To be annoyed with pharmacists whilst breastfeeding...probably unreasonably

[Meshy23]

I’ve been breastfeeding for 5 months but in that time I’ve had colds, aches, travel sickness and now quite severe constipation. In that time I’ve gone to the pharmacist for advice (in a bid of easing pressure on GPs) but without fail the minute I tell them I’m breastfeeding they refuse to give me any medicine.

I totally get this but what grated me most was I suffer badly from travel sickness and before a flight I wanted travel sickness medicine. I told the pharmacist that I can give my baby formula and pump and dump until the meds’ were out of my system which they calculated (i give DD a bottle of formula at night so have no issue with this). The pharmacist flat out refused and said they cannot dispense the medicine as I am breastfeeding even if I don’t give my milk to the baby. End of - no alternative advice in either situation.

I love pharmacists but I do feel quite alone suffering (mildly) without any medicinal help for symptoms.

Maybe I should not want any medicines. Maybe I should be happy that there is a stringent level of protection for young children. But I just feel a bit annoyed especially as it’s not like pregnancy where medicines can go straight through the placenta and I can avoid giving my breast milk if necessary. It feels like another example of a new mum being ignored!

But I’m being unreasonable and feeling sorry myself about a first world problem right?

They might be obliged to act this way. I’d go to another pharmacist now and not tell them about breastfeeding.

I imagine this is like certain medicines if your baby is a day of 6 months they can refuse to give you medicine for 6 months plus.

I would take this as a procedure and clinical accountability thing rather than a breastfeeding thing or an "ignoring a new mum" thing.

Lots of medications, including over-the-counter drugs, say to consult a doctor before using if pregnant or breastfeeding. A pharmacist is going to be wary of selling medication to someone breastfeeding if it's got risks attached because it's their career.

It’s likely a pharmacy licensing regulation. The individual pharmacist may not have a choice

I’m sure they are obliged to do this, and it’s not personally their fault, but I totally hear you. It’s as though pregnancy and breastfeeding take away all your rights to basic medical assistance, and you only exist as a vessel for the (more important) baby. Of course, you want the best for the baby, so have no choice but to go along with it. Consequently, you end up suffering greatly. It sucks.

If you are sure you can pump and dump so none of the meds end up in your milk, I would do as pp said and go to another pharmacy and not mention the breastfeeding.

That is crazy, a lot of medications are fine to take when bf. If they do pass into the milk, it's in minute quantities. Look up Wendy Jones, a pharmacist who wrote a book on bf and medications and also an app, Lactmed, on what medications can be taken safely when bf.

I would imagine this would be a legal obligation. For everyone who says they are going to do it, there will always be a portion who don't, and then it's going to fall back on the pharmacist for giving the meds.

Yeah I’m bf’ing a toddler and I don’t bother asking them anymore. This is the holy grail for advice www.breastfeeding-and-medication.co.uk/
She’s a pharmacist, prepares factsheets and evidence based information for free. work out what you want to buy then go to chemist and ask for it without discussion of bf.

They have to protect themselves, just like pharmacists generally won't dispense medications for pregnant women without prescriptions.

There is a breastfeeding network website that has great information on medications that are safe while breastfeeding. I would personally check that and then go and get the medication without mentioning breastfeeding

It’s the rules unfortunately. Pharmacists can only sell medicines on the way the drug has been licensed. Prescribers can use medicines in a different way for example your GP can use medicines that aren’t licensed for use in breast feeding women based on evidence of no previous problems reported. You aren’t the only one this can be frustrating for they don’t love it either but it is the rules. Same with things like hydrocortisone which they can sell for your body not for your face.

I'm BFing a toddler. Most GPs, Nurses, Pharmacists, Dentists and, well, everyone is woefully ignorant about breastfeeding, drugs in breast milk, alcohol and breastfeeding so on and so forth...

You need to educate yourself and be your own advocate because the default setting from the health services is "don't breastfeed" "can't give you" "not safe" because they're uninformed.

