Jaye,

I would have mom talk to the surgeon about psuedoephedrine or estrogen birth
control pills maybe. Ask if would be contraindicated or OK to take 1 or 2
days pre-op. Some of the pre-op meds can be rather drying, and that might
actually help to decrease supply.

Of course she must make it clear that weaning is not an option, but rather
she will try to decrease her supply pre-op. Then I would have her rent a
very good hospital grade pump. The best and easiest to use in your
area. Then I would want to talk to the nurse manager of the post-op unit she
will be in. The recovery room or whatever. The staff may need an inservice
on how to pump the mom. They may not allow the husband to do it, if her
postop care is rather complicated. If she was pregnant they would have to
factor that in, why not bf?

There should be a care plan in place stating the need to double pump every
3-4 hrs, for example, and the care plan should also state the mother desires
access to her baby as soon as possible. The baby hopefully will restart her
supply. And I wouldn't fool with herbs becoz she might not be able to
swallow and will be getting IV/IM meds. If the baby can't come right away,
or if the baby refuses to latch after a period of separation (this can be
worked on when mom is not so acute post op), then the pumping must continue.
Eventually, if needed, mom can probably use herbs and/or reglan/domperidone.

Laurie Wheeler RN MN IBCLC
Mississippi USA

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