Aibu to stop breastfeeding for 12 days and think I'll be able to restart?

[Greycloudspinkclouds]

Hello, posting here looking for some success stories to give me some hope. Or perhaps something else.

I have to have some strong medication for 10 days and cannot breastfeed on it. Then a day or two for it to leave my system.

My baby is 5.5 months and exclusively breastfed. I started the medication yesterday so she started on bottles and formula then. Luckily she took it happily.

I am feeling so desperately sad about stopping. I want to restart as soon as I can, and go back to just breastfeeding. I am trying to pump several times a day (throwing the milk away obviously) and feed her with the bottle in the same position I breastfeed her in. And be the only one who feeds her.

So wanted to ask:

• any success stories from anyone who has had to interrupt breastfeeding then managed to go back to exclusively breastfeeding?

• any top tips?

• aibu to hope that we can just pick up where we left off in 12 days?

Background: I have never had problems with milk supply or latch with her or with the other children I've breastfed to 1+ years old. The consultants were very very clear that I categorically cannot give her my milk with these drugs in, so no chance possibly at all.

Disclaimer: absolutely no criticism of anyone who bottle-feeds for choice or otherwise. I know it's not the end of the world if she stays on formula it's just I love breastfeeding and can't bear it to have finished.

I had bonding issues when DC1 was born and relactating and going to EBF by 10 months brought us together like nothing else. So in our case our relationship improved.

Can't see that it's been recommended yet, but one of the things that can help is cup feeding instead of bottle feeding.
It's so different from breastfeeding and seems to help with the confusion.

Lactmed was the database Irene mentioned - it will have research about the drug and how suitable it is.

Because of your baby's age it's very likely breastfeeding will be re established. You can try 'laid back breastfeeding' positions to stimulate reflexes though.

I know it's impossible but try not to worry. When my son was born he was in NICU for a week and was bottle fed. He took to breastfeeding like a pro!

Thank you so much. I just feel so cornered and like she's going to lose all her breastfeeding reflexes! One of my babies spent time in special care tube and bottle fed, then he took to breast fine. But he was a newborn so still had all those reflexes. I worry that at 5 months old she'll just learn the new way and forget the old way!

@PeekabooAtTheZoo that is so lovely, how wonderful for both of you!

@SuperLoudPoppingAction I thought about the cup option but I don't want her to lose the sucking reflex and also she's not getting enough milk as it is at the moment with the bottles...

A note about pumping (I was an exclusive pumper for 9 months as my NICU baby never learned to breastfeed): both for your boobs and for your supply make sure you use a really good pump that is recommended for exclusive pumping. Many pumps are intended for occasional use and don’t get the milk out as well, and it’s horribly hard to keep up supply if you aren’t getting enough out. Medela pumps are widely recommended, or Ameda. Look on exclusive pumping forums/sites for recommendations. Also many people recommend not dropping the pumping session in the early hours of the morning as apparently it is the best one for production. Good luck and hope it goes smoothly.

I had to do it for 2 weeks when my baby was about 13 months old. I pumped regularly in the meantime (even at night). I went straight back to breast feeding without problems and didn’t stop until he was 2.5 and I got pregnant again! So good luck!

The breastfeeding network are the specialists here it's world leading and they do not give duff advice.
If they say low risk then it's low risk regardless of what a consultant says. Many medicatikns arent tested hence the Dr's advice but the breastfeeding network are pharmaceutical specialists.

You can always do half and half.

As for phasing out I didn't I just went straight back to bf he took more frequent feeds first few days to get supply back up

Apologies if someone has already said this but see if you can get hold of a breastfeeding specialist. I saw a talk from someone about how women are often they have to stop breastfeeding or can't start due to medications and it's not always the case. Good luck!

When I worked on a neonatal ward The Breastfeeding Network were the people we deferred to, doctors often gave a flat "No" to every medication because they don't have the time to access the time/resources to answer the questions safely.

this - they are the absolute experts. Their advice is bang on. I would follow their advice.

Apparently EBM baths are a thing. Could you use the milk for that rather than throwing it away. I did look at the mum like she had two heads when she asked for her EBM so she could bath her baby in it!

Yes, I did this a few times as sometimes had to travel abroad with work - up to 2 weeks. Didn’t pump or anything although that led to engorged breasts for a few days. Did take a day or two to get flowing again.

As long as you pump and dump you’ll be fine

@Toddlerteaplease not sure I'm going to try the baths!!! I actually don't mind about chucking it away at all

@Scottishflower65 thank you for your reply, gives me hope! Did your baby do this at a similar age?

Thank you to everyone who signalled the breastfeeding network to me. I have had great detailed information and advice from them. They basically said it was probably safe. But obviously can't know quantities my baby will be exposed to. So in the end have decided to do the 10 days pumping and dumping and giving formula to baby. I'm heartbroken but trying to focus on the end goal. And also trying to get better!!! Pumping is hard while trying to recover from being very ill and all I want to do is feed my baby

My poor bub was tube fed for several days at a couple of weeks old as after being hospitalised with bronchiolitis. I pumped like fury, and though my milk supply did drop a bit we were able to go straight back to the breast as soon as she was strong enough. 12 days is longer but I have a hunch you’ll be ok, especially as you could also start moving to solids gradually at 5.5 months and use that to help make up any shortfall rather than mixing breast and formula. Good luck!

When my baby was 4-6 weeks old I was really struggling with the pain of breastfeeding. I took about 2 weeks off and exclusively pumped (looked up power pumping). In that time my boobs healed and I was able to get her to successfully latch without the pain. So, I would remain optimistic :)

Rather than throwing it all away would using it in the bath for her skin work? Just so you don't feel like it's been a complete waste?

Whatever you do, don’t just stop - you need to keep pumping and throwing the milk away while you’re on the meds.

Never just stop feeding - it sends your hormones up the wall and can make you very ill indeed.

@Thelonelychicken that's a nice idea but to be honest I don't mind chucking it, and when I know she can't drink it I don't feel comfortable bathing her in it in case she drinks some... Perhaps I'll try wiping her with it?

@VestaTilley I am pumping and dumping every few hours! My breasts are so uncomfortable though, it's not the same as feeding and I cannot get as much out. Perhaps about 500ml over 24 hours. I think my hormones are off the wall already, despite waking in the night to pump. I don't know how else to try and preserve the hormonal/milk/feeding etc state I was in before having to temporarily stop?

Feeling very depressed this morning and like i will unable to just go back and pick up exactly as we were. I worry something has been broken between us

Was thinking the amount would be small and then made even smaller with a bath full of water with it. If you don't mind either way. I hated when it got wasted but it took ages to get any so that's probably why

Just an update for if anyone ever finds themself in a similar situation and reads this. After a hard 10 days with no feeding, my baby went straight back to the breast no problem! She fed loads (near constantly...!) overnight for the first 3 nights but then was all back to normal. I didn't phase out the bottles, just went straight back to exclusive boob. Our breastfeeding relationship and balance is just as it was before happily! She didn't seem at all fussed when I first offered the boob again, no questions asked by her!

However I have to say that stopping suddenly for those 10 days was very hard mentally and physically. It did something weird to me, think it must have thrown my hormones everywhere or something. It genuinely made me ill physiologically and psychologically. Now 2 weeks later I'm feeling much more back to normal. A little off balance but it's been very gradual getting back to normal. Made me realise the impact feeding has on your body!