Have to stop breast feeding 😢

[MulderitsmeX]

I have factor V leiden so I pregnancy took aspirin and heparin to prevent miscarriage. All went well and now have ds age 10 months.

Decided to casually start ttc again this month and got a bfp 2 days ago.

I went to the docs to get all my prescriptions today and now realised that I can't have Aspirin whilst BF!! I'm such an idiot I didn't think to check, if I had realised I would have held off til DS turned 1. Part of me thinks should I just hold off for a week or so (waiting to see specialist). I feel so bad for DS as he loves feeding and neither of is are ready to stop :( feel like such a twit

[CountessVonBoobs]

What dose of aspirin do you take?

I would speak to Wendy at the Drugs in Breast milk helpline before you make any final decisions. If you are taking a low dose of aspirin and/or since your baby is a 10mo who is much bigger and more rugged than a neonate you may not have to stop, or there may be a substitution of some kind. Don't panic yet.

Contact Wendy here: www.breastfeeding-and-medication.co.uk/contact-me

[Stringofpearls]

Firstly, congratulations! Is there any safe alternative that the doctor could give you? If not we'll it's a little earlier than intended, but you've done well to get to 10 months. Why not introduce the formula in bottles but curl up together and really cuddle him in so it feels sort of similar for you both. I know it won't be quite the same, but it will all work out.

[CountessVonBoobs]

The BFN factsheet on aspirin in breastfeeding indicates that higher, analgesic doses of aspirin are a no no in breastfeeding but low dose 75mg aspirin for anti clotting purposes is OK.

[DameSylvieKrin]

Can you see GP or get a phone consult today?
I just looked aspirin up on the Embryotox service and it says while not the therapy of choice for pain, it is appropriate for other reasons while breastfeeding.
Perhaps your GP can confirm before you have to wean.

[Fr3d]

Definitely check with Wendy as pp said. She literally wrote the book on drugs and bf! And got an MBE for it

[kabs]

There's a good chance there is a workaround. All the advice about not taking asprin is careful to say that it shouldn't be used as a painkiller. But your baby is older, you would be taking a different dose, possibly in a different form, it might not be a problem. Contact your local breastfeeding support groups (la leche league helped me with a similar problem) and see if they can direct you to information that you can take back to your gp.

[kabs]

Oops. Cross posted. Wendy sounds like she'd be able to help!

[MulderitsmeX]

CountessVonBoobs the dose is 75mg. The doctor was saying it can cause liver damage to DS but I will contact Wendy thank you for that x

Stringofpearls thanks, I know I'm being an idiot as it's so close to a year anyway but just feel so emotional about it as I had built up in my head having an evening cuddle feed after work. I wasn't even initially planning to BF at all but I've just become addicted to it! I might keep pumping and dumping in case there's any chance I can come off the asprin once the heparin is established. (That's fine with BF as was on that post birth)

I only started to TTC as it took for ever with DS and I also feel a bit worried he won't feel like he's my baby anymore. Definitely overly hormonal today haha xx

[lovely36]

Don't be too hard on yourself for it. I got very ill when I gave birth and lost lots of bloodZ I had to get multiple blood transfusions therefor had to be in the hospital for two weeks. I was fainting every other hour. Once while I was having a shower. I couldn't stop bleeding so I ended up fainting in the shower, fell and hit my head on the tile floor in the hospital. Anyway because of it nurses had to stay with me at all times and unfortunately I was too weak to breastfeed. I tried and tired and my body was just in shock so my son wasn't getting any milk. We had to give him formula. I was heart broken as I wanted to Brest feed for my baby. Point is, he's fine. Don't feel too guilty if you need to stop. He'll be perfectly ok I promise! Take care of yourself so you can take care of your baby. ❤️

[ninalovesdragons]

I've just checked the BNF (official guidance for doctors) and it does advise that you avoid aspirin due to risk of Reye's syndrome in your DS. You've done ten months of BFeedjng which is a fantastic achievement but please don't continue with the aspirin, it could harm your baby and it's not worth the risk

[CountessVonBoobs]

A 75mg dose should be OK from what I've read. Issues with Reyes syndrome were in women taking several g of aspirin daily as pain relief for arthritis or similar.

But I would take Wendy's advice 100%. She is a qualified pharmacist, more knowledgeable about drugs than a doctor and the absolute expert in drugs and BF.

[MulderitsmeX]

Thanks for all the help and support by
Guys. Going to use my freezer stores from tomorrow (about 1 week worth) so just enjoying a few last feeds with DS

[CountessVonBoobs]

Did you speak to Wendy, Mulder?

It's your life, your body and your baby but it's a shame to give up unnecessarily if you both really enjoy breastfeeding.

[MulderitsmeX]

Have emailed Wendy too btw!

[CountessVonBoobs]

Congrats and good luck with the pregnancy whatever you decide :)

[MulderitsmeX]

Thanks countess :)

I emailed Wendy and she said it Was ok. I will be going to the RMC at st Mary's anyway to get my clexane so I might give DS formula/frozen milk for a week but keep pumping my milk so the supply is maintained. I'll then check with the consultant when I see them.

[littledinaco]

I would trust Wendy’s advice over the consultant. This is her specialist area where as GPs/consultants probably won’t have much experience and may advise against it when it’s fine.

If Wendy says it’s ok then it will be, you’re good to carry on breastfeeding

[CountessVonBoobs]

Yes, Wendy is a better authority than your consultant. Many doctors actually know very little about how drugs work, are excreted or metabolised etc and even less about breastfeeding and advise to stop BF out of overcaution even when it's 100% not necessary. The published factsheets I have seen also state that daily low dose aspirin is fine in BF, it's just that aspirin should not be used as a painkiller in BFing women. The standard painkilling dose of aspirin is 300 or 600mg every 4 to 6 hours, so easily can be 2.4g per 24 hours. The anti-clotting dose of 75mg is tiny in comparison (only 3%).

[MulderitsmeX]

Ah i see that makes sense. Thanks - yes it is such a small amount isn-t it.

The consultant messaged the GP today and said im actually fine with just the clexane for now so will hold off the asprin until i see them anyway. Had a lovely day of feeds with DS :)