Date of Award
12-2025
Degree Type
Dissertation/Thesis
Degree Name
Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
School
Leadership and Advanced Nursing Practice
Committee Chair
Douglas Allan Lovern
Committee Chair School
Leadership and Advanced Nursing Practice
Committee Member 2
Mary Jane Collins
Committee Member 2 School
Leadership and Advanced Nursing Practice
Abstract
Recommendations regarding breastfeeding following maternal anesthesia are inconsistent and often not up to date with current best practice guidelines. Previous recommendations have led to mothers unnecessarily “pumping and dumping” breast milk has benefits for both mother and baby. These benefits include (a) increasing the infant’s access to colostrum, (b) encouraging mother-baby bonding, (c) improving the mother’s breastfeeding experience, (d) and providing significant health benefits to the infant. The purpose of this scholarly project was to develop a set of evidence-based recommendations that focus on mothers who desire to breastfeed following general anesthesia. These recommendations will highlight maternal- fetal transfer of medications and initiation of breast feeding. Many studies have shown that there are inconsistencies in postoperative breastfeeding recommendations with some providers allowing women to breastfeed when they are awake and alert. In contrast, others recommend pumping and dumping for 24 hours following the administration of anesthesia. Following a review of the literature, evidence was synthesized, and a plan was developed to disseminate this information to current practicing CRNAs in a concise and informative manner. Medications under review included fentanyl, labetalol, lidocaine, meperidine, midazolam, ondansetron, phenylephrine, propofol, rocuronium, sevoflurane, succinylcholine, and Sugammadex. Overall, almost all medications reviewed are safe to use in lactating mothers except for meperidine. As part of this project, a presentation and two quick reference handouts were delivered to 18 current practicing CRNAs in attendance at the CE Webinar hosted by the university. A 6 question pre and posttest regarding breastfeeding recommendations was administered and evaluated. The clinical importance of this doctoral project is the increase in anesthesia provider knowledge and confidence when administering anesthesia and postoperative education to breastfeeding mothers.
Copyright
Megan Honea and Mary Johnson, December 2025
Recommended Citation
Honea, Megan and Johnson, Mary, "Breastfeeding Safety Following Maternal Anesthesia: A Guideline Development" (2025). Doctoral Projects. 281.
https://aquila.usm.edu/dnp_capstone/281
Included in
Anesthesiology Commons, Chemicals and Drugs Commons, Maternal, Child Health and Neonatal Nursing Commons, Medical Pharmacology Commons, Obstetrics and Gynecology Commons, Pharmaceutics and Drug Design Commons, Surgery Commons