Breast milk confers both direct and indirect infant benefits through at least 6 months of age and is recommended by the WHO and AAP to continue until 24 months. General anesthesia and most perioperative medications are compatible with breastfeeding. Physical separation from the infant may require a mother to pump, but discarding the expressed milk is rarely necessary.
Mothers of normal term or older infants can resume pumping or direct breast feeding without interruption following anesthesia as soon as they are awake and alert. This is consistent with recent guidelines by the American Society of Anesthesiologists and the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine.
Below, you will find resources to help guide both patients and providers in frequently asked questions
Patient Resources:
- Breastfeeding, Surgery, Anesthesia: A Guide for Mothers
- How to Talk to Your Provider About Medications and Breastfeeding
- Anesthesia Patient Preferences Checklist (Care Plan)
Provider Resources:
References:
•Reith EF, Barnett KM, Simon JA: Implementation and organization of a perioperative lactation program: A descriptive study. Breastfeeding Medicine 2018; 13(2):97-105 (doi: 10.1089/bfm.2017.0193)
•Bartick M, Hernandez-Aguilar MT, Wight N, et al: ABM Clinical Protocol #35: Supporting breastfeeing during maternal or child hospitalization. Breastfeeding Medicine 2021;16(9):664-674 (doi: 10.1089/bfm.2021.29190.mba)
•Statement on Resuming Breastfeeding after Anesthesia. Asahq.org. Published 2024. Accessed October 10, 2024.
•https://www.asahq.org/standards-and-practice-parameters/statement-on-re…
•Reece-Stremtan S, Campos M, Kokajko L; Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine. ABM Clinical Protocol #15: Analgesia and Anesthesia for the Breastfeeding Mother, Revised 2017. Breastfeed Med. 2017;12(9):500-506. doi:10.1089/bfm.2017.29054.srt
•Hale TW, Krutsch K. Hale’s Medications and Mothers' Milk 2025-2026. Springer. 2024.
•LactMed. Toxicology Data Network. US National Library of Medicine. NIH. HMS. Bethesda, MD.
•Kraus MB, Dodd SE, Sharpe EE. "Sleep and Keep": Dispelling Myths of "Pump and Dump" from an Anesthesiologist's Perspective. J Womens Health (Larchmt). 2020;29(10):1243-1245. doi:10.1089/jwh.2019.7970
•Dodd SE, Sharpe EE, Dahl AR, Warner DO. Qualitative Assessment of Perioperative Lactation Patient Education: "I Think It's Something Women Navigate on Their Own". Breastfeed Med. 2023;18(12):956-959. doi:10.1089/bfm.2023.0196
•Lehmann T, Morgan E, Sharpe E, Steege J, Schroeder D, Dodd S. Managing the Lactating Patient Receiving Anesthesia: An Innovative Educational Initiative. J Womens Health (Larchmt). 2024;33(10):1344-1348. doi:10.1089/jwh.2023.0875
