Is it pointless to keep breastfeeding my 10 month old?

[jerryg]

Just got back from the drs. I didn't want a medication that would mean I'd have to give up nursing him. Dr said I may as well do it now, and in fact it wouldve done him no harm if I'd given up at 6 months. He's the second Dr to say it too

Pretty sure they should not say that as WHO advice is up to 2 years. And if you stop before 1 year, you need to introduce formula.

So many people in this country seem to equate the advice with stopping exclusive bfing at 6 months to stopping bfing altogether. The advice means add in solid foods, not formula, dumbos!

There are benefits to bf at any age I think. You are doing a fantastic job!

In your shoes, I would try to hold off on the medication for another 2 months, so your DS can go straight onto cows milk.

Rubbish!!
OTOH you have to weigh that up against your need for the medication - if no substitute is avialbale, which I bet there is. Only you can make that decision.

Your doctor is talking out of his arse.. Shocking really!

I have had similar from my GP too - they seem to forget the WHO advice to bf until 2 years,

It wouldn't have done much harm to stop, but human milk is better for human babies of any age than cow milk.

Why would a baby suddenly need milk from another species at 6 months? You'd think a doctor would have a better grasp of logic.

Doctors, ime, talk a load of bull about bf (sometimes).

Sounds like your doctor has a rather blinkered view of bf, completely ignoring the bigger picture - the needs of the baby, comfort, love, additional nutrition.

I have also been 'advised' by a GP to give up bf so I could take some medication, but to me the upset of giving up would be far greater than the discomfort of using a less effective medication until my baby and I both wanted to stop bf.

You carry on if that's what you and your baby want.

I'd also check to see if there isn't an alternative medication you could take. Or if the medication you need isn't actuly ok with BF a lot of doctors don't seem to know what is or isn't compatable.

Try this website
www.breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk/drugs-in-breastmilk-information-and-factsheets.html

They also have a helpline 0844 412 4665 which either you or your GP can ring if the information you need isn't on the website.

And yes BM is still benafical after 6months as other's have said the WHO recomend 2 year's. Your still supporting you babies imature imune system at this age, and it's great for when they are ill and woun't take anything else. Well done and keep up the good work.

Doctors can be right twats.
It is good nutrition (excellent) and it's a lovely thing to do. Of course it's not essential - it's not essential to breastfeed at all. If you mean 'sustain life' - there are other ways to sustain life (obviously!). That's not the point at all. It has all sorts of benefits. He should be thinking socially as well - the more women breastfeed for longer, the better the image of breastfeeding and in the long term the better for newborns that mothers try and are helped to continue in situations where at the moment it's harder to carry on. So he's a twat and a bit blinkered as well.

WHO recommends at least 2 years

Definitely not pointless.

I am in a similar boat. I have arthritis (diagnosed just as I got pregnant with DC2) and my consultant is now keen to put me on a stronger drug to modify the disease progression which would mean stopping BFing.

DS is now 9 months and I was pleasantly surprised last week that he agreed to keep me on the preventative drugs (that have their own side effects/problems) rather than pushing me to stop BFing as I was now past the 6 month mark. I see him again when DS will be a year and I suspect that that will be the point when I will be strongly encouraged (and will probably agree) to stop.

I do agree with SPB however that it is a balance between your health vs benefits of BF. And in my mind I do think that some of those benefits reduce once you have introduced solids and (hopefully) made the EBF to 6 months mark. And possibly therefore the older the baby is the more you could begin to put your own medical needs above the need (rather than additional benefit and indeed enjoyment for you and them) to continue BF IYSWIM. But that isn't in anyway to negate those benefits.

Bramshott I don't want to start a bunfight at all so please don't see it that way, but can I ask your reasoning ref waiting for the year mark/cowsmilk comment? If you do have to stop BF, do you really see a benefit (apart from cost obviously!) to replacing BF with cowsmilk rather than with formula - which is, after all modified cowsmilk?

Thankyou so much for your lovely and speedy replies. Made me a bit tearful! It's 'daktacort' cream for a rash. He gave me the prescription and said its up to me if I use it. Will do some research. I know its beneficial to still be nursing him. Just made me doubt myself. Thanks again x

Lactmed is also good though I'm not getting anything from daktacort - there may be a generic name in the packaging though?

Did your GP actually check in his book to see what the actual contraindications are? Or just say "no"?

Daktacort is miconazole and hydrocortisone - my ds and I have both been prescribed those (as daktarin and canestan HC) when he had thrush, so it seems weird you can't breastfeed on daktacort. Maybe ask for normal daktarin or canestan hc as you can definitely bf on those.

Info on Daktacort:

www.netdoctor.co.uk/medicines/100004655.html

Says it can be used whilst bfing if needed and if precautions are followed.

JerryG - I've had a quick search on LactMed database and Miconazole (one of the ingredients of Daktacort) is fine for breastfeeding 'Because miconazole has poor oral bioavailability, it is unlikely to adversely affect the breastfed infant, including topical application to the nipples'

See here for rest of data.

Hydrocortisone data here. With hydrocortisone it seems to depend on the method of application, the type of carrier (cream, gel, ointment) used and the size of area covered.

So it seems to really depend on if you are going to be slathering yourself in the Daktacort for the next few years or if you are going to be applying a thin smear to your little toe for the next 10 days (or something in between).

Only you know what you need to use it for and for how long/what size area so I guess it's a risk/benefit weigh up between treating the rash, stopping bfing or treating the rash and carrying on bfing. If you wanted some tailored advice definitely contact Wendy Jones at the BfN on the link MigGril posted - she is fab.

Daktacort will be daktarin(which is dine they use it for nipple thrush) and cortisone cream ( a steroid). Does that make it easier to look up? Maybe you could just try daktarin for now. If the rash is fungal it should work. The steroid part just reduces the inflamation.

Fine not dine. iPhone while bf sorry!

He said DO NOT use whilst breastfeeding. Didn't look in book. Rash is on my breasts so perhaps that's why he was so concerned about transfer to baby?... Think I may buy just anti-fungal then and try that first. You'd think he would've let me try that! Will have a good read through when I get the baby to sleep. Will contact BFN too. Thankyou all so much! X

Stupid doctor!

From the netdoctor link:
" If it is applied to the breasts it should be washed off carefully before breastfeeding and then reapplied afterwards"