Consultant wants me to stop breastfeeding, I'm heartbroken

[Mummyvicky]

I was diagnosed with severe hyperthyriodism a fortnight ago, and put on lots of drugs the GP said were compatible with breastfeeding, which I looked up and were, in small doses.
I saw the consultant yesterday and the tablets aren't touching it really (and feeling crap), so I need to go onto 3 x the strength, however this means stopping the breastfeeding asap.
DS2 is 9 months, and was 5 weeks prem, hes a tiny little scrap and loves his feeding :(
But at the moment I'm a heap on the floor with this an can't do housework, walking to playschool etc Its really making a huge impact on family life, and for the kids sake I know I have to stop.
Bought ds2 the bottles and tried to chose the best formula, an organic one.I breastfed my two others to 2, and weaned naturally themselves.

I feel awful, and as this is our last child,I wanted to savour every moment, hes sitting in his highchair now trying to breastfeed his hand :(
Never thought this would be so painful to both him and I, hes down the 2 feeds, and I know next week it'll just be 1 left.
rant over, sorry but HAD to get this off my chest. In my madness of hormones even contemplating being ill like this for the next year, so I could still breastfeed :(

[moondog]

Oh gosh,how awful for you MV.
Knowing you've given him a fantastic 9 mths is I suppose of small consolation to you know.
I'm so sorry.
Are you absolutely sure that the drugs are incompatible?
If it is making you feel so ill,then logically you know you have to take the medication.

XX

[racheeeee]

I am sorry, you sound heartbroken and I feel so sad for you! I hope everything gets better for you!!!

[harpsichordcarrier]

MV that is awful for you.
have you tried contacting LLL about the drugs to get their advice?
can you carry on expressing and keep your supply up for a bit? I don't know how long you need to be on the high dosage but maybe you could carry on bf if/when your dose is lowered and build it back up then.

[threebob]

I would get some more advice about the drugs and the strength. Consultants often know diddly about bfing (not saying yours does, but well worth a second opinion).

[FastasleepInABunnySuit]

I know how you feel about being forced to stop, not that I was exactly forced but I had to express rather than feed and when I was faced with the go mad or stop expressing dilemma with DS I was really guilty for a long time! He was 9 months too, watching them spit out the formula is heartbreaking, but it doesn't seem to affect them at all in the long run!! My ds is a complete cuddle monster and perfectly intelligent and all that :)

he will be ok!!!

[FastasleepInABunnySuit]

Definately get the second opinion though!

[katyp]

MV. I also had to stop breastfeeding my third child early than planned. My problem was recurring mastitis which lead to an abscess. For the first 4 months of his life, I was almost constantly sore on one side. This made it hard to cuddle my older two properly and dh wasn't allowed anywhere near me! It was almost a relief to stop breastfeeding on the affected side as I felt so much better physically. However, I had to start combined feeding at that stage and although he fed on the other side until about 7 months this was a lot sooner to stop than with the others.

Try to focus on the fact that you will feel so much better with the medication - it is more important for your baby to have a happy and healthy mother than to continue with the breastfeeding and you have fed him for the first crucial 6 months and far longer than many others manage so you have given him a good start.

[katyp]

MV. I also had to stop breastfeeding my third child early than planned. My problem was recurring mastitis which lead to an abscess. For the first 4 months of his life, I was almost constantly sore on one side. This made it hard to cuddle my older two properly and dh wasn't allowed anywhere near me! It was almost a relief to stop breastfeeding on the affected side as I felt so much better physically. However, I had to start combined feeding at that stage and although he fed on the other side until about 7 months this was a lot sooner to stop than with the others.

Try to focus on the fact that you will feel so much better with the medication - it is more important for your baby to have a happy and healthy mother than to continue with the breastfeeding and you have fed him for the first crucial 6 months and far longer than many others manage so you have given him a good start.

