Hello,

I just got a call from my LLL co-Leader whose 22 month old daughter needs to have some scans done at children's hospital tommorrow (she just found out today!) that will require a general anesthesia.  The paperwork they gave her has the old guidelines of the baby being able to have clear fluids  including breastmilk 2-4 hours before anesthesia crossed out. They are telling her no breastmilk for 8 hours prior to the procedure (still allowing clear fluids, ie. water and apple juice 2-4 hours prior).  When she asked the reason for the change she was told that new research has shown that "alot" of babies who were breastfed within 8 hours of having general anesthesia were getting bacterial pneumonia.  I searched the archives and didn't come up with anything.  Does anyone know of any research like this?  Her daughter just had a procedure done in December at Johns Hopkins and was allowed to nurse 2-4 hours before.  So this seems to be very recent.  She is trying to contact the anesthesiologist for further information.  Her daughter has major feeding problems, severe reflux and allergies and nurses very frequently (like every hour!) so 8 hours would be extremely difficult for her! 

Thanks for any help you can give us!

Sarah Hand
LLLL, IBCLC
Huntingtown, Maryland

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