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Original poster

How to settle a EB baby when mum can't bf due to being ill and taking medicine

28 replies

Catitainahatita · 15/05/2010 18:10

I've been looking on the board for some advice and decided to try the more direct approach. I'm not sure it belongs her or on the feeding board.
I have 2 DC. DS is 2 and half and DD is 6 months. DD has been breastfed from birth. Unfortunately I have been off and on ill since January, and now am at the stage where there is no alternative to taking medicine that is not compatible with breastfeeding.
The problem is how to settle (or even just be with) my DD. Apart from the fact that I feel like death warmed up, she obviously want s more from her mum than just cuddles and when she can't feed or just comfort suck she gets angry anddupset. She will just about take a bottle from DH and my neighbour, but not if I am around.
We had a n awful night last night: I got her to sleep eventually at 11pm (she usually sleeps at 8) after DH fed her and I cuddled her to sleep and practically forced her to suck on a dummy (she doesn't really like them, but she need to suck to got to sleep). She woke up at various points, wanting me, but became hysterical when she couldn't latch on. She wasnt hungry, as DH offered and offered the bottle. When she finally took it, she did go to sleep (but again only with help of the dummy).

So, has any one got any tips for making this a less unpleasant experience for her than it need be? Can anyone reaasure me that we'll be able to go back to bfing once this is over? I'm tired, ill and not thinking well. I hope you can offer me some wise words.

PS. If all goes well I should be able to go back to bfing on Friday.

OP posts:
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slushy06 · 15/05/2010 18:14

I would post in Breastfeeding you will get more answers. Can you try giving her the bottle because as she is used to you feeding her it may be less of a upset.

Original poster
Catitainahatita · 15/05/2010 18:22

Thanks Slushy, I will post there too. The nub of the problem is that she will not take the bottle from me, she just gets more and more hysterical.

OP posts:
PrimroseCrabapple · 15/05/2010 19:19

Are you absolutely sure you can't bf on the meds, it is very common to be given wrong advice. Mears and ticktock are whizzes with the correct info.

Original poster
Catitainahatita · 15/05/2010 19:25

The generic name of the antibiotic is ceftriazone. I also having a nebulizar with
albuterol and ipratropium.

I live abroad so don't know the names normally used in the UK for these.

OP posts:
thisisyesterday · 15/05/2010 19:26

agree with primrose, are your meds definitely a no-no? i've seebn so many people given incorrect advice regarding drugs and breastfeeding over the years that it's always my first question!

Skegness · 15/05/2010 19:27

Oh poor you. I can just imagine. My baby is a little older than yours and is in "passionate about the breast" phase. It sounds like you are doing everything right, thinking of alternative comforts like dummy or bottles. How long do you have to take the meds for?

ShowOfHands · 15/05/2010 19:34

Ceftriaxone is okay.

Just checking the others.

thisisyesterday · 15/05/2010 19:35

was just going to post same as SOH about the antibiotic

we need someone with a copy of Hales!

Original poster
Catitainahatita · 15/05/2010 19:36

The antibiotic is an injection a day for 3 days (tomorrow is the last one). The nebulizor is for 7 days (until Thursday).

OP posts:
ShowOfHands · 15/05/2010 19:36

albuterol

ipratropium

thisisyesterday · 15/05/2010 19:38

hmm could be the albuterol that's the problem because no research has been done on it, although they suspect it would not be problematic

ShowOfHands · 15/05/2010 19:39

No research on ipratropium either. Suggests albuterol as an alternative! Same with a lot of meds, but suggests there's no reason to suspect a problem with either.

Original poster
Catitainahatita · 15/05/2010 19:41

I have tried looking on the various pages on line but I find it all so confusing. Plus, I'm not sure DH will be ready to take google or MN as a reliable source.....

Me, I just want my DD to be happy.

OP posts:
Original poster
Catitainahatita · 15/05/2010 19:43

I see I x posted with showofhands and thisisyesterday. Thanks very much for the links and the support. I will show them to Dh. Perhaps he can reassure himself with them.

OP posts:
Original poster
Catitainahatita · 15/05/2010 19:45

Wow. Have just looked at the links. I think I shall turn off my computer and go and give DD a big cuddle.....

Thanks very much

OP posts:
ShowOfHands · 15/05/2010 19:45

What I linked you to is the absolute best and most trustworthy line in bfing and meds. It's toxnet, properly researched, accurate, safe information. You can trust it.

Original poster
Catitainahatita · 15/05/2010 19:47

I will tell him this Showofhands. I think he'll be persuaded by the information.

Joy

Thanks again. So so much.

OP posts:
Skegness · 15/05/2010 19:49

Yay! Result, medical mumsnetters.

mehdismummy · 15/05/2010 19:51

ohhh yea cat x showofhands is a legend (a bit bono obsessed though!!)

NotQuiteCockney · 15/05/2010 19:55

With normal term infants, there are very few drugs which are absolutely not ok with breastfeeding (a few cancer meds are the only ones I know of, fwiw).

Glad to hear MN has proved your meds are safe, so you can carry on bf.

thisisyesterday · 15/05/2010 19:56

hurrah! hope your dd is having a lovely feed right now

and booooo for HCP's who are uninformed about breastfeeding

thisisyesterday · 15/05/2010 19:57

nqc someone was asking about you on here the other day
can't remember who though, sorry

there is also some eye medication that is contra-indicated too, bizarrely. Think even Hale says no to it. but i can't for the life of me remember what that is called either

am useless

NotQuiteCockney · 15/05/2010 20:00

I saw a thread with someone asking after me. I posted on it, to say I am still here, albeit mostly on bf threads (tada!), but the person who was pining for me (and fio) hasn't reappeared.

Weird about the eye med. That's got to be some powerful eye medication ...

thisisyesterday · 15/05/2010 20:06

ahh yes that was the one.

person had posted on here about the eye cream stuff, and i thought "ho, eye medicine? how silly" but turned out it was true.
I don't think it was hideously terrible, but they did suggest using an alternative wherever possible

ShowOfHands · 15/05/2010 21:23

Aww mehdismummy, you're lovely.

Cat, toxnet is one to keep in your favourites. I ebf dd (still bfing her at 3) and have relied upon it for information. It is indeed rare to find a drug that really is unsafe while bfing and toxnet also takes pains to recommend alternatives.

Have a lovely cuddle with your baby.

I couldn't settle dd any other way at that age and bf was such a magic sedative that I would have been distraught at its enforced cessation.