Friends,
Just a few comments here from an experienced mom with a hip replacement (last
year was surgeries numbers 31 and 32- replacements [revisions] 4 and 5-- and
am I glad that's behind me for now.  Never could have done it without my
Lactnet friends keeping me going!!!)

Wean for hip replacement--no way.  Circulating antibodies are high while
nursing, I would think that a breastfeeding mom would heal faster.

This is not a new attitude.  I was once told that I was having trouble with
the hip dislocating because of loose joints from the breastfeeding
hormones--this was not the case--the parts in my hip did not line up properly.
I have found that when doctors don't know what the problem is, they look for
something else rather than say, "I don't know."
My surgeon laughed the hormone idea off.  (He was great!) It is difficult
enough to be in pain while trying to be a mom.  Someone says the breastfeeding
has to go because it's keeping you from getting better and you really wonder
if you are doing the best thing for the both of you.  I was so sick  I felt
that nursing was the only connection I had to my kids at times.  It was the
last thing I wanted to give up.  I tried to wean out of desperation,  but
fortunately my child knew better and refused to wean.
When I needed my first revision Andrew was 16 months old (he's now 13).
Everyone had a problem with me breastfeeding except my surgeon!  Healing was
never an issue with him, my baby was the issue.
I had to pump and dump for 48 hours due to the heavy meds especially the
antibiotics and anesthesia.  ( I was in surgery for 12 hours)  I took my own
pump with a note on it for the nurses to remind me to pump in those first few
hours (didn't get much via the pump until the third day anyway).  Arrangements
were made BEFORE I went to the hospital to have my son come in to nurse.  This
was a lengthy FIGHT with the powers that be at the hospital.  Once they
understood they wouldn't be caring for him and he wouldn't  be running around
the hallways things went fine.  In fact many of the nurses asked me about
extended breastfeeding.

If this mom has any more questions contact me.
Wishing her the best of luck
Marie Davis, RN, IBCLC