Printed from: Anaesthesia & Sedation for Breastfeeding Parents https://www.breastfeeding-anaesthesia.info/ 2 • If possible, you can consider delaying non-urgent surgery until after you have finished breastfeeding (although this is usually not possible or required) • Keep well hydrated - continue eating and drinking until the time you have been told do stop. If you are waiting a long time for your procedure while nil by mouth (not eating/drinking) ask if you have some intravenous fluids or continue drinking clear fluids. • Breastfeed as close as possible to the start of your procedure or surgery • If you are having a long operation or major surgery it may be useful to express and store milk prior to the day of surgery so that someone can feed your baby while you are in surgery. You may also find it helpful to be seen by a lactation consultant if possible. • If your baby was born prematurely or has a history of apnoeas (pauses in breathing) discuss this with your doctor - expressing before surgery for these babies may be useful. • Ensure someone is available to care for your baby or child while you are in surgery and to help after the procedure. • Some surgeries may be able to be done under regional anaesthesia (see above) - discuss this with your anaesthetist. After the Procedure • The general rule is that: if you are awake enough to hold your baby you are awake enough to breastfeed • Try and have someone bring your baby to you as soon as possible after the procedure so you can breastfeed them once you are awake. If this is not possible you may wish to pump or express once awake. • A responsible adult should stay with you during this time to help ensure the safety of your baby or child. This is especially important if you are needing large doses of pain relief after your surgery. • If you have a premature baby or baby with a history of apnoeas (as above) you may consider expressing and giving the milk when the baby is older or mixing the milk with milk expressed before surgery to reduce the amount of sedating medications in it. • Care should be taken with co-sleeping following sedation and anaesthesia as you may not wake as usual in the night. For brief procedures not requiring much pain relief afterwards it is recommended that you avoid co-sleeping for the first night after the procedure. For longer operations or surgery requiring large doses of pain relief you should discuss this with the doctors caring for you. Medications & Breastfeeding Please note, this is general advice for most patients - for any specific information please discuss with the doctors caring for you.
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