Home » Blog » Breastfeeding » How long to wait to breastfeed after dental numbing?

How long to wait to breastfeed after dental numbing?

Understanding Dental Numbing and Breastfeeding
When it comes to breastfeeding after receiving dental numbing, many mothers understandably have concerns about the safety and timing of resuming nursing. Dental procedures often involve the use of local anesthetics to ensure patient comfort, but the implications for breastfeeding can be a source of confusion.
Duration of Dental Numbing
The duration of dental numbing can vary based on the type of anesthetic used and the individual’s metabolism. Typically, local anesthetics like lidocaine can last anywhere from 1 to 3 hours. However, some patients may experience numbness for a shorter or longer period depending on their specific circumstances and the amount of anesthetic administered.
Recommendations for Breastfeeding
Most dental professionals agree that it is generally safe to breastfeed after dental numbing, but timing is crucial. The consensus is that mothers should wait until the numbness has completely worn off before nursing. This is primarily to prevent the risk of the baby accidentally being harmed by the mother’s inability to feel her breast or nipple properly, which could lead to biting or other complications.
In practical terms, if you receive dental numbing, it is advisable to wait at least 2 to 3 hours after the procedure before breastfeeding. This timeframe allows the anesthetic to diminish sufficiently, ensuring that the mother has regained full sensation and control.
Safety Considerations
While the local anesthetics used in dental procedures are considered safe for breastfeeding mothers, it is always wise to consult with your dentist or healthcare provider. They can provide personalized advice based on the specific anesthetic used and your health history. Additionally, if any medications were prescribed post-procedure, it’s essential to discuss their compatibility with breastfeeding.
Conclusion
In summary, while dental numbing is a common and generally safe procedure for breastfeeding mothers, waiting 2 to 3 hours after the numbness subsides is recommended before resuming breastfeeding. This precaution helps ensure the safety and comfort of both mother and child. Always consult with your healthcare provider for tailored advice and peace of mind.

How long does lidocaine stay in your system?

Elimination: The half-life of lidocaine is approximately 1.5 to 2 hours and is prolonged in patients with congestive heart failure and hepatic impairment. Approximately 90% of the drug is excreted in the urine.

Can I put numbing cream on my nipples before breastfeeding?

Lidocaine skin cream and breastfeeding
Be careful to ensure lidocaine cream does not get onto your breast or nipple area. Wash it off thoroughly if it does and before feeding your baby. Some lidocaine creams contain other ingredients such as prilocaine, which are also OK to use while breastfeeding.

Can I breastfeed 12 hours after anesthesia?

Patients should resume breastfeeding as soon as desired after surgery11 because anesthetic drugs appear in such low levels in breastmilk. It is not recommended that patients “pump and dump” and rather they should “sleep and keep”13.

How long do you have to wait to eat after getting numbed at the dentist?

If you’ve recently had dental work done, you might be wondering when you can eat again. In most cases, you are able to eat as soon as the numbing agent wears off. Chewing while your tongue is numb is never a good idea. The Novocain should wear off within about three hours, but can sometimes take longer.

How long to wait to breastfeed after dental anesthesia NHS?

Sedation can be given as well as local anaesthesia or on its own for various procedures. You can breastfeed as soon as you feel able to hold your child safely.

How long after local anesthetic can I breastfeed?

Following high doses of tumescent lidocaine in liposuction, avoid breastfeeding for 48 hours.” (Medications and Mothers’ Milk database, Dr Thomas Hale PhD). 1. ##Zeisler JA, Gaarder TD, De Mesquita SA. Lidocaine excretion in breast milk. Drug Intell Clin Pharm 1986; 20(9):691-693. 2. ##Dryden RM, Lo MW.

Can you breastfeed after getting numbed at the dentist?

There is no evidence to interrupt breastfeeding after the use of local anaesthetics. Local anaesthetics work by deadening sensation of the nerve endings around the tooth. There is no evidence of passage into breastmilk and therefore no reason not to continue breastfeeding.

Do I have to pump and dump after anesthesia?

It is not recommended that patients “pump and dump” and rather they should “sleep and keep”13.

How long does lidocaine stay in your system breastfeeding?

Drug Levels
Six women were given 3.6 mL of lidocaine 2% without epinephrine and a seventh received 4.5 mL and 7.2 mL lidocaine 2% without epinephrine on two separate occasions for dental procedures. Milk lidocaine concentrations averaged 120.5 mcg/L at 3 hours after the dose and 58.3 mcg/L 6 hours after the dose.

How long to pump and dump after numbing cream?

“The standard thinking has been ‘pump and dump’ – discarding the breast milk for 24 hours after anesthesia. As an outdated practice, it is not evidence-based and is potentially harmful for babies. The evidence shows that this breast milk is safe.”

Natasha Lunn

Tash is an IBCLC and Business Coach helping fellow IBCLCs create fun, profitable businesses that are more than just an expensive hobby. Before becoming an IBCLC and starting her private practice - The Boobala, Tash graduated as an Osteopath in 2008 and has been in Private Practice in South West Sydney. She was also a volunteer Breastfeeding Counsellor and Community Educator with the Australian Breastfeeding Association for 6 years. Through her business, Your Lactation Biz, Tash coaches and creates products to help new and seasoned IBCLCs build businesses that suit their personality and lifestyle.

Leave a Comment