[Mummyvicky]

Thanks so much everyone :)
expressing so I can feed after the meds I can't do. I have to stay on the thyriod tablets for 18 months, and then the problem could still reoccur
I'm on beta blockers too for my heart going mad at 155 bpm, and they pass through the milk too.
I just have to see it like someone said,that at least he had nearly 10 months of breastmilk :)

[Gillian76]

Sorry to hear that, MV. The Breastfeeding Network have a "Drugs in Breastmilk Helpline" and I have always found them to give sensible advice. They are also very up to date IMO (great advice on thrush ahead of most GPs knowledge).

I would give them a call. At the end of the day if it's that drug at that strength and no breastfeeding, surely that is better than how you feel right now? Your other 2 children need the best of you as well and I know it's a gut-wrenching decision, but you have given him so much already.

Well done on getting this far and really hope you're feeling better soon :)

[suzywong]

UTTER BOLLOCKS

you do NOT have to stop BF, I continuted to BF ds2 on 175mcgs of thyroxene


PLEASE CAT ME IF YOU NEED ANYMORE REASSURANCE

at your consultant

[suzywong]

oh god am I on my high horse over nothing

You aren't talking about thyroxene are you if your are hyper

sorry for posting so hastily but I really hope you can continue to bf

[throckenholt]

not sure what the implications of higher doses are - check that out to be certain.

But whatever, you cannot help being ill - and he will benefit much more from you being well. He has had a really good start already thanks to you - much better than many kids get (my twins included - I only managed to mix feed them for 9 months).

Be proud of yourself and concentrate on getting better.

[Piffle]

Mummy, its circumstnaces out of your control, I totaly understand your devastation, I would feel the same. You've done a brilliant job for your little lad by feeding hi this long.
I feel for you, I also really hope the drugs sort out your hyperthyroidism asap and you can get back to being ourself.
I would also as Bob says ask for another opinion, just on the off chance xx

[Mummyvicky]

Thank you soooo much,going to ring now!!
not going to get my hopes up too much just yet!

[Mummyvicky]

I have left a message and listed all the amounts they want to put me up to. I will post back when I hear from them.Fingers crossed!
I have the consultants email, so could send her any evidence too!

[tiktok]

www.ukmicentral.nhs.uk/drugpreg/qrg_p1.asp#Thyroid%20Drugs

www.medic8.com/healthguide/articles/hyperthyroidism.html


Dashing so can't do the linky thing but both these sites have useful and reassuring medical info for you, MV.

[Chloe55]

\link{http://www.ukmicentral.nhs.uk/drugpreg/qrg_p1.asp#Thyroid%20Drugs\there you go}

\link{http://www.medic8.com/healthguide/articles/hyperthyroidism.html\and another}

[bubblepop]

mummyvicky.well done for feeding him this long already, you've done a fab job. i had to introduce formula with my third because i really did not seem to have much milk.it turned out that i was hypothyroid.i was devasted that it hadn't worked out, like you. the most important thing is that you get yourself better to look after your kids, youve done a lot more than most manage, so give yourself a pat on the back for that, and concentrate on getting better.i think your little one would rather have a mummy who's feeding formula and well than one who's breasfeeding and is desperately poorly. good luck.

[Mummyvicky]

Just a quick note before I go out. The woman from the BFN drugs helpline was amazing ! :o
Tests show that even on a very high dose, the drug isn't present in breastmilk after 10 hours, so hopefully tha sounds like if I take the tablets first thing when I wake up, he can have a bedtime feed !!Yay
She's even sending me the evidence to show my consultant ! :) So fingers crossed !! very happy, thanks to everyone that took the time to post !

[suzywong]

Hurrah!

[Pollyanna]

can you take the tablets at your bedtime? and then you might be able to feed during the day too?

[Gillian76]

Oh so pleased for you and little DS2!

Surely if you take it about 10pm you'd be safe for feeding during the day?

Or do you take them twice a day?

[threebob]

Oh that's wonderful, it really is. And what's more wonderful is that there will now be another consultant who can give good advice to breastfeeding mothers.