Rant: Breastfeeding is so dehydrating!

I don't know if anyone else is breastfeeding immediately post-op, but I feel like the second I get any fluid in me my baby sucks it right out! I am so grateful to be continuing my breastfeeding relationship, but geez.

I'm actually really surprised your surgeon agreed to surgery while you're still breastfeeding. Every other person I've heard from was told that surgery couldn't happen until breastfeeding was finished.

My baby is almost one and eating lots of solid foods. My surgeon never said anything about it. I knew it was possible that I wouldn't be able to breastfeed after surgery, especially because I had to be away from my baby for four days to have surgery, and I was okay with that risk. I pumped every few hours for the whole four days and I made sure to gradually reduce my calories for two weeks before surgery to not shock my system too much - I'm really happy it worked out!

Looking back through your posting history, I see that you were cautioned against this so it's strange to see you ranting about something that you chose. I'm glad your child is not exclusively BFing at least, so the only person you're potentially hurting with your choice is yourself. Hopefully it'll all work out and you'll be able to get the nutrition you need for yourself to be healthy. Work hard to stay hydrated.

I was never cautioned against having VSG by a medical professional. I did have one surgeon (who I did a consult with but didn't end up seeing again) tell me that breastfeeding should not be effected and if anything it will help my weight loss. He saw no reason to be concerned. This is a support group...so I'm venting about something that has been hard for me even though I chose it and am happy with my choice. I found your comment unnecessarily harsh.

I'm just wondering how your calorie, protein and carb intake effects the nutritional value of your breast milk. We really wish that our son could have been breastfeed longer but it wasn't in the cards so we were forced to use formula. I just wonder if the breast is still the best in your case?

At this point, my son is eating so much solid food that I am not worried about him getting calories through breastmilk. The biggest perks of breastfeeding for him are the antibodies in breastmilk ( antigens from the diseases he is exposed to pass to my blood stream through my nipple and I make antibodies specific to those diseases to feed back to him through milk) hydration, and the comfort it brings him.

Since your baby (BTW, so cute!) is eating a lot of solid food at nearly one year old, he (she?) is more than ready to be weaned.

psychotiparrot

The World Health Organization recommends breastfeeding until age two so I'm going to try to soldier on as long as I can :)

When breastfeeding you need to take in a lot of fluids surgery or not.

Not sure where you are in your diet but this maybe a case where protein drinks provide protein and fluid needed.

Good luck