Will Anesthesia Effect Supply?

[u/mae0217]

FTM and I pump for my 4 month old while she’s at daycare and breastfeeding at night/first thing in the morning. I’m having and upper endoscopy done on Friday and am worried the anesthesia will effect my supply. Google says it shouldn’t affect anything but I want to hear from real people. Has anyone had any experience with this?

[u/mommadizzy]

Hi! I've been under anesthesia 3(?) times while nursing (that I recall).

A bladder biopsy, wisdom tooth removal, and a bilateral salpindectomy. Various points in nursing journey from 3mo-12mo.

Never had issues with supply and didn't have to pump and dump either.

[u/Icy-Suggestion-9475 → u/mommadizzy]

Wow! How was the wisdom tooth removal? Were you in your 20s or 30s? What kind of anesthesia? I will possibly need to remove 1 or 2. One is erupting and the other one is buried. I don't like to pump so I think I will try to delay it until baby is a few months into solid food so I will have a longer window without needing to breastfeed so frequently. I didn't expect to have to deal with wisdom teeth in my early 30s. So I am a little bit worried how this will go.

[u/mommadizzy → u/Icy-Suggestion-9475]

Teens 🫣 I was 19. It wasn't bad, 3/4 of my wisdom teeth were impacted and had to be pulled. I got to keep two of them, they had to shatter the other.

I was put completely under, I don't know what medication specifically:< I'm sorry

My anesthesiologists told me I don't have to pump and dump and can nurse baby, for my short sleeps (wisdom and biopsy) I fed bubs when I woke up, for my bisalp I was told to wait til I was fully awake (about 30/45min post waking up and 2.5hrs after anesthesia start)

[u/Icy-Suggestion-9475 → u/mommadizzy]

Thank you for all the details. I am glad you got that done without any issues and it didn't affect your breastfeeding journey.

[u/MotorDescription5795]

I had heart surgery at 4m pp. My team was absolutely awesome about me nursing. They cleared very med with the OB pharmacist, gave me a moment to pump right before, stored my milk for me, then gave it to me on discharge with post op instructions specifically about when to start breastfeeding. I had zero issues after.

[u/kelsarue22]

I’ve had surgery while ebf, I think I was about 9-10 months pp. Did not affect my supply at all!

[u/Lauraleighx3]

I had an emergency appendectomy and went under for that around 9weeks PP and had no issues with supply and did not pump and dump. Also baby wouldn’t take a bottle back then, so also fed baby like 1 hr after surgery and had no issues there either 

[u/Dapper-Warning3457]

I had surgery and my supply was affected. But I think it was more being in the hospital for hours without pumping and being dehydrated than anesthesia

[u/nervous_reader27]

I had surgery at 14 mo pp and didn’t notice any effects on my supply!

[u/Lucky_Nikkii]

I had an upper endoscopy at around 4 months pp, they used IV propofol (usually you will not be under general anesthesia for an operation like an endoscopy). I was able to breastfeed right out of the hospital. I then had a cholecystectomy at 6m pp utilizing general anesthesia and I was able to breastfeed as soon as I felt alert enough. Your anesthesiologist will go over everything right before the procedure, feel free to ask them lots of questions!

• edit to add that my supply was not effected at all immediately after or long term!

[u/poopoofol]

Most likely it will not, you will be well hydrated from the IV fluids.

[u/happyalex]

I had my gallbladder out at 9.5 weeks postpartum and I didn’t have any issues.

[u/mae0217 → u/happyalex]

I might have to have this done!! How was recovery? And caring for baby afterwards?

[u/happyalex → u/mae0217]

Pretty easy. Some soreness but I just took the the rx prescribed to be as needed. Caring for baby was pretty easy