HI All, it's been a long while since I posted, but I'm back with a quick question for you. I had my surgery in July 2011 and just had my first "tummy baby" on Friday. Are there any VSG moms out there who found they couldn't breastfeed? I'm having trouble with getting milk and was wondering if the lack of nutrition from the surgery could be part of my problem. Thanks

My daughter just turned 13 months old and I continued to nurse her before and after surgery. I didn't breastfeed her during my 2 day hospital stay but once I came home I started up again. My calories don't affect my milk supply and the first week after surgery I was barely producing anything but I just kept putting her to my breast and eventually my supply picked back up. My advice is to keep putting your baby to your breast as much as possible and soon your supply will catch up. I also don't pump, so I have no idea how much milk I'm producing but she seems satisfied and I feel the let down which is a really good sign that I have a good amount of milk.

Also breastfeeding is about supply and demand, the more you breastfeed the more milk you will produce and don't supplement with formula until you've built up your supply. With a newborn baby they are going to want to eat every 30-60 mins. Just keep switching breast after every feeding. I've breastfed all 3 of my kids until they turned 13 months old. Also I still have fat reserves on me that my body can tap into if my cals are low. Also check out the kellymom.com website it has a lot of good info about breastfeeding and calories, etc. I haven't looked at it in a while but basically it says that calorie intake doesn't affect milk supply. Your body will find a way to produce the milk. Good Luck

Also the reason why I wasn't producing hardly any milk after surgery was because I went 2 days without breastfeeding and before surgery I had her down to 3 feedings a day, so my milk supply was already low from weaning. Once I came home and was around her my boobs started leaking. I didn't leak or become engorged the whole time while in the hospital but coming home and being around my baby started making me produce milk again. Now she nurses about 6 times a day. I drink lots of water

I'm curious what you mean by not getting enough milk. Are you pumping? Do you plan to breastfeed exclusively? All of the advice that's been give was excellent... Especially about Kellymom.com being a good resource.

what about the narcotics your on from surgery?

^^^She had her surgery in 2011. I'm not sure if she had a csection with her delivery but if she did they can give her meds that wont affect her milk and are safe for breastfeeding moms. Kellymom.com also list narcotics that are safe or unsafe while breastfeeding.

I am using you has an example! My surgery is in two weeks and they want me to wean, I am he'll bent on not! He mostly nurses for comfort and we just aren't ready to end that yet. Thanks for posting about it!