07/15/2026
💕 BREASTFEEDING MYTH 💕
"Breastfeeding moms should pump and dump their breast milk for at least 24 hours after surgery and/or general anesthesia."
This is INCORRECT advice given to many moms by well-meaning but misinformed doctors, nurses and health practitioners. Not only is this unnecessary, but it can be a big problem for a mom that is trying to continue breastfeeding her baby.
Most moms that are nursing and not exclusively pumping will not let-down as easily to a breast pump as she will to the baby. This can cause a decrease in milk expression and breast emptying which can lead to engorgement, plugged ducts, mastitis and even a decrease in milk supply.
While some moms may have advanced warning prior to the surgery to pump extra milk, others will not be able to store that much "extra" while also continuing to feed their baby at the breast. Not having enough breast milk stored prior to the surgery would cause her to have to unnecessarily supplement with formula.
While some babies can easily go back and forth between breast and bottle, others will have a harder time. Some babies may reject the bottle all together and some may actually develop a preference for the bottle after so many feedings in a row. This could risk the baby not wanting to latch back to the breast and wean earlier than desired.
Once you are awake and alert enough to hold your baby, you are safe to also nurse your baby! There is normally no reason to pump and dump, or wait for any particular amount of time.
The fact that you are awake means that the general anesthesia has cleared out of your body and system. Not only does this clear quickly out of your milk but whatever may be left will not work the same way if the baby was to ingest it.
Drugs that are given intravenously for sedation do not normally have the same effect when taken orally, which is how the baby would receive it through your breast milk.
**From my Online Breastfeeding Course - Simply Breastfeeding**
(📸: Dear Birth )
