula and Avent bottles. DH returned to the hospital and stayed the night with DD in tow (they gave me a double room for the 3 of us). She was only bottle fed that night (my surgery was at 10pm or so) and I breastfed her at 9 am on the next morning. I was "advised" to pump and dump and continue to feed her formula but I chose not to. The adult body throws off anesthesia really quickly.

Also, if you are having a lap it's likely that you will be returning home right after the surgery and won't have to spend the night anywhere strange. I had a lap a few years ago and was sore for 2-3 days. After that, things were all good.
Check Kellymom.com for a list of "safe" meds.

[Sleepymama]

Also try http://www.kellymom.com/health/illness/mom-surgery.html

she has lots of info on BF/meds after surgery. I am also considering surgery after the birth (laproscopy--gall bladder removal) but I'm hoping to make it to 3-4 months (insurance not a factor for me)

The main issue I think would be making sure the baby can take a bottle of pumped milk at that point and making sure that you have enough milk stored, and pumping/feeding RIGHT before and as often as possible afterwards, even if you have to pump and dump so that you don't damage your supply.