Hi, Lactnetters!  Below is my letter to Carrie which may not have made it
through to her.  I thought some of you may want to comment on my suggestions,
give further explanations, or perhaps disagree completely!  :)

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From: "Anne L. Varberg"  <varb0006>
Date: Sat, Nov 2, 1996 3:42 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: bf after surgery (fwd)

Hi, Carrie!
I was dismayed to see your post on lactnet regarding not having recieved advice
from this list.  As I havn't recieved a response from you, I'm wondering if
perhaps this message didn't reach you?  In any case here it is again, and I have
little else to add to it, as I've already put everything I could think of into
this post.  Please write me, and let me know how it's going, and if you need
more info on any of it.  Also, let me know if I can web-search anything for you.
Looking forward to your reply!
Anne

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From: "Anne L. Varberg"  <varb0006>
Date: Sat, Oct 26, 1996 4:15 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: bf after surgery

Hi, Carrie!
Have you been in touch with LLL?  They maintain a list of people who have nursed
in special circumstances.  They should be able to hook you up with other moms of
babies with clefts.

I am so sorry you were not allowed to nurse him prior to surgery!  Because there
may be other surgeries for him in the future??  I want you to know that an
anesthesiologist who is well-informed on breastfeeding will know that breastmilk
is to be considered a clear fluid and is allowable closer to surgery that what
you were apparently told.  I dont want to make you feel badly about this, but
give you the info for next time if additional surgery is needed.

As for right now, what pain medication is he being prescribed?  Make sure it is
doing the job!  And see if you can dose it before the feeding (if it takes 20
minutes to kick in, then give the meds 20 minutes before nursing).  Sounds like
you're doing an excellent job of 'being there' for him, with extra cuddling and
skin to skin contact.  Massage has been shown to be very helpful in alleviating
stress and pain following surgery.  Also, you may want to have your physician
get you a referral to a physical therapist.  I was unaware till recently that
there are physical therapists that work with infant feeding.  Make sure the one
you use knows something about breastfeeding!  Most are only trained to teach
infants to bottle-feed.  I may be dreaming here, but if you could find a pt who
would do massage first, then assist with the nursing too, wow!

I'll be keeping your family in my prayers!
Anne



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