Preggie Pals

Surgery

Unexpected Surgery When Breastfeeding? Ask for Help!

January 7th, 2013 by Anita Story

On October 28th, I woke up at 2:30am in excruciating pain in what appeared to be my ribs on my right side. I could not get comfortable and I could not sleep. I thought it was my side cramping up from breastfeeding in the same position too long.

My husband told me to call the 24 hour nurse. The nurse told me to hang up and call 911 as I was having symptoms of a heart attack.

The ER doctor said that my gall bladder was inflammed and had to come out that day. Regardless, my baby needed to eat. So, my husband held him up to my breast while I was in the hospital bed tethered to an IV pole and in pain. Baby latched on and ate until he wanted no more. It was not a natural position for any of us, but we all three worked together and made it work. (more…)

Breastfeeding After Breast Reduction Surgery

Episode 27 | November 2nd, 2012

Choosing to have breast reduction surgery prior to having children may increase the amount of challenges you face when it’s time to breastfeed. How can you minimize these risks? What additional steps can you take to increase your milk supply? And how do you deal with the guilt? (more…)

Anesthesia and the Breastfed Baby

August 8th, 2012 by Chloe Ward

No parent in the world ever wants to hear a doctor use the words “your baby” and “surgery” in the same sentence. When my son’s gastroenterologist determined that he needed a simple endoscopy to rule out another condition, there was one thing weighing heavily on my mind: How will my exclusively breast fed 15 month old handle being put under general anesthesia? The thought of it haunted me, and it was only made worse when I made the admittedly poor choice to consult Dr. Google on the matter. (more…)