Breastfeeding After Surgery: Influencing Postoperative Recommendations

Background: Breastfeeding mothers are faced with the dilemma of deciding when to resume breastfeeding after surgery. Interrupting breastfeeding can negatively impact maternal and child health outcomes and healthcare costs. The apprehension experienced by breastfeeding mothers is often compounded by variations in post-anesthetic guidance given by anesthesia providers. For mothers to make an informed decision about resuming breastfeeding, anesthesia providers should deliver consistent, up-to-date information about the risks associated with breastfeeding after surgery. Purpose: To standardize the education anesthesia providers and post-anesthesia care unit staff provide to breastfeeding mothers in regards to breastfeeding after surgery. Design: Performance improvement project that assesses provider knowledge, confidence and recommendations before and after an educational intervention. Results: This evidence-based practice project successfully improved staff knowledge in regard to the transference of anesthetic drugs to breast milk, and also increased staff confidence in the recommendations they provide to breastfeeding mothers. The EBP project also increased the number of staff that would recommend immediate resumption of breastfeeding after surgery. The creation and implementation of a standard operating procedure will serve as a vessel to promote culture change and achieve sustainability. Implications for Practice: Consistent recommendations will result in a better patient experience secondary to improved patient satisfaction for the mother and potentially better health outcomes for the mother and child which are consistent with three of goals of the Military Health System: improved patient experience, population health, and per capita costs.