Transmission of penicillin allergy via bf?

[AngelDog]

13 m.o. DS has been prescribed amoxycillin for an ear infection. I didn't think of it when we saw the doctor, but I'm allergic to penicillin and DS is breastfed, so is he likely to have an allergic reaction too?

A quick google suggests that if you have a penicillin allergy, you have antibodies which attack the penicillin as if it's a pathogen - and presumably DS will have these antibodies via my milk.

I've not given him any of the amoxycillin yet but I presume I should go back to the doctor and ask for a different type of antibiotic.

Anyone with any advice / experience?

No advice but I hope that means you've found the cause of the nursing strike and your DS is back to his old self as soon as poss.

You could try asking Wendy at the Breastfeeding Network who is a pharmacist/bfing councellor/supporter with the BfN. She's very good and she has helped me loads in the past.

No idea AngelDog, but both my DSs are fine on amoxycillin despite me being allergic.

I erred on the side of caution with ds1 because he is an allergic child and asked for an alternative antibiotic for him. But last time, I decided to try him on the amoxicillin and he was fine.

Really scientific eh?

I'm also allergic to penicillin and both dd and ds have had multiple courses of amoxicillin while I've been breastfeeding them, to no obvious ill effect.

I've bf all of my 3 older dc. I am severely allergic to both penicillin AND amoxycillin. DD was bf for 6 months, is absolutely fine with both. DS1 was bf for 4 months, is allergic to both. DS2 was bf for 3 months, and is fine with both. So I don't think it's an automatic thing.

I should have come back to this sooner but I came down with DS's vomiting bug too (better now).

Wendy at the BfN said that the allergy doesn't pass through via your milk. Although DS is at higher risk for allergies, the fact that he's bf reduces his risk for allergies.

We gave him the amoxicillin in the end - glad we did as it turns out he has a very bad chest infection too. We won't know if he's allergic till the next time he has it, as it's only the second time of taking it that allergic symptoms appear.

Dd1/3 both had penicillin when I'm bf. I was fund as a child though and became v allergic when pg with dd1. None of my dds are allergic yet

I'm allegic and one of my DSs is but not the other so far!