Extended breastfeeding and over the counter medicines

[Nomnew]

Because I have been breastfeeding for so long, I tend to forget I am breastfeeding and forget to mention it to Drs and chemists. They never ask as my children aren't infants.

My children are both well over 2 but the youngest does still feed a lot at night. I have just bought some eyedrops for my conjunctivitis that say the ingredients may pass into breastmilk and so should be avoided by breastfeeding mothers.

However, the eyedrops can be given to children over 2 so I'm not sure me having a little antibiotic in my blood stream is going to be much of a risk to older children.

Presumably they are more at risk from the trace chemicals absorbed into breastmilk from my moisturisers/deoderant etc.

Was wondering what other EXbreastfeeders do. Do you avoid all medications or like me assume the risk must be minimal once the children get older.

I'm feeling a bit guilty that I've been using over the counter medications without thinking about the breastfeeding angle.

Can any pharmacists reassure me?

I spoke to my doctor about Hayfever antihistamine as the chemist wouldn't sell me any. just said to him that if my 18month old can have antihistamine himself it's not going to matter if a bit is in my milk. doc agreed, no Hayfever for first time in 5 years!!!!
now just need to figure out if I can use that acid stuff to get rid of verucca. gross.

I check the Breastfeeding Network factsheets which generally give much more detailed information. If something isn't recommended because it can affect supply it doesn't bother me (likewise if it's a can-pass-into-breastmilk thing that DD2 could have anyway). Otherwise I tend to go with BfN advice (for example, for a lot of medications it's only really long courses or if bf a newborn that there's a risk).

I'm not a pharmacist, though -- but the BfN do have a helpline staffed by specialist pharmacists that you might find helpful.

pixie - only effective verruca treatment I have found is putting vinegar soaked cotton wool over it, covering with a bit of plastic bag and some tape and leaving until your next shower, then scrape or file the puffy white skin away and reapply vinegar treatment after shower. keep going until verrucas have gone. If you take a day or two off it doesn't matter too much but consistency gets rid faster.
It got rid of verrucas I had had for 6 bloody years that even cryotherapy couldn't shift.
safe for bf too.

Sorry for hijacking OP

No problem with the hijack!

And thanks pp for recommending BFN. It's a great organisation and I did use the helpline when mine were newborns.

I had a quick read and although my topical antibiotic isn't mentioned, if I've understood correctly the info says if a product is licensed for children of a particular age then it won't pose a risk.

Thanks.

is it chloramphenicol? because I am sure that Hale recommends NOT using that, even though it can be used on children.

Yes it is Chloramphenicol but I thought as it was a local antibiotic not much would get into the bloodstream. Now I have a dilemma- stop using it, halfway through treatment or not.

I don't want to put my children at risk though-argh!

Have started to google and really worried myself now as it says it can cause all manner of things including aplastic anaemia in infants. Will stop treatment with immediate effect.

It's very rare that conjunctivitis needs treating actually. How long have you had it for? Is it particularly bad? In the rare cases that it does need antibiotics, I'd advise seeing a gp just to confirm it is conjunctivitis.

lactmed is also a really good site for info on meds and breastmilk

i think concerns are mainly with very small babies, so i wouldn't worry overly if yours is 2. but prob worth seeing if there is a different medication you can use

I saw a pharmacist for a diagnosis as my eyes were very red and itchy (had to wear dark glasses for two days) and had lots of pus gluing my eyelids together overnight, watery eyes etc.

I was asking for medication, just wanted a diagnosis really as when you google eye conditions it almost always tells you to get a diagnosis in case of underlying condition.

Am really worried about the drops I've taken so far. My 2yr old just woke for a feed (last dose was 9). Presume it will stay in my milk unless I pump and I haven't got a pump and hand expressing produces nothing these days.

Very worried

Sorry I "wasn't" asking for medication but didn't want to waste GP's time if pharmacist could diagnose.

It probably is conjunctivitis tbh. The symptoms are pretty conclusive usually. I was trying to be reassuring (albeit cackhandedly ) about you not finishing the course. I think with infective conjunctivitis that goes on for more than a couple of weeks without improvement or if you experience pain/loss of vision/light sensitivity, you need to see a gp. But otherwise you should give it 2 weeks and see if it clears with regular gentle cleaning. If it doesn't there is an alternative treatment which is more suitable for bfing. Unless you suspect it isn't infective and it's an allergy and then you self treat in other ways iirc.

You're by no means the only woman to be bfing an older child and who has forgotten to mention it when getting an otc medicine. Not that I've ever done this. Nope. Not once. Twice actually

I've just read through all the NHS stuff on chloramphenicol and bfing and the risks are still theoretical. Many studies have found no link at all and the advice suggests that while it should probably be avoided as they haven't specifically proven it safe, they haven't found proof it's dangerous either. It also says that if it's medically necessary, then it should be taken with ways of minimising the theoretical risk.

If I were you, I'd just put it down to a genuine mistake. I did, stupidly, once take something which is an absolute no no when bfing (I had a terrible migraine and wasn't thinking) and the BFN were brilliant at reassuring me that as a one off in an older child, I was extremely unlikely to cause any harm at all. I punished myself for approximately 835 days iirc.

I also worked on the if she was allowed it, it didn't matter algorithm and the she's heavy enough, feeds rarely enough, I'm not going to stress about it theory.

DD2 fed for a very, very long time long long after any Dr. would have asked.

Thanks for the reassurance everyone. I wouldn't have even thought of taking anything for it(once I knew I wasn't going to keel over with glaucoma or something) but the pharmacist seemed keen to give me the drops and I went with it as I'm going into work wearing shades as I'm looking like a boxer who's gone ten rounds!

I have emailed the BFN drugline anyway and will stop the drops as a precaution.

I've learned my lesson though. OTC can mean pretty heavy duty drugs!

nomnew have you tried treating your conjunctivitis with breastmilk rather than antibiotics?

I never mention it to the pharmacy as they won't sell me anything if I do.

I am on a cocktail of painkillers and antihistamines and have been for 3 years through 2 pregnancies and bf 2 children. All medical professionals ( plus lactmed/BFN) say its ok and as some can be bought over the counter I don't need appts every time but if the pharmacist knows I'm bf/pregnant then they won't sell me them.

Thankyou cakes

MadameJ No I haven't but I have heard breastmilk is good for it. However, don't think I can hand express more than a drop these days.

I emailed the BFN drugline and they told me drops were absolutely fine and it was the oral medication that has caused the concerns. I was told to squeeze the tear ducts straight after to prevent more than a miniscule amount going into bloodstream.

Seems to be clearing up now anyway.

Thanks again everyone.