Urgent advice

[lunavix]

I finally feel a tiny bit better, I've come down with tonsillitus, a viral throat infection and an ear infection. My ears are rumbling, and my heads throbbing but as I'm obviously sitting up atm I am feeling a bit better.

MIL had dd last night (dh was 'off out') and I equipped her with all my ebm, and she's down to the last 2.5oz. Would she still be better off feeding from me than formula (bearing in mind she has 'occasionally' had formula but not recently)

I've been taking a mix of codeine, penicillin and nurofen, so am wondering if my milk will be best for her.

Then I have to decide whether to have her here with me, get mil to drop her off for feeds or go round there for the day... argh my head hurts

[lunavix]

no ideas?

[belgo]

Sorry can't help, but just hope you feel better soon.

[QuootieSpookypie]

Dont think you can BF, but I really cant remember... I was on cocodramol (is that like codeine?) and BFed. Sorry, I cant spell either!

[lulumama]

i actually don't know about what meds are ok with breast feeding

call NHS direct

0845 46 47

or Boots or the pharmacy that prescribed the meds to you....

[maddiebean]

I think you should ring NHS direct as I'm not sure about all those meds in your milk. If you keep expressing you can keep your milk supply going but you may need to give dd some formula...if she's taking a bottle anyway then I wouldn't worry if it's just for the short term. I heard that Farley's is now the best rather than aptamil but whatever takes your fancy! HTH. Hope you feel better soon.

[phantomrantum]

If dd will take formula then maybe give it until you are better, but keep expressing milk regularly to keep your supply up? I really don't know, but if you are worried about the drugs it might be better for a short while. How old is dd?

[terramum]

As you are on some different drugs I would personally ring one of the bf helplines & speak to a bfc. They will be able to go through all your doses & check they are ok to bf with. From an initial look on the BfN site penicillin looks ok up to 500mg 4 times a day, neurofen (ibruprofen) is fine up to the normal max dose for an adult (3 x400mg). The only one I would worry about is the codeine. It can cause drowsiness so I would definately check with a bfc what dose is ok. How old is your DD.

[terramum]

Just to add - I personally wouldnt bother calling NHS direct - I very much doubt they would be of much help. You need to speak to someone with a copy of Hales book on medications & bfing - & most bfcs have access to this

[Mum2FunkyDude]

Lunavix, if you phone your local pharmacist they can check in the guidelines wether benefits out weigh risk in your case. They are usually very helpfull and it saves you having to phone NHS direct where they will probably tell you to speak to your gp. Make sure you have the medication at hand to explain what you are taking. They can check how much goes into breastmilk.

HTH

[lunavix]

Thanks everyone, I took advice and phoned nhs direct.

after 2 hours they phonedback , and the conclusion was 'don't know'

got a local gp to phone me who said yes it's all okay.

phone MIL - who's given her SMA! Argh. She gave her cow & gate comfort once which made her really ill, so I said she must buy hipp organic as shes used to that. Hope it doesn't make her ill too.

Argh my head hurts.

[mandymac]

All I would say is that I breastfed DD when I was taking antibiotics and it did seem to upset her stomach a bit, which my HV put down to the antibiotics getting through the milk and so knocking out the good bacteria in her stomach. She was fine after a few weeks. On balance I am glad I carried on feeding her through it, as I am still breastfeeding now at 16 months. I have taken ibufrofen and paracetamol and codeine whilst breastfeeding DD when she was pretty tiny (pain relief post delivery).

[3andnomore]

pain meds and bf
Antibiotics table about safety

I am not 100% sure right now if Ibrufen and Nurofen is the same,but if so, then it is one of the safest painmeds to take, and Penicillin is one of the safest AB's to take when bf, codein is moderately safe, whatever that may mean!

[FrannyandZooey]

La Leche League are most knowledgeable people I have found to advise on meds and breastfeeding

Hope you feel better soon

[NotQuiteCockney]

Nurofen and iboprofen are the same, yes. Nurofen is a brand name.

[olivo]

luna - sorry i cant offer any advice - just wanyed to say hello and hope you feel better soon. take care.

[mears]

lunavix - it is perfectly OK to continue to breastfeed your baby as your milk will actually be full of antibodies fighting your infection and they will protect your baby. Nurofen and penicillin is fine. Codeine can cause constipation in both you and possibly baby but you just need to keep an eye on her. Codeine isn't actually really necessary - the combination of paracetamol and nurofen may actually be enough for you. Codeine can actually make headaches worse - alwayd best to go up the analgesic ladder - that is use the simplest pain killer first. Have you tried paracetamol instead of codeine?

[Judy1234]

Yes, it would be best of your MIL were here and she brought your daughter in to feed from you if she can or you go to her place. If you feel so bad probably best not to have your daughter in your sole charge. I never had anyone to help if I felt sick so you're very lucky.

It will keep up your milk supply and the let down and hormones from the feeding etc will make you feel better too.