Health Care Providers’ Perspective and Knowledge about Peri-Surgical Medication and Practices in Breastfeeding Women

Lena De Hondt (), Santina Lisa Gorsen, Patrick Verburgh, Kristien De Paepe, Joke Muyldermans and Eline Tommelein
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Lena De Hondt: Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Laerbeeklaan 103, 1090 Jette, Belgium
Santina Lisa Gorsen: Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, In Vitro Toxicology and Dermato-Cosmetology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Laerbeeklaan 103, 1090 Jette, Belgium
Patrick Verburgh: Ziekenhuis Netwerk Antwerpen Stuivenberg, Langebeeldekensstraat 267, 2060 Antwerpen, Belgium
Kristien De Paepe: Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, In Vitro Toxicology and Dermato-Cosmetology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Laerbeeklaan 103, 1090 Jette, Belgium
Joke Muyldermans: Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Laerbeeklaan 103, 1090 Jette, Belgium
Eline Tommelein: Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Laerbeeklaan 103, 1090 Jette, Belgium

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 4, 1-13

Abstract: Many guidelines offer recommendations to support the continuation of breastfeeding and the choice of medication when a mother undergoes a surgical procedure. The aim of this study is to investigate health care providers’ (HCPs) current practices and knowledge about peri-surgical medication and practices in breastfeeding women. We performed a cross-sectional study in Flanders (Belgium) assessing demographics, beliefs about breastfeeding and its health benefits, current practices concerning breastfeeding women undergoing (surgical) procedures and specific knowledge about the use of medication during breastfeeding. Two hundred and ninety-one (291) participants completed the online questionnaire. Many participants considered their knowledge about breastfeeding to be good, and almost all participants acknowledged the superiority of breastfeeding and the importance of its continuation. Very few participants were, however, familiar with the available protocols concerning surgical procedures in breastfeeding women. Less than half of the participants routinely advised the recommended practices to protect breastfeeding. For most of the peri-surgical medication, participants needed to look-up information about the compatibility with breastfeeding. We conclude that there is a knowledge gap and recommend the development of a comprehensive guideline as well as implementation of this information in basic and post-academic training.

Keywords: analgesics; general anesthetics; breastfeeding; health care professionals; lactating; local anesthetics; surgical procedures (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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