It's great that you are thinking ahead to how you will handle nursing while using the medications you might need for pain relief after your surgery.

There should be no reason to disrupt your nursing relationship because of the oral surgery you require. It is unlikely that the medication that will be used for pain relief will be contraindicated for short-term use while breastfeeding.

Though I don't know the exact medication you will be given for your oral surgery, in many cases, Tylenol with codeine (Empirin #3 or #4 or Tylenol #3 or #4) is used as a pain reliever. Codeine has been approved by the American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Drugs for use in the nursing mother.

In one study, where 60 mg. of codeine (#4) was given, milk levels peaked at 1 hour after dosage. In 48 hours, 12 doses were given and the estimated amount received by the nursing baby was only 0.1 percent of the maternal dose. To further reduce the amount of codeine your baby would receive through your milk, plan on taking your medication immediately after nursing, and then wait two to three hours before nursing again.

As far as the surgery itself, if general anesthesia is used, it does not remain in your system, and you can nurse your little one as soon as you are awake and able to safely hold your baby (Spigset, 1994.) Keep in mind that anesthesia is used in the majority of births in this country, and breastfeeding is recommended immediately following delivery for the newborn (who is much more sensitive than a five month old to the medications used.)

Oral surgery can be painful, but many mothers only need a stronger pain medication, such as codeine for a day or so. At that point, Ibuprofen can be used as needed for pain relief. Best wishes for successful and pain-free surgery!

Reference: Medications and Mothers' Milk, Thomas Hale, R.Ph., Ph.D, 1996