A breastfeeding mother who needs surgery may continue to breastfeed. She may need coordination of care before, during and after surgery to help properly manage her lactation status, in order to prevent engorgement, plugs, infection, and suppression of milk production due to a sudden decrease in milk removal. If the surgery is elective, it is ideal for the primary care physician or surgeon to contact the hospital lactation specialist pre-operatively, for assistance with milk expression in the pre-op and post-op unit and during long surgeries. Anesthesia in breastmilk clears at the same rate as anesthesia in the brain, so once the mother is awake and alert after surgery, she can breastfeed her infant¹. It is ideal to allow the infant to room in with the mother post-operatively. She will most likely need a support person to stay with her to help manage the infant’s needs.