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Surviving Hospital Stays
How to Preserve Your Nursing Relationship
By Amy Carey
Doctors usually advise parents to abstain from giving Baby anything to eat or drink before hospital procedures like surgery. But how long should you keep a nursing baby off the breast? "This is controversial, and the exact fasting period for an exclusively breastfed infant is hotly debated, though various recommendations fall within the fairly narrow range of a 2-4 hour preoperative fasting period," says Wolfenstein.
If your baby nurses more frequently than every two to four hours or if he needs comfort at the breast in the stressful hours before his surgery, try handing him to Dad or another caregiver with whom he doesn't associate nursing. Dance him or walk with him rather than lying or sitting down in positions you use for breastfeeding. And don't forget to pump to maintain your supply.
Remember, your nursing relationship is important to you and to your baby. Don't let anyone minimize that importance. "Know that other mothers have been through this, that breastfeeding can be preserved in almost all cases, and that there is information out there to support [you] through this difficult process," says Wolfenstein. "If you hear something from one health care provider that doesn't feel right, get another opinion until you have a plan you feel comfortable with – a plan that acknowledges the importance of the breastfeeding relationship and strives to address any disruptions to breastfeeding in a sensitive and respectful way for both mother and baby."
* Name has been changed to protect privacy.
