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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

...to not want to breastfeed whilst on medication?

39 replies

RoboticSealpup · 14/04/2015 13:52

Even if fanatics breastfeeding groups like La Leche League, as well as some physicians are saying that it's "probably OK" to take steroids? AIBU to think that "probably" is not good enough, and put up with sore joints and inflammation (rheumatoid arthritis) while I try to teach my EBF baby to accept a bottle of formula, however long that will take?

I'm so confused and upset about this. I wanted to BF for a year, but there's so much conflicting information everywhere, I feel like I should just take the safest option, even if it will be hard. DD won't even take a bottle of EBM at the moment, who knows if she will even tolerate formula?

OP posts:
Piffyonarockbun · 14/04/2015 13:54

im sure someone else will know the name of it but there is a charity that will tell you for sure if youre ok to breastfeed on certain drugs. my gp told me not to breastfeed on a certain drug but i emailed this charity and their pharmacist emailed me back and confirmed it was safe. they saved my sanity! i wish i could recall the name though Sad .

PotteringAlong · 14/04/2015 13:55

They say probably because it hasn't been tested for that reason - testing drugs safe for pregnancy and Breastfeeding is an ethical midfield.

If you don't want to take the risk, that's fine, everyone has their own line in the sand.

Piffyonarockbun · 14/04/2015 13:56

BFN breastfeeding network. they have a drug line or you can email. i emailed at about 1am in tears and had a reply when i woke at 9. they are amazing!! i started a thread on it at the time so just searched for it. hope they help give you some clarity. Smile

PotteringAlong · 14/04/2015 13:57

www.breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk

The Breastfeeding network are great

rollmeover · 14/04/2015 13:59

I breastfed with prednisone, I was told it was fine by all the docs and dd doesnt appear to have any aftereffects!

ladyrosy · 14/04/2015 14:03

You have to do what you are comfortable with, and that's not unreasonable at all. A stressed/worried mum is no good for anyone.

Yours sincerely,

A breastfeeding fanatic in waiting, pfb too comfortable in my womb at 40+3. Wink

PterodactylTeaParty · 14/04/2015 14:11

Well of course YANBU, you do what you're comfortable with.

But I don't think calling groups like LLL 'fanatics' is the best way to go here, honestly. They're trying to give out useful information to women, not telling you that you must breastfeed and who cares what medication you're on. I found the BfN pharmacist advice line really useful for one drug I wanted to take - they gave me all the scientific info that's known about that drug so I could make an informed choice, when the doctor was just saying "well I have no idea so you need to switch to formula."

PterodactylTeaParty · 14/04/2015 14:12

'wanted to take' isn't the best phrasing there! 'Needed', rather.

Welshmaenad · 14/04/2015 14:15

If you don't want to breastfeed, for whatever reason, you don't have to.

If you don't want to take medication whilst feeding, if the assurances you are given do not reassure YOU and your options are formula, or constant pain, I think you'd be mental not to give formula to be honest, it's one of the things it's intended for. Your baby, your choice, nobody else's business.

Try heating the milk a little warmer, my Mmostly bf babies liked their bottles almost hot (but obviously check it won't burn their mouths).

DisappointedOne · 14/04/2015 14:18

There are steroids which are safe for breastfeeding mothers. I had to take them within a week of DD being born (I had severe PUPPS).

Original poster
RoboticSealpup · 14/04/2015 14:18

I really, really do want to breastfeed and I'm worried how my DD will react to not being BF'd to sleep, etc, if I stop... But I'm also really worried about the risk, that's why it's such a hard choice.

OP posts:
duplodon · 14/04/2015 14:22

You are probably over amplifying the risk. Anxiety is your problem here, not actual risk.

HappinessHappening · 14/04/2015 14:25

You have to weigh up the risks/benefits yourself and come to a conclusion you are happy with

People saying things are 'probably safe' are doing the best they can, a lot of meds are probably safe but they would be very unprofessional to give you any guarantees

I have breastfed on several very strong medications, I talked to the fantastic people at the breastfeeding network (including a pharmasist who really knew her stuff) I read online research, I talked to others who had been in the same position and I made my choice. Had I decided the meds were too risky I also would have stopped them while breastfeeding and tried to cope with the consequences (and no I don't think that is 'mental') and if I couldn't have I would have mixed fed or formula fed. Someone else might have made an entirely different decision but neither would be right or wrong

BertieBotts · 14/04/2015 14:26

The breastfeeding network helpline is the definitive one. They'll be able to tell you what the research is, and whether it's a risk or whether people are erring on the side of caution, what the research is if there is any. Really informative folk. For example some drugs can be safe for combined feeding - if the dosage is once a day and it's possible to wait several hours before feeding for example. But if they don't know, they'll be able to tell you that the risk is not known rather than saying it's "probably okay".

