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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

WRT breastfeeding and doctor?

48 replies

FattyMcChubster · 23/04/2013 19:46

Not sure if I am or not

Have an infection so went to see gp today and was prescribed antib's. Asked about thrush treatment at the same time as antib's usually give me thrush but explained I couldn't use a pessary at the moment and was it ok to have the tablet as I'm breastfeeding.
At this point the doctor realised I couldn't have the antib's he'd prescribed and became a bit dramatic for want of a better word. Ripped up the prescription in front of my face and was quite huffy getting his book out to look up what I could have. "you'll have to wait now while I look this up" that's fine, I'd rather be sure.
He then says "well there's nothing we can give you that's safe so you'll have to stop bf"
I explained I didn't want to stop bf just like that. He said he would have to speak to a consultant and get back to me about what, if anything, I could have.

I just felt like I'd 'put him out' and he wasn't impressed I'd rather find another option. I shouldn't have to just stop bf should I? The infection isn't life threatening, obviously i wouldn't put my life at risk.

So, AIBU? Is it normal to have to stop bf if you need to take medication? I'm not normally good at standing up for myself so I was a bit at having to say 'no' (I'm much more of a walkover 'yes' person normally).

OP posts:

UnderwaterBasketWeaving · 23/04/2013 20:05

Good grief. The NHS recommend BF exclusively for a year and continuing till 2 and he looks at your 10 month old and doesn't even think to ask?!

Ridiculous.

whoopwhoopbib · 23/04/2013 20:06

ipswichwitch do we have the same rheumatologist??? Mine told me to get to 4 months (this was 2 weeks away) and stop bf so I could take my tablets again. I refused and am still bf 13 month old dd.

I also took antibiotics when dd was a week old which were prescribed by my gp so it is possible to take them whilst bf. Luckily my gp has been really supportive of my bf so I am grateful of his help.

OrangeFootedScrubfowl · 23/04/2013 20:08

Off topic but can't you use a pessary when breastfeeding? I was prescribed one when pregnant.

mrscog · 23/04/2013 20:08

Unbelievable. This might also be useful info but you can take the single dose flucozanol tablet if you're bf (lovely GP checked for me :) )

AnyoneforTurps · 23/04/2013 20:11

As a GP, this sounds very odd - unless you need an extremely unusual antibiotic. Almost all the common ones can be taken while bf. Even in extreme cases where a drug really is incompatible with bf, I wouldn't advise stopping bf for a medication that only needs to be taken short-term, like an antibiotic. A better option would be to express & discard.

Pitmountainpony · 23/04/2013 20:12

Ignore- old fashioned doc and pharmacy lady- or she did not breasfeed and does not get it.
How crazy to say switch to formula- why would you do that unless it was the only choice?
I think there a lot of ill educated people out there or they just formula fed and don't really have an awareness of the benefits of breastfeeding so cannot see it as a big deal if you just stop.
I would actually complain about that doc so he gets some training in bedside manners!!

BedHanger · 23/04/2013 20:12

I was advised by a paediatrician to stop bf'ing DS1 at four months because I had PND and "he's had all the benefit by now".

Springforward · 23/04/2013 20:12

What an arse. The BF network factsheets are really helpful and most pharmacists IME will take the time to look medicines up for you.

I did actually follow my GP from his locum post at my old practice to his permanent post at another practice because he was so pro extended BF, though. I developed PND almost a year after DS' birth and I wanted to let DS self-wean really, so GP rang a psychiatrist at the hospital for his opinion and found something safe for both of us. Because he could be bothered, I guess, bless him.

Original poster

FattyMcChubster · 23/04/2013 20:16

Orange- cant use the pessary at the moment for other reasons which is why I asked him about the tablet. Never even crossed my mind about the antibiotics which is why I hadn't mentioned it earlier.

OP posts:

whoopwhoopbib · 23/04/2013 20:25

OrangeFooted i have had a pessary whilst bf and checked with the nurse who was prescribing that it was ok. Surely if you can have them during pregnancy bf shouldn't be any different. The nurse wouldn't let me have one when I first took the antibiotics because I had very recently had my dd, although she was an emcs I think it was to do with my cervix etc.

