Tonsillitis and breastfeeding

[Katiekins3]

I have bacterial tonsillitis with a rather nasty rash. Doctor has prescribed antibiotics (Amoxicillin which is apparently fine for breastfeeding) but has advised me not to until the rash has gone in 2-3 days. Has anyone else been advised to do this?

I'm giving DS a combination of my meagre stock of frozen expressed milk and some formula plus expressing like mad in the hope that I don't dry up in the next couple of days. Any advice would be very much appreciated!

You are completely fine to BF on antibiotics and while having tonsillitis. A very small amount of amoxicillin will get into the milk and the baby receives the immunity from you so much less likely to become ill.

As an aside, why amoxicillin for tonsillitis? Was this explained, it is not the usual choice. Was there something else as well?

I assumed due to the rash I have (which is why he thinks I shouldn't be BF). To be honest, I think he's just covering himself but the rash already seems to be fading so hopefully I'll be back to BF by the end of the day tomorrow or Friday at the latest. The constant expressing is a real pain when I'm not feeling great!

There is absolutely no reason to not breastfeed because of a rash.

Call any of the breastfeeding helplines, to talk it over with someone?

Thanks. I'm going to give the NCT breastfeeding line a call. Rash no better this morning than it was last night and I don't want this to go on for days if it doesn't have to. If I dry up because of bad advice from a doctor I'll be really upset.

They were very helpful and told me to resume BF. They think the doctor was erring on the side of caution as he didn't know what he was talking about.

Thanks for the responses!