The breastfeeding network are a great place to start. Wendy from there is available on support forums too. Facebook breastfeeding groups can put you in touch with the correct published papers to trump the standard "no"

Use breastfeeding network- I'm still feeding my toddler so it's been invaluable over the years

I took fenugreek by the spoonful to push my milk. It’s mucilaginous so also helps with constipation. Might that help? I started with capsules but eventually just bought it loose and ate teaspoons of it 3 times per day.

I think you have to look at it the other way as well, that if your child had a reaction to something passed through the milk and you hadn’t been told there could have been a problem.. you’d be fling back to the pharmacy to complain they hadn’t informed you properly.

It’s highly unlikely they’re doing it because they don’t know.. they’re doing it because it’s the rules

It’s as though pregnancy and breastfeeding take away all your rights to basic medical assistance, and you only exist as a vessel for the (more important) baby. This.
Go to another pharmacy, don't tell them you're breastfeeding

Pharmacists should be better trained in medication and breastfeeding. But it is not just about what can be passed through to baby/child, some medications such as decongestants can affect milk supply.

As others have mentioned Wendy Jones is the name to google for excellent advice on what is safe.

One perk of going through your doctor is you can use you maternity exemption certificate when you are prescribed medication. It is annoying when you are willing to pay, but all pharmacists so this so it must be a rule.

Peppermint essential oil on a tissue and sniffed is excellent for travel sickness xx

Yanbu. Don't tell them you are breastfeeding if you plan to bottle feed, but you need to know when the meds will be out of your system (how do you know that?) I'm pretty sure you don't need to pump and dump just wait the allotted time but check this.

My advice would be to book a GP appointment for travel sickness meds they can probably prescribe something. For cold and flu you can take ibuprofen and paracetamol and things like halls soothers. Decongestants don't really do much anyway. Don't worry about wasting their time. It's what they are there for and once you've done it once you may well be able to ring up and ask for a repeat prescription next time you travel

I have been breastfeeding for ages with 3 kids. I don't think they've ever offered me anything stronger than paracetamol at the pharmacist. I do take hayfever tablets when it's bad now after researching them myself. I wouldn't be taking laxatives as it gives mine tummy ache if I have too many raisins! I'm not really surprised they don't recommend that.

Ultimately they are going to err on the side of caution because of what's at stake. The only way they can be truly sure these things are safe is if they test them on babies which they want do. A GP will k ow your medical history etc. It's perfectly appropriate to see them about this.

Dd was born before absolutely everything was online and constantly accessible no matter your location. I used to tote my copy of Medication and Mothers Milk to every single medical appointment. The doctor would inevitably be stumped on what to prescribe so I would pull out my book and look it up. Then they would disappear for a bit while they confirmed it was correct. Surprisingly, despite the fact that I need meds frequently for assorted conditions, in 3 years of breastfeeding, there was never an instance where there wasn’t a safe medication option. Never even had to pump and dump.

I find it absolutely appalling that medical students do not do a full course of breastfeeding and breast milk safety.

Thanks for the advice - will check out the breastfeeding network and not tell them (although that makes me uncomfortable still)

I think it was the blanket “we can’t help you” that grated me, rather than giving informed advice based on me breastfeeding. Now Appreciate this is due to licensing and that GPs can prescribe - so makes more sense! I just wanted to avoid wasting GP time.

• off now to drink peppermint tea

Yes this happened to me a couple of times and it was very irritating. We're told to breastfeed and yet in my experience health professionals make it so difficult at times. I soon learned to take it into my own hands. Like pps said check what medicines are safe using reputable sources then go to pharmacy and don't tell them you're breastfeeding, it's the only way sadly.

This has been driving me crackers since I got pregnant. Thought it would be better after the baby had been born. I forgot I'm still a receptacle for a baby to consume on demand. But only in approved feeding places like my house or Ikea.
Why does the world make it so hard for women to breastfeed while simultaneously guilt tripping us into doing it?! It's the biggest double standard ever. I hate breastfeeding but I'm too bloodyminded to stop.

glycerine suppositories for constipation - I cant see how that would go through your milk (best to - ah- hold? for over half an hour if not 3 quarters & than bingo!) for travel sickness - those wrist bands

Why does the world make it so hard for women to breastfeed while simultaneously guilt tripping us into doing it?!

It's bloody ridiculous, isn't it?