Or should the GP have known better.

[Pittcuecothecookbook]

Gave birth 7ish weeks ago. I have absolutely incredibly painful piles, to the point I have to BF standing up as I can't sit down without incrutiating pain. Finally got the courage to visit GP. I confirmed I'd been using germaloid cream, regular paracetamol and taking lactulose but it wasn't improving. He told me to up the lactulose and went to the effort to prove to me it was safe while BFing on an app that listed medicines and various details.

He also prescribed a steroid oitment and I've just gone to use it and on the instructions it says in bold: do not use this product if pregnant or breastfeeding

So aibu to be mega pissed that this was prescribed to me when gp was fully aware I was a breastfeeding new mum?! And what do I do now? Call the reception tomorrow to make a new appt, or just call and ask to speak to him on the phone? Or just leave it?

Yanbu, start by phoning reception to get the ball rolling on getting your meds sorted, and you can write to the practice to complain as well.

Yes he should have checked!

Don't most medicines say that though? And then it's the GP's job to decide whether the benefit outweighs the risk?

I've always found this website useful.
www.breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk/drugs-factsheets/
There's also an option to contact them. I had to have a steroid injection and although the doctor said it was ok with breastfeeding, I still checked with the bfn.

Call the reception tomorrow and ask for a call back explaining the medication error. Also see if they will prescribe you paracetamol suppositories as these really helped me with the pain of horrendous piles after dc1's birth. Can you breastfeed lying down on your side at all? I found that helped for me when sitting was too painful.

Somebodys: no, my germaloid cream said 'speak to your gp or pharmacist before using this product if pregnant or breastfeeding' and when I did, got the OK. This specifically says don't use it which seems very final!

If gp happy to prescribe this in spite of it saying that, wish he would have warned me! I'll hopefully be able to clarify tomorrow

Lots of therapies are perfectly safe whilst breastfeeding and pregnant but say not to be used because they have not specifically been tested on BF/pregnant women.

Helbelle: baby has reflux which is much worse if I feed with us lying down. Bloody nightmare!

Yes they should probably have mentioned if they decided to prescribe it even though the advice is not to to give you a heads up.

I've been in this position. The absolute dread of waking up in the morning nervous to poop then the days you don't being absolutely relieved that you didn't have to experience the worst of the pain and then what followed.

Thank god I got sorted. I got a steriods suppository from the doctor and super 8 and and oil from the pharmacy.

Use suppository cream in the morning then the suppository. And please please make sure you're drinking plenty. At least 3 litres. The breastfeeding constipation made everything worse. Regular paracetamol too.

I'd say the doc knew how bad you were when he saw you and outweighed the risks

My friend (honestly!!) blew up a rubber ring and sat on that when she was driving with piles. Could you do that and sit on your sofa?

My GP prescribed me Prozac even though I was actually breastfeeding DS in front of her at the time. Prozac is not to be taken while breastfeeding as it transfers through your milk. I was very cross to say the least! DP actually wrote a formal letter though, which I was a bit about

I had post party more eclampsia 7 days after DC2 arrived. Was in hospital while they sorted me out and they were all pushing me to express for my DC2 but I was on heavy drugs and was nervous about giving them to my newborn. So I quietly dumped until I could find out the possible effects on a BF baby. Turns out I was absolutely right not to give him my milk. But the BF pressure was huge. TRUST YOUR INSTINCTS and insist on different BF friendly medicine if BF is what you want to do. Don’t be bullied into taking anything you’re not comfortable with. Love and hugs to you. X

Cauliflower, it doesn't help doing that as the pressure seems to be worse as it kind of pushes the area down, if you see what I mean.

Geology, that's really helpful. Thank you

Which one did he prescribe op?

Post party? I wish. POST PARTUM PRE ECLAMPSIA. Gotta love predictive text.

Check with your local pharmacist whether it is safe or not, then if they say it isn’t ring and speak to prescriptions at your surgery and ask for an alternative.

Is this Scheriproct?
I can confirm it is THE best you can get but YANBU. But, maybe the doc thought the benefits massively weighed up more than the negatives and to keep you able to BF in the long run?

Yabu. I'm pregnant and really suffering the cream I've been prescribed has steroids and anaesthetic in and is safe in pregnancy and it's stronger than anusolHC which is what the normal go to cream is. When I go upstairs I'll get the name of it!

I've been given til after the weekend to see improvement or I'm being referred to the surgeons. It sounds like you're are as bad if not worse than mine (thrombosed) so push for treatment

This is drug company speak for most things Bum cream doesn't get into breast milk.

It's anusolHC. Also annoying to hear there is something stronger out there as I was in tears today describing the pain and cried when he examined me because of the pain... I don't think it could get any worse tbh and I'm not a wuss!

I've got 2 creams:

Anusol HC says don't use in pregnancy or breastfeeding

The Dr prescribed proctosedyl ointment which appears to have more hydrocortisone in than the anusol and anaesthetic and has no such warning. Read into that what you will!!

I would call up and check but I think all medicines say "don't use while pregnant BF" just to cover themselves. I certainly used a steroid cream while pregnant and in hospital and checked about a million times it wouldn't harm the baby.

@theanonymum1 - Prozac can be taken whilst breastfeeding. All antidepressants transfer to breast milk, just in differing quantities. But the doctor will weigh up the risks against the benefits when prescribing any drug to a breastfeeding woman.

Just call and clarify with same GP tomo. I got given meds the whole point of which was bf related - it was thrush medicine for my nipple and babies mouth - and said on it do not use if bf ing. I called to double check as I knew GP was aware of bf issue of course but just wanted to be doubly sure. She was and it was fine.