Good luck - I hope you can find a solution.

MigGril · 14/04/2015 14:33

There is a risk to formula feeding as well to your babies health, there really are very few medications that are unsafe to take while breastfeeding. Most say not to as they are not allowed to test them on breastfeeding mum's. But they are often given to babies in much larger doses then they would ever get though your breast milk. Some medications won't even past though into the milk much due to how they are absorbed by the body. We can't say what you need to take won't be comparable or not, email the drugs in breast milk helpline the pharmacist who run's it is the UK's leading expert in this field. She really does know her stuff.

And if you make the decision that you don't feel that you can carry on feeding and taking your medicine then they will also give you support to stop if that is what you want to do. So do ask them for that as well. And good luck.

RedToothBrush · 14/04/2015 14:56

Ok. Risk is a funny business and one that people don't understand terribly well.

The problem with testing on breastfeeding women is the ethics. So the default position is that it 'may cause harm' because they legally don't have data to say it doesn't. However on the flip side of that there isn't data that says it does cause harm.

Because someone is liable, the default position is more cautious than it might be for something like a naturally occurring food containing similar chemicals (an example for argument's sake)

I would concur with others saying your issue is more about anxiety than the drugs.

Probably in this situation is actually quite a strong word and simply says there's never been any thing to definitively show a problem but they can't guarantee it. Either way, if there is a risk it must be small otherwise we would be very likely to be aware of it.

And technically doctors shouldn't say anything stronger about any drug given to any patient for any reason because they are unable to predict side effects.

There is always a risk attached to every drug.

orangeone · 14/04/2015 15:08

Please call Wendy at the drugs in Breastfeeding helpline - link below. If you really want to breastfeed still then they will be able to advise and support you.
www.breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk/detailed-information/drugs-in-breastmilk/

Skeeter3 · 14/04/2015 15:08

I was always told, if it can be prescribed to a baby it can be taken whilst pregnant or breastfeeding.

Honsandrevels · 14/04/2015 15:24

No one is such a 'fanatic' Hmm that they are prepared to risk their baby's health. I contacted the BFN and they gave me a clear understanding of how my medication could effect my milk. They were great! I fed dd2 for over a year.

I was told I couldn't bf with dd1 and it was only during my 2nd pregnancy that a consultant said that she would be happy for me to bf on my meds that I contacted the bfn. In the end dd2 was premature and I had to be 'signed off' to bf by the hospital pharmacist.

leedy · 14/04/2015 15:30

Seconding/thirding/whatevering talking to Wendy at the BFN helpline, she really knows her stuff. BFN factsheets also useful. Lactmed website/app is a really good source as well, though it's American so doesn't always have the common UK/Ireland names for drugs. As PP have said, a lot of the package inserts etc. are arse-covering because they haven't explicitly tested their drugs on lactating women, but specialist pharmacists like Wendy have the most up to date data on how the drug is absorbed/excreted and the possible effects on baby, including how to time doses to minimize exposure to baby. Obviously it's still up to you after you get that info, but at least you'll know you got the most reliable information before making your decision.

I have at this stage breastfed on antidepressants, steroids, several antibiotics, and an anti-fungal, having been impressively unwell in the first year of both my sons' lives. Both of them still have the right number of heads....

bumbleymummy · 14/04/2015 16:22

Some great advice here re the BFN. Hope you get sorted.

bronya · 14/04/2015 16:47

Your doctor will have a book that tells you if it is Ok and why. Ask to see it. Some medications do not pass into the milk in sufficient quantities to be a problem.

leedy · 14/04/2015 16:50

Actually your doctor may not "have a book" (Hale's Medication and Mother's Milk is the one), or will get the info from the manufacturers (see above re arse-covering) - a lot of doctors aren't necessarily all that clued-in about BF safety and medication, and/or confuse safety in pregnancy with safety in breastfeeding: though normally it's a matter of telling you you can't take things rather than that you can, IYKWIM. I was told by one idiot locum I had to wean to take one drug I was on, turned out she was completely wrong (fortunately I got a second opinion).

leedy · 14/04/2015 16:51

(My own GP used the info from the BFN, he said it was excellent)

PretzelPrincess · 14/04/2015 17:19

I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis after giving birth and was in the same position as you!
I decided to have a steroid injection as the one dose of steroid carried fewer risks. I don't think I would have taken a course of steroids though.
My joint pain was really bad and making me feel really down and I found it difficult to look after the baby.
It's a totally personal decision though so do whatever makes you feel comfortable!

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