To expect not to be told to stop breastfeeding in order to take a drug that has been classified as SAFE for breastfeeding

[BeyondTheLimitsOfAcceptability]

I have a rheum appt coming up and am psyching myself up for it. I have psoriatic arthritis and need to start DMARDs asap, however consultant refuses to prescribe them while I am breastfeeding. The paperwork I was given by the hospital says sulfasalazine is safe for BF, directly contradicting the consultant!

DS2 is 15m and on one feed a day now. I'm half tempted to say I've stopped, I won't as I don't tell lies to HCPs, but IABU to think the consultant is BU? I went in last time saying "but it says its safe" and was told I was wrong

And, what do I do? If it were a GP, I could get a second opinion easily, yes? How do I do that with an NHS specialist?

The research on childhood obesity has been debunked.Research re formula says one thing one minute and something else the next.Formula is one of the most scrutinised foods there is.It isn't a drug.

The fact is if you lead a healthy lifestyle a few months of formula aren't going to have much of an impact ie any risk is utterly minute as the years of formula fed babies(which the maj of adults are in this country)attest to.

Obesity is caused by too many pies and not enough exercise.

Vinegar - amino acid based formula like Neocate or Nutrimagen are prescribed to babies who can't tolerate milk or soya formulas.

I understood the implication maja - just pointing out that all milks including BM contain amino acids.

The research on childhood obesity has been debunked.

MrButtercat, I am really interested to hear that. Would you give me a link so I can read the research or more info?

Golly gosh, no, I didnt think to ask
I thought I'd just assume I knew better than a qualified specialist just because I'm a mum, BFC and a biology student!

On the other hand, you could read my posts and see that I did query it, and was told I was wrong, it was never safe for ANY bf mum (not what Redastra said), regardless of the fact that the literature he gave me contradicted this.

I'm trying very hard not to rise to it, but you seem determined to word all of your posts to sound like a ill-informed twat who is being argumentative for the sake of it.

BeyondTheLimitsOf Acceptibility,

I hope my post has made things a bit clearer, it is not the hard and fast answer as to why some things are not prescribed but it is one possible reason.

The other people to contact for advice is the Arthritis UK charities
www.arthritisresearchuk.org and www.arthritiscare.org.uk

You are also perfectly entitled to ask your GP to organise a second opinion for you if you feel you would like to discuss everything with someone else. (Can I ask whereabouts you are?)

I also suggest to patients to stick a sheet of paper to the work top in the kitchen with a pen and everytime you or your partner think of a question right it down, read over them the night before going to the appointment and take it with you so that if you get flustered or tongue-tied (I do when it is about me) then you have something to keep you focused.

I also feel really bad for you that your thread has been hijacked by a discussion about breastfeeding/formulas/general nitpickishness (is that even a word?!?!)about individuals personal choices and beliefs!!

Nah Www.Google.Com plenty of debunking and debunking "research" changes aaaaaalll the time.IQ one minute,not the next.

Couldn't give a stuff I bf(but how long is a piece of string). Also used formula later as using ones common sense it's a far healthier and safer food than the vast maj of foods fed to toddlers.

I used the same common sense to avoid my babies consuming drugs which haven't been as scrutinised or as widely used.

Thread hijack was very expected in AIBU, its not a problem

I'm in Newport

Op I am glad you got the info,I am surprised as every consultant I've ever asked answers my questions re anything.I do do the pen and paper thing though.

One to thing to keep in mind OP is that, at 15 months, your baby is relying on breast milk for a lower percentage of her calories than a newborn, who is completely dependent on it. Also, she has a much more mature liver now, so will be better able to metabolise any drug metabolites which may enter milk.
The decision to take a DMARD should never be made lightly, but assuming your DD is a healthy toddler then the benefits of breastfeeding far outweigh any risk of small levels of drug metabolite potentially being present in the small amount of milk she is drinking.

MrButtercat I really didn't need a GIYF response. I wanted to know if you actually had evidence that the obesity link with FF had been definitely debunked.

You've answered me by omission, however, so I know that you have no actual, concrete evidence and it was just goading. Thank you.

MrButter, you say "The research on childhood obesity has been debunked.Research re formula says one thing one minute and something else the next.Formula is one of the most scrutinised foods there is."

All of that is utter rubbish - please don't send people to Google for their answers when you are challenged.

Formula is indeed 'scrutinised' though in that it has to meet nutritional minimums and be produced under hygienic conditions. But scrutiny and knowledge also shows that it is not the same as breastmilk and in particular does not have human antibodies which play an important role in supporting health and well-being. No amount of 'scrutiny' will make these suddenly appear in formula....

The info from the manufacturer is to use with caution as it is present in small amounts in breastmilk.

Probably fine to use, but there are no definite answers. Your consultant should be able to justify his decision though.

www.medicines.org.uk/emcmobile/medicine/3344/spc

kelpeed, amino acid based formula is for babies who are allergic to cow's milk/soya milk. The OP isn't giving her baby hypoallergenic milk.

Sorry, maybe this has already been said (I can't read all the shit stirring nonsense from the no life brigade) but just to say

You are entitled to a second opinion in the NHS

Buttercat, do you work for Nestle?

I don't think "amino-acid" based suggests a superior product - it suggests something artificially created, or stripped down to the bare essentials. Most people would baulk at having to feed their baby an amino-acid based milk rather than a cow's milk (or even soya) based milk.

But cow's milk and BM are "amino acid based". That's what both me and kelpeed were pointing out. More accurate to stick to calling them hypoallergenic imho.

Anyway it has diddly squat to do with the OP's issue so I am bowing out now.

He's entitled to not want to take the risk with your toddlers health, it may later turn out to be dangerous and it will be on his conscience if it does. Not to mention the potential lawsuits if a drug he prescribes to a woman harms her child to never needed to be exposed to it in the first place.

'who' never needed to be exposed to it.

Please give an example of any case where a mother has sued her doctor for prescribing a safe drug to use when breastfeeding when the mother has been fully aware and able to choose, and chooses to continue, zatya.

This just does not happen.