Breastfeeding and anaesthesia. Version 1.
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Breastfeeding and anaesthesia - A national survey of current anaesthetic practice
IRAS ID
276699
Contact name
Emma Jenkins
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
North Bristol NHS Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 8 months, 1 days
Research summary
UK Breastfeeding rates are amongst the lowest in the world. With increased breastfeeding rates, WHO estimates 823000 deaths in children under 5 and 20000 deaths from breast cancer, could be prevented annually. The reduction in common childhood illnesses could save the NHS up to £50 million a year.
UNICEF have declared the UKs low breastfeeding rates a public health issue siting ‘predictable support to families across all public services’ as key to improving rates. With eight in ten women stopping breastfeeding before they want to, there are clearly obstacles. Healthcare professionals have a responsibility to support breastfeeding.
Very few drugs make breastfeeding absolutely contraindicated. An evolving knowledge of pharmacology and breast milk physiology has led experts to suggest that mothers can resume breastfeeding following anaesthesia as soon as they feel able.
There is currently no national guidance on breastfeeding and anaesthesia. Supporting breastfeeding peri-operatively is essential to provide infant nutrition, maintain lactation and prevent engorgement & mastitis. Anaesthetist give a range of advice to breastfeeding mothers which may result in the premature end to their breastfeeding journey, depriving mother and baby of the health benefits. It is difficult to justify anaesthesia being a reason for women ceasing to breastfeed.
This project seeks determine current practice nationally through the use of a short online survey of currently practicing anaesthetists. The survey has been piloted in North Bristol NHS Trust, yielding 51 responses. There was huge diversity in anaesthetic practice at NBT. 37% of anaesthetists advise women to re-commence breastfeeding as soon as they feel able post-general anaesthesia and 37% advise women to ‘pump and dump’ or ‘delay breastfeeding’ for time periods varying from 1 hour to 3 days.
The pilot informed survey refinement.
The purpose of our survey is to establish whether this variability in practice is echoed a national scale and support a national guideline.REC name
N/A
REC reference
N/A