Bad News Times Two
By michelle | May 14, 2010
I visited the dentist this week and learned that the pain in my wisdom tooth, the pain that I have had on and off since Bunky was born, needs to be taken care of… sooner rather than later, along with the other three. But my dentist can’t do it himself. I have to see an oral surgeon because the bottom two teeth are touching a nerve, the most important nerve in that area.
Have any of you had to have surgery like this while nursing a baby? I am wondering what the affects will be because it is is going to force Bunky to wean early, then I will withstand the pain until he has weaned.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I took Punky to the dentist today. Turns out he has “faulty enamel” on one of his canines and he has a cavity. Apparently this is quite common on the canine teeth.
He did really well at his appointment, much better than I had expected. But I don’t anticipate the cavity filling to go as well. We will find out next Wednesday.
Prayers, as always are appreciated!
13 Comments
Mat. Emily on May 14, 2010 at 5:32 pm.
Our little girl has two cavities in her back teeth. We’ve had one filled and the other is due to be filled on June 1st. It wasn’t pleasant getting the “laughing gas” prior to the filling, but once she had it, the rest of the appointment went smoothly. Our dentist recommended an ice cream shake as a snack after the appointment to give her some food and have it be soft. She had no trouble afterward.
I have no advice for your wisdom tooth surgery. I hope that it goes well though!
You’ll be in our prayers.
mary@evlogia on May 14, 2010 at 8:07 pm.
Both of my sons have “faulty enamel.” Those boys!
So sorry for your tooth woes.
mat. michelle on May 14, 2010 at 8:42 pm.
Michelle,
I don’t think you with have to wean Bunky. Just pre pump some milk and put it in the freezer. Then starting after the surgery pump and dump for however long you need to. The oral surgeon will be able to tell you how long the medication will stay in your system.
Now, you’ll probably be on a pain med. I’m sure about that. But you could do the same thing there.
Talk with your pediatrician about the surgery and pain med. and also talk to the surgeon to get two opinions about the duration of the meds used. If you want to keep nursing, then pump and dump until you are off meds. You’ll want to start stocking up on milk now in your freezer for the baby.
So sorry about all this. I just had two crowns this week…ugh.
Take good care!
M.Michelle
Amanda on May 14, 2010 at 11:01 pm.
Michelle, I had my wisdom teeth taken out right after Luke was born and I did exactly what M.Michelle said. Pump extra milk beforehand and then just throw away the milk you pump while on the meds.
~Amanda
Rachel on May 14, 2010 at 11:09 pm.
I had oral surgery when I was nursing Emmy. They put me on major antibiotics and I just didn’t feel right passing on through my milk, so I weaned her then at 8 months.
grandma on May 15, 2010 at 10:05 am.
Tell David Grandma is very proud of him!!
Pres. kathy on May 15, 2010 at 10:59 am.
I hope everything works out – we will pray!
Christine on May 15, 2010 at 2:03 pm.
You really shouldn’t have to pump and dump…kellymom.com has great info on surgery, dental work, etc while nursing. Anastesia (sp?) is quickly out of your system, once you are up and around you can nurse. And lots of women are given antibiotics during labor…LOTS….and they are all able to nurse after giving birth. You will be fine. One bit of advice…don’t ask an oral surgeon ANYTHING about nursing and meds. They will most likely NOT know. If you have a question, get Hales book on nursing and medication (or put a post up on the kellymom site if you don’t have the book, one of the nice ladies there will look it up for you within hours )!
Good luck.
p.s. I have always borrowed someones Hales book or posted online, but keep saying I am going to get one myself – but I think you can also get an electronic copy on your computer for a fee. I never look anywhere else for info on nursing and pharmacology. Just my 2 cents. !
Matushka Anna on May 15, 2010 at 5:29 pm.
Don’t worry about anesthesia – it’s in and out of your system. You’ll have to pump and store in advance of surgery anyhow (because you’ll be out of commision for a few hours). If you’re on antibiotics (most likely) then check with a lactation consultant at your local hospital (or with LLL)about the safety of nursing. Same thing for pain meds. You can pump and dump for any meds that will be harmful. Don’t check with the oral surgeon or even with the pediatrician. They will not know and will give you the blanket pump and dump story regardless of the meds (or tell you to wean).
I had all four wisdom teeth out after Michael was born and I was still nursing him. I believe I did pump and dump for a day at most but it’s kind of a fuzzy memory.
Hope it goes well.
(My credentials: I’ve nursed five and was a nurse for 10 years. Just in case you need reassurance!)
Michelle Mowat on May 16, 2010 at 4:30 pm.
I definitely do not think you would have to wean him…do you have enough milk in your freezer to pump and discard until you the harmful meds get out of your body?? I almost had to do that (or maybe I did??). So maybe you could stock up enough for the 24 hours or so that you wouldn’t be able to nurse him yourself??? Just a thouht…
grandma on May 16, 2010 at 8:55 pm.
He looks just like Nathaniel in that chair…when he was little…what is in his hands?
michelle on May 17, 2010 at 8:21 am.
Grandma, he is holding a toothbrush.
Elizabeth @ The Garden Window on May 18, 2010 at 8:20 am.
I had four wisdom teeth extracted surgery under general anaesthesia, followed by antibiotics/heavy duty pain meds when I was nursing DD2.
I was told just to pump and dump once when the next feed after surgery would have been due, then nurse as normal for the following feed.
You will definitely benefit from some help for at least 24 hours after a general anaesthetic – it can make you feel quite woozy ….
I would definitely check with your hospital’s lactation consultant, as thyey can liaise with the pharmacist to assess the drugs which may be given you.
love and prayers !