Rheumatoid arthritis and bfing

[ColumboIsMyHero]

Not sure whether to post here or in health threads...

I've just been diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis. I'm awaiting my referral to the Rheumatology team. I currently BF DD, who is 13mo. I'd ideally like to keep feeding her until she self-weans. However, I know that most of the drug treatments for RA are not compatible with BFing. Any experiences of dealing with RA and BFing?

[BTW I know I could give up and DD wouldn't expire or anything, but given a free choice I'd like to feed her until she self-weans]

Depends on how the RA is affecting you. Some of the drugs are ok to bf with but they properly wouldn't let you take them now and still bf dd. I was on salazaprine (probably spelt wrong) When I was planning to have dd2. They said while it wasn't tested on pregnant women because women got pregnant they knew that it carried not sanigficant risks and as baby would have already been exposed to the drug it would be ok to bf. When I was first pregnant I got really sick couldn't seam to keep down water. After seeing the gp and getting tablets and being scanned to see if it was twins I had a Rheumatology appointment and he said it was my meds so I had to come off them.I stopped being sick but it also meant I had to stop bf before I could go back on them. I would of liked to feed until a year I got to 10mths she kind of self weaned so although sad am glad I did.
It can take sevaral mouths for drugs to start to work and then longer to get the full benefit. It is tough looking after a mobile toddler in the winter when you are stiff so you need to work out if you have enough support to manage. home start may be able to help a bit and you can self refer. The hardest things I found was trying to pace myself so that I didn't do to much one day so I was ok the next.
Apply for anything you might be able to and fill them in as though it was your worst day.
Sorry for the ramble. Shout if you need to know anything else. this web site may also be able to help has stuff on there for partners as well

I didn't breastfeed for long as my RA flared terribly after I gave birth. The only drugs they allowed me to take were steroids.

I am now on gold injections and methotrexate and neither are advised whilst bf (or pregnant). Sulfasalazine never worked for me.

Sorry to hear you've been diagnosed

Thanks both - it's good to hear others' experiences. Those links are really helpful, Iwanttofly .

So many things buzzing around my head. I'm lucky that I have a very supportive DH.

I'm very early doors so I don't really know how badly I'm going to be affected. I veer between being really scared/upset to denial to 'it's not going to beat me'. I've seen close family on methotrexate and steroids (different condition) but to be honest the side-affects are frightening me too. And I love feeding my baby (and she's pretty keen as well). But I know that I'm more use to her and her brother (4yo) if I'm fit and probably the best chance of that is to take my medicine.

I've taken methotrexate as a last resort. I worry more about the side affects of that than my arthritis. I'm only 22 and I just keep hoping they will eventually come up with a cure.

disabledparentsnetwork.org might be useful

Hi, so sorry to hear that you have been diagnosed with RA, I was diagnosed with early RA when my DD was 4 months old (I was 41 and first time mother), I was just breastfeeding. i was prescribed Pednisolone, Hydrooxchloroquine, Sulphasalazine which are all safe to breast feed on although I chose not to start taking them for a few months while I got my head around it all and so I could continue feeding for as long as possible, its such a special time. The rheumatologist then gave me a good pep talk, basically with RA the key is in aggressive treatement within 2 years of diagnosis and I had to start the drugs to give myself the best outcome. I weaned my daughter at 7 months, onto a doidy cup as she still refused a bottle! but a few days later she would squeal with excitement at her pink plastic bottle and looked blankly at my boobs when I snuggled her!! so it was a tough time but I started the drugs, added in methotrexate, bleurgh, but 10 months after that was in full remission. I think the key is to take the medication as soon as possible, you could always take the main ones without the methotrexate so you can hold on to the morning and bed time feeds for a bit. Hope this helps, just wanted to say that it is such a terrible shock but you do get used to the news and your daughter will soon get used to no BFing when you decide the time is right, its much harder for us than them :(I am now agonising over whether to stop all the drugs at aged 43 and try for baby #2...

Good luck with it all, if you not sure, ask for 2nd opinion from another rheumatologist