mumma2wldthings @mac.com <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> i am looking for any info on a breastfeeding mother's ability to be a
> partial live liver donor. i cannot seem to find any info about it
> online. i realize that pumping and dumping will most likely be advised
> for the week the donor will be hospitalized and subject to the many
> medications and anaesthesias, but am wondering if bfing may continue
> once mother returns home. it is standard to remain off work for about
> 3 months post-surgery - are there any reasons breastfeeding may not
> continue at this time?
(I speak not just as a healthcare provider but as a mother who had very
major upper abdo surgery with a baby younger than six months. I
especially wanted my baby to be getting my milk because he was exposed
to the ICU and ward bugs already - the bugs I was making antibodies to
at the time!)
Mothers breastfeed almost immediately after C section, even when there
are complications; why should other abdominal surgeries be any
different? A week is far too long. So long as there is rational,
informed anaesthetic and analgesic management: with relatively minor
surgery the mother need only hold off breastfeeding until she is fully
awake and alert enough to hold the baby safely, and with much more major
surgery she may need to dump for 6-24 hours.
Of course there will be assistance needed with either breastfeeding or
pumping at first, especially with lifting and positioning when there is
an upper abdominal wound. If pumping, she can single-pump side-lying
before she is able to sit up. (Some mums even manage to double-pump, but
I couldn't quite get that working.) ICU and post-op care teams need to
be brought on board with this, and if there is a partner or family
member involved they may be well placed to help with this also. Then
there are other practicalities: for example when the surgery is quite
long, as it is with liver donation, she will need to empty very
thoroughly just before. Regular thorough emptying is also extremely
important after surgery to avoid blocked ducts and mastitis, so if she
has a baby who can breastfeed, this is likely to be better - for her as
well as for her baby - than pumping alone would be.
I would suggest a planning consultation with a breastfeeding-friendly
anaesthetist prior to the admission, preferably with Hale's in hand. In
my case the hospital also had a consulting IBCLC who conferenced post-op
with me, the ward pharmacist, and the anaesthetist/pain management team
on analgesic management, which is ideal! I hope your client has access
to this level of care.
As a separate issue, in general most hospitals have policies that with
boarding babies they need a separate adult, usually a relative, to
provide full-time baby care, as the mother may not be fit for this or
may be off having tests or procedures.
One of the biggest issues when she returns home, independent of
breastfeeding, will be the issue of lifting the baby. How old is the
young one? Will someone be at home to assist? With a little baby, short
periods of sole care can work with a big bed, a pad to put over the
wound when the baby is close, a safe co-sleeping environment, and all
nappying needs at the ready; but with a mobile baby things can be a lot
more difficult to manage. There is no reason to not breastfeed, however;
this is just about general baby care, which all babies need, breastfed
or not. Breastfeeding is more likely to make things easier than harder,
because there won't be any need to get up, with no formula to mix or
bottles to clean - everything's already at the ready.
Lara Hopkins
***********************************************
Archives: http://community.lsoft.com/archives/LACTNET.html
To reach list owners: [log in to unmask]
Mail all list management commands to: [log in to unmask]
COMMANDS:
1. To temporarily stop your subscription write in the body of an email: set lactnet nomail
2. To start it again: set lactnet mail
3. To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet
4. To get a comprehensive list of rules and directions: get lactnet welcome
|