OrangeFootedScrubfowl · 23/04/2013 20:30

Oh right, I was wondering why it'd be ok for pregnancy but not breastfeeding, sorry for being dense!

FatimaLovesBread · 23/04/2013 20:37

Those that are saying they had antibiotics for mastitis or whatever when breastfeeding, it depends on what the infection is as to what antibiotics can be used. So it could be an infection that requires certain antibiotics that aren't suitable but I'm sure there should be a more broad spectrum kind that could be used. I supposed it depends on what the bacteria is.

Stupid that he expects you to just stop breastfeeding though

FannyBazaar · 23/04/2013 20:37

Your GP could benefit from some training in breastfeeding. If you have an Infant Feeding Specialist/Baby Friendly Coordinator in your area then they would appreciate you passing on the GPs details so they can contact them.

YoniRaver · 23/04/2013 20:43

Another person here who has taken anti-biotics while b/f.

It never ceases to amaze me how many HCP's try and bully you to give up breast feeding including the dietician of DS's Gastro team

1Catherine1 · 23/04/2013 20:48

He's an arse... To put it simply. And I have been prescribed 2 different antibiotics while BF. My doctors have all been wonderful about checking up if it is ok to BF with certain drugs. I would just see another one and not go back to that one.

sleepyhead · 23/04/2013 20:55

I've just finished courses of metronidazole and clindamycin for the treatment of postnatal infections. Ds2 was 8 days old when I started on them and has shown no ill effects.

I also had erythromycin when I was bf ds1. He would have been around 6 weeks old.

I'm allergic to penicillin but I know that's fine with bf as well.

BrianCoxandTheTempleofDOOM · 23/04/2013 20:58

I'm BF 4 week old DS, have wound infection, on 2nd lot if antibiotics, these are very strong, I questioned GP as to safety for DS and she did a thorough check whilst on the phone to me explaining that the meds only cause problems requiring stopping BF when taken in high a high dose (ie 5 x 2ng tablets at once instead of my 1 tablet 3 times a.day)

I'm on metrinazadole or something (can't check atm)

My GP was amazing, so helpful. yours sounds like an arse .

Startail · 23/04/2013 20:59

YANBU and I would be tempted to a formal complaint.

Just swap to formula ROFL, DD2 wouldn't take a bottle when her life depended on it. She was weaned at 5.5 months straight on to yoghurt which she would eat. (She'd fallen of the all powerful weight chart).

thebitchdoctor · 23/04/2013 21:02

I'm not condoning the doctors attitude but out of curiosity what kind of infection do you have and what antibiotics did he prescribe? There are some infections that only respond to antibiotics that aren't suitable for BF you see.

neunundneunzigluftballons · 23/04/2013 21:15

You are not being unreasonable and he sounds like a total idiot.I went to a gp who told me women who had thrush could not be treated while bf even after I showed him a publication from our health authority on its treatment. He charged me 50 euro from that useless knowledge. Needless to say I never went back and I got a new very supportive go who is fab.I throw my old gp the evils every time I see him I would say he has got the message by now.

HappyAsASandboy · 23/04/2013 21:22

I think you should write to the practice manager to complain. It might trigger the other GPs at the practice to suggest the terrible one goes on some additional training.

For what it's worth, I have taken several different types of antibiotics while breastfeeding, so they are available. I do have to check with GP that any prescription is ok while breast feeding, but I think it's more reasonable that they assume I've stopped feeding after 2.5 years than after 10 months.

HorryIsUpduffed · 23/04/2013 21:37

Yanbu.

In fairness, so few women bf past six months that it would be very unusual for him to meet someone still bf at ten months. But that's no excuse. A very good OOH GP I saw for mastitis said "here's the ABs but they will likely upset your stomach and his. You might decide that's worse than the infection itself." Useful, sensitive information.

Original poster

FattyMcChubster · 23/04/2013 21:53

Bitchdoctor- I've got an infection following a LLETZ treatment.
I was meant to see the consultant at the hospital but he wasn't available all day and I was advised to go to the gp so I could at least get on antibiotics asap. Ironically the gp ended up having to contact the consultant to advise on which ones to give me.
I know it wasn't the gp's place to see me but when I can't get to see the consultant and advised to see gp, what choice do I have?

OP posts:

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