Question:
Has anyone been able to continue breastfeeding after surgery?

I am a single mommy and I wanted to know if I should wean up to the surgery date. I don't want any of the drugs to pass through the milk to my son. He is 10 months old. Also, can anyone give me tips on caring for your baby when you are still healing? I'm having an open RNY & I know the healing time is longer. Please tell me how any of you coped with your children post-op. Thanks for any input! One more thing~if you could do it again, what items would you have brought to the hospital? Thanks!~Crystal and baby Jayden    — Crystal T. (posted on December 23, 2001)

December 23, 2001
I had my surgery when my youngest son was 13 months old. It was hard on both of us. He had never been away from me up until the time of my surgery. I was in the hospital for 8 days. He was not happy about me being gone. It was very hard when he didn't want me to hold him, when I got back. I cried. I had a lap procedure, and it was painful to hold him to breastfeed after surgery. It was doable on the right side, but not on my left side for about 5 weeks. My doctor said that it was ok to breastfeed with pain meds. I was on Vicoden. I tried to take the meds at times when he wouldn't be eating. I would never give up breastfeeding because of surgery. My son naturally weaned at 16 months. I am happy I continued after surgery. It was well worth it. Good luck and please don't let ANYTHING stop you if you want to continue nursing!!!!
   — Jody Diou

December 23, 2001
I think I can give you a little personal input about dealing with small children post-op. I had open RNY on Sept 17th. My daughter turned 4 on the 18th (yes, I missed her birthday :0( ) Anyways, if it wasn't for my wonderful, amazing, fantastic mother and brother, I would have been in deep $&*@. Even though I did have complications and was readmitted back into the hospital...I think this MAY apply to others that were seemingly complication free. 1st off. No picking them up... Which for a 10 month old, could be very hard. Guilt... They need you and all you can do is sit there while everyone else takes care of them. Lack of sleep... Unless someone wakes up with them, you're going to have to and that could be hard. Pain...this could cause crankiness. It did me! Overall, if you have family that is willing to take over most of the duty work for about a week, you're going to do fine. I'd say by 2 weeks post-op you should almost be pain free. Maybe tired and week, but at least you're incision would almost be healed. I was an angel for a great girl who has 2 boys. Her youngest was 14 months old and he wasn't weaned. It was very hard on him; but harder on her! She called me crying because she couldn't do the dishes, laundry, tuck her kids in, breast feed. But the worst was the Guilt. This too passed and it will for you to. Just make sure you have someone to rely on. And since I've seen you post on the message board, I'm sure your father would be ideal! Best of luck on your surgery.
   — Kristin R.

December 23, 2001
Julia Moseley started an OSSG spinoff group to address this very topic! I am 12 weeks post-op and I am still nursing my 23-month old. Come join us and let's talk! http://groups.yahoo.com/group/OSSG-breastfeeding/
   — Felissa L.