Colonoscopy and breastfeeding

[mommyto3]

I am going to be getting a colonoscopy on Thurs. the 28th and was told to stop breastfeeding starting on the 27th at 6 pm (due to the gallon of solution I have to drink) until the 29th. I will be pumping from now till the 27th so she has enough milk. My DD is 2 1/2 months old. My question is will she refuse to go back to the breast after 2 days of bottles? I am really worried about that.

[Marsha_Bearden]

I wasn't aware of the solution you had to drink being contraindicated with breastfeeding. I had a colonoscopy when my son was exclusively breastfeeding and I nursed before and immediately after the procedure. I will need to research this for you. I was given a drug to reverse the effects of the narcotics used.

In the mean time, contact your local lactation consultant at the hospital where you will have the procedure. She can talk with the physician and find out exactly what medications will be used. It may be possible that instead of drinking those gallons of liquids that you can instead take the pills. I was never able to drink that stuff.

If you are not able to nurse, take your pump with you to the hospital and stay on a pumping schedule. You may even want to request a bolus of fluids when you get there as you may feel very weak and dehydrated.

I think your baby will be very happy to get back to the breast after two days of bottles!

[mommyto3]

did you ask for the medication that reversed what they gave you for sedation or was it offered. also what did you take to prepare for it. maybe I can ask for that. I really don't like the idea of not nursing for that long. It is an outpatient clinic so the only person I could speak with was the pre op nurse.

[Marsha_Bearden]

Your local hospital LC can still call their office to discuss this with them. You need her as your advocate to get a change in a medication or it may be that as she researches the actual drugs/solutions used that it might not be a problem for you to breastfeed.

The surgeon that did my procedure told me that I didn't have to discontinue breastfeeding. I didn't ask for the reversal drug, but after the procedure the nurse gave me Narcan. It may have been their protocol anyway.

I took the dulcolax pills & Fleets phospho Soda instead of drinking the solution. I can't remember how many pills... ????? The surgeon didn't prescribe this for me ahead of time. I tried to drink the solution and when I couldn't, I called after hours and they told me the alternative prep and it was so much easier.

The taste may be much better now for that solution. It tasted horrible 14 years ago!