Stopping breastfeeding so I can take painkillers?

[StellaLuna65]

This is the point I've reached. No dentist appointments available. I have severe toothache. No appointments in my area (we are talking a 70 mile radius) and I can't get an appointment for 6-8 weeks. Sane day dentist is booked every time I phone them by the time I get through.

WIBU to stop breastfeeding my son so I can take painkillers that will actually help? I know that's incredibly selfish but I am sat here in tears as I have just been told again 'sorry we just booked our last appointment'

I was taking morphine following my c section while breastfeeding so would it be worth calling your doctor to find out what you can take? But no it’s not selfish: if you’re in a lot of pain then you need to be able to take something to manage it.

Of course not, that sounds awful. I was going to ask how old he is, but it’s irrelevant. You can’t suffer like this!
That said, I can’t believe how bad dental services are in your area. Is there not an emergency dental clinic somewhere in the vicinity you can get to?
Best of luck OP

There is Rhoda. I've tried phoning them every morning for the past week. By the time I get through all appointments are gone.

How old is baby? Could you take some painkillers and not feed for however long it takes to leave your system? I've done this before with cocodamol.

breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk/wp-content/dibm/analgesics%20and%20breastfeeding.pdf

You need to get your tooth infection sorted. Most dental teaching hospitals have emergency appointments.

Lactmed will tell you which painkillers are safe to take while breastfeeding.
www.toxnet.nlm.nih.gov/newtoxnet/lactmed.htm

Is there a dental hospital near you? They usually see emergencies.

That's not selfish.

But there's a strong possibility that you might not need to stop.

Remember a lot of the drugs are also available for baby.
'Mini morph' is given to premature infants who are born addicted.

Such a tiny amount would go through that it would be less than the dose given to them.

Please speak to your GP before stopping it might be unnecessary.

Either way it's not selfish if you do stop. You're in pain.

Which painkillers do you have in mind? Even though dental issues really aren’t a GP job - given you’re breastfeeding they might be happy to prescribe a better painkiller while you’re waiting to be seen - maybe ask for a telephone appointment to see if they’ll give you some dihydrocodeine (better than codeine if breastfeeding if I recall correctly). Good luck finding a dentist / emergency dentist too x

He's 9 months old but but 111 say don't take cocodamol. I can't get anything else OTC that will help

Can you call 111?
They have an emergency dentist line I've rang them on Saturdays when my wisdom tooth gets impacted and I've been send to the ooh dentist

111 told me they can't refer me. They can only give me a list of dentists and they read from the NHS choices list. I got to a point where I asked them what the point of hiring someone to do that is as I can do that myself

111 just read information off a computer. They aren't properly trained to say yes or no.

I would second the GP advice on the painkiller/breast feeding issue and try and track down an emergency dentist.

Great advice and links already, but also use clove oil.
I put it on a cotton bud and then pressed it onto sore tooth, would give a couple of hours relief. Got me through a few weeks of agony until I could get an appointment

Try the breastfeeding network pages on painkillers - they are very good for advice on drugs. Much better than GP. Dihydrocodeine is safe to take while breastfeeding, if I remember rightly (but double check.

I did this was dying from a cold and needed night nurse I got to 5 months of breastfeeding and expressing so do not feel guilty at all

You can take a lot of drugs which aren’t always supposedly allowed - Wendy a specialist pharmacist is a great resource

breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk/wp-content/dibm/analgesics%20and%20breastfeeding.pdf

www.breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk/drugs-factsheets/

Hope you feel better soon

I was prescribed co-codamol by the hospital for the first fortnight of recovery after an emergency c section. Apparently, worst case is it makes the baby a bit sleepy - not great long term, okay for dealing with a temporary problem.

I don't want to give medical advice though - I'd suggest trying to get a GP's appointment to explain the situation and they might be able to either reassure you or prescribe something more appropriate. A good one's likely to be a bit less "computer says no" than 111. They also might be able to suggest other things that could help eg. maybe you need antibiotics.

Also, if you're really not comfortable with taking the pills and breastfeeding, taking a few days off at 9 months probably isn't going to result in your supply disappearing, and you could always pump to help maintain it, so this doesn't need to be an all or nothing decision.

I am in no way medically trained but I was prescribed tramadol and cocodamol for birth injuries whilst breastfeeding. I'd take the painkillers!! My GP said the amount the baby receives is so minuscule it would have no effect on him.

I'm meant to be going on holiday just me and my son next week but I'm going to have to cancel if I can't get this sorted. I'm using Clove oil. Just called my Gp and the duty doctor is going to call me back. Thanks for the advice

Another one who was prescribed co-codamol post birth

Wow. Doc called me back already. She said there's a real issue with h dentists in this area. She was lovely. Prescribed me naproxen. She said people are often prescribed things after childbirth but that's because in the first few days baby takes tiny amounts of milk. With a teething baby who is latched on in this hot weather A LOT she wouldn't recommend anything like codeine. Naproxen it is. Not taken it before but hoping it'll help

Has your hospital got an emergency clinic? You could try checking online.

Naproxen is good stuff. I have used for years for carpal tunnel. Keep hydrated as I find it can give you a dodgy tummy, and in this heat that's not fun! It's an anti inflammatory I believe so should reduce any swelling and take the pain away. Hope you feel better soon, OP!