“Can anesthesia interact with breast milk?”
I am 29 years old and I have a baby who is 1 years old. I recently underwent a DNC for which I was given anesthesia. Can I breastfeed him again, or should I wait a little while?
12 Answers
Some anesthetic agents like all the medicines one takes, do get secreted in the milk. As long as it was a short surgery, more than 24 hrs. Ago and no ongoing intake of pain medicines. It is safe.
Anesthesia is safer than it has ever been and drugs are very short acting. I always give the mother a choice. Usually I advise to pump once and discard that milk.
Breastfeeding is safe after receiving anesthesia for a D & C because the dosages of drugs are small and the amounts entering breast milk are very small and have no adverse effect on nursing infants.
If you had general anesthesia little goes into the breast milk and if you are wake and alert it has left your system so you can breast feed. You do not have to pump and dump
You can breast feed right away, there is no need to wait
The amount of accumulation of propofol for a D&C which could be abosorbed by feeding via breast milk is quite small. I believe the recommended wait period is 4 hours
This is a topic with some controversy. Officially, many anesthesia groups and organizations may still instruct to 'pump and dump' for 24 hours. If you child is not a premature baby and has no respiratory issues like apnea, the amount of anesthetic which might appear in breast milk after such a short procedure is barely detectable and would be more of a theoretical risk than an actual risk. You may be able to consult with the anesthesia team in advance next time and formulate an anesthesia plan to minimize this already miniscule risk if that appeals to you
Some anesthetic agents can be excreted in breast milk, this would depend on what agents were utilized. The best way to make sure is to check with your surgeon who can find out what agents were utilized. Most agents would not stay long if excreted so likely if more than a week post your procedure and not on any other medications to prohibit breast feeding then you are likely good to go. Again, check with your surgeon and or pediatrician for final confirmation.
Generally we recommend to pump and discard for 24 hours
Boris Yaguda M.D.
Boris Yaguda M.D.
Hi, the current recommendation is to pump and dump 1st feeding after anesthesia.
Dr Ketch
Dr Ketch
The safest/most conservative course would be to pump and dispose for 24 hours
Yes, some anesthesia medications do get into breast milk. Did you tell your anesthesiologist you were breast feeding? You could have chosen a spinal anesthetic, which makes you numb but not unconscious, and then none of that medicine gets into breast milk. If you had a general anesthetic, you could discard your milk for 24-48 hours and then resume breast feeding.
