Enough fluids/calories after surgery to breastfeed???

I have a big question for anyone who was revised (or had their original wls) while they were still breastfeeding.  I'm wondering if I'm going to be able to get enough fluid and calories (but mostly fluid) in to maintain a decent amount of breastmilk.  My daughter is 6 months old and I could easily wean her if I need to, but I'd rather not.  I'm sure I'll be pumped full of fluid while I'm in the hospital, but not sure if I'll be able to get enough in the first couple weeks after I leave.  btw, I'm going in to have a slip fixed but the doc might revise me to a sleeve instead.  I'll know what he did after surgery!  Please note that I posted this FIRST in the revision forum and someone suggested I post here.  I think my best chances would come from them, but it doesn't hurt to cross post!

I had plastics when my daughter was 18 months old and pumped and dumped. By day 4 I was released from the hospital and nursed her a few times in incredible pain and gave up. If it is important to you to still breastfeed then I would put off the surgery. The safer pain medications didn't touch my pain, I ended up taking the not as safe for nursing so I had to stop.

Plastics were much more painful then WLS though. Good luck!

My biggest concern is if I'll be able to get in enough fluids to produce my regular supply of milk for her.  The lactation consultants where she was born told me there is no need for me to pump and dump - the anesthesia will be long gone by the time I nurse her; although I may not FEEL like nursing so I'm bringing the pump anyway.  I can't put off the surgery.  It's not a choice.  I have a major slip and need to have it fixed or revised.  I just remember only being able to drink an ounce or two at a time every few hours for the first couple of weeks.  This may just need to be something I play by ear.

I see what you are saying now. Sorry about that. When I needed more fluids I played the commercial game. 2 oz every commercial break. It was hard but that is how I got my fluids in as a new post op. It came out to about 12 oz an hour. I am of the opinion that any breastmilk is better then none but you have to do what is right for you and your situation. I hope they can fix your band!

Oh that's okay LOL  Hmmm, I'll have to remember that trick! 

I had surgery and had twins, I didn't pump and dump I breastfeed both twins (no bottle) for over two years ( they stopped taking the breast almost 2 weeks ago), and my twins will be 3 in Nov. , so I will tell you to just try everyone is different, but you can do it. 

Don't have babies so I haven't BF.

You should talk to some VSGers and ask how it was their first couple of weeks.  I think they can drink and eat very, very little.

When I was banded it was 1 weeks clear, 1 week full liquids, 2 weeks mushies.  That first week I remember that I couldn't even get in all of my liquids and etc.  Intaking was a very slow go for me.  I too probably was scared straight.  I wanted my stomach to heal with my band in the right place.  God knows what all the extra stomach churning does when you eat too early out.  I didn't want to take that chance. 

Now with a VSG you'd want your sutures to heal just right wouldn't you.  In the long term your health is more important to your baby.  How would you take care of him/her otherwise?  Your body is definately going to lack essentials or eventually deplete from a new surgery and breast feeding.  FYI, A revision is just like getting re-banded.

Can you store some milk?

Good Luck,
Leila

Leila,

Yeah, I hear the swelling from the sleeve is even more than the band; I guess because the stomach size is so small plus all the sutures.  I healed very well from my band and was okay getting in my liquids as required then, but wasn't breastfeeding at the time.  I figure that if I can't get in enough to produce the milk, then I'll just wean her off.  She already gets a bottle of formula a day (for the vitamin D in it) so I know she's not allergic and does fine on it.  And yep, I want my sutures to heal right and I want the best for both me and my girl.  I'll of course talk to the surgeon and anesthesiologist the day of surgery so everyone knows what's going on.  I'm taking my pump with me so I can pump if necessary.  The lactation consultant said I may not even feel like nursing right away anyhow. 

I don't know if with your slip you are unfilled and "wide open" or if your slip makes you tight.  If you are open, maybe load up on very nutritional foods and supplements.  Maybe that could take you through the first couple of weeks with BF.  I hope so, it feels so sad  to have to consider weaning your baby when you both are not ready. 

Well probably the best advice is to get all the info you can and then just let go and play it by ear.  Stress never makes anything better.

When is your revision?

Oh, I am WIDE OPEN!  They unfilled me and it's freakin scary!  I've been like this for three weeks so needless to say I've gained some weight and not very happy about it.  No restriction whatsoever and everything goes down.  I've been eating very well and I guess the best thing for me to do is load up on plenty of water between now and surgery which is Thursday 6/11.  Not sure if it's going to end up a revision or not.  Dr. S is going to try to pull the stomach back down and resuture, but he said if he can't then he'll resection the stomach.  BUT the way he was talking about insurance (won't pay for a revision unless he's already in there trying to fix a medically necessary problem) he will likely "find" a problem and need to do the sleeve.