BF, FF or mixed? Complicated personal situation - I need advice!!!

[liquidclocks]

I'm 7 months pg with baby no.2 and facing a bit of a dilemma, here's why:
I fully intended to BF no.1 as I know 'breast is best' and I wanted to do what was right for him. My personal complication is that I have chronic migraine (migraine for more than 15 days each month if unmedicated) for which I'm generally (not while pg) on long term medication that is not recommended while BF, I also developed PUPPP/PEP towards the end of last pg and I'm allergic to piriton(only BF 'safe' antihistamine). Despite this I decided to see how it went. After DS was born he was put on my breast but couldn't/wouldn't latch on. My PUPPP stopped me from sleeping at all in hospital formore than 20 mins or so and about 6 hrs after giving birth I started with a migraine which continued for 2 days. I kept trying to BF but DS just wouldn't latch on and without exagerrating I didn't see the same midwife twice for the entire 3 days I was in hospital- they'd come over put him on then leave and within 30 secs he'd dropped off. On the beginning of day 3 I KNEW my baby was hungry but wasn't BF and, desperate for some sleep, relief from the migraine and PUPPP I took my medication and effectively scuppered any chance I had left of BF. DS is now a very happy well-fed 21 month old but I still feel guilty for that 'moment of weakness/desperation' that I took my meds. The midwife who got me my first bottle for him (I'd never met before) made me feel so guilty too even though no-one had really supported me trying to BF.
I'd like to try and BF DS2 but having a toddler as well this time around I really do need to consider taking my medication as I won't just be able to lie in bed with a migraine and bottle supply like I did with him. (I don't have PUPPP this time at least). However, I'm worried that if I put in my maternity notes that I'll try and then I get ill and need my meds that I'll be put under pressure and made to feel guilty again.
So my questions are these:
Has anyone BF around taking medications for migraine/any other function-limiting health condition, if so how and was it successful?
If I were to mix feed what does that actually entail?
Does anyone think I should just bottle feed from the outset and avoid all the horrid stuff I wentthrough last time?
If I do BF where do I get support from without being made to feel shit if I eventually give up?

Sorry for long post - felt it necessary to explain where I'm coming from.

lc, I am normally one of the first people to urge sticking with breastfeeding even when it's tough, but your situation sounds horrific.

that midwife shouldn't have made you feel guilty and you shouldn't feel guilty if you feed formula this time. you'll have two children - you'll need your head. OTOH even just a few days of bfing makes a difference if you can mange that. I think in your position I'd just see how it goes.

I mixed fed because I went back to work earler, had no option. I had no problems but did from as so my children and I had got the hang of the thing. Didn't mix before 3 weeks. The only thing I had to be careful of was making sure I got the milk out I didn't use before it wnt off inside making me ill.

So if I were to mix feed I'd have to BF exclusively for 3 weeks anyway?

SenoraPostrophe - do you know of anywhere there is info on whether even a few days BF is beneficial? Does it make enough of a difference to do it even for 2/3 days if I can get that far?

Liquidclocks, I wouldn't feel bad about FF at all in your shoes. It may be worth giving bf a go - but do get your head round NOT feeling guilty if you try that approach and it doesn't work out.

One thing, are you sure your doctors have looked up the research on the meds you are taking? Docs who don't know much about b/f often think medicines are contra-indicated without checking properly. Obviously some medicines are, but worth making sure. I'm lucky, the regular meds I take are OK for b/f.

There's a really good site run by a US pharmacologist (IIRC) who is the world expert on this - think Mears and Tiktok (midwife and doula respectively who post here) have linked to it in the past. If you do an archive search on breastfeeding and medicine, you might find it.

have you considered treating your migraines with a homeopathic/acupuncture remedy insted of long-term medication?

And can mik really go 'off' inside? - never knew that at all. The thought of expressing and then having to discard 'medication polluted' milk isn't very attractive either. Are there any ways of expressing that are better than others?

Sorry, so full of questions. Supposed to be writing an essay bt can't seem to stop worrying about this!

Yes doing it for 2/3 days is still beneficial or that was what I was told on my breastfeeding class. Everything else in the class was completely useless except that piece of information.

DrHale

Think this is the site - you have to register as a guest to ask questions. Can't find his home page but if you google Dr Hale and breastfeeding you might find it.

I can't think what its called when you get it but it feels like you've knocked over by a bus when it happens.

Never heard of milk 'going off' inside either. Sounds like crossed wires somewhere. Maybe poster meant getting rid of expressed milk that hadn't been frozen or something?

Thanks for that link edam - I'll have a look for it. I'm pretty certain of my meds though, I'm actually a specialist patient for the migraine association so my knowledge of treatments is pretty good, but there's always more to learn.

EnidsFanjo - I've tried this and found that twice monthly acupuncture can give me the same results as my 'preventer' medication but I still need my 'instant' stuff. Acupuncture also costs £60 a month and I'm going to be a SAHM when my contract runs out in April.

marypop sorry but milk going off inside is surely an old wives tale??

did you get mastitis? different situation

yes its very expensive

I suffer badly but acupuncture has sorted it out (I had twice monthly sessions for 4 months then remained migraine free for a year or so)

mine are hormonal so I have found breast feeding very beneficial from that POV. I had one when dd3 was 3 days old but none since

Oh, mastitis! Yeah, if you are b/f and want to stop, some people find stopping dead gives them mastitis, I think, and need to express to avoid engorgement. But Mears and Tiktok are the people who would know about this, hope they see your thread.

agree with enid on the off inside thing - doesn't happen. it just hurts if you don't express!

that's interesting enid - I get hormonal migraines (brought on by my period and then they hang around for about 5-7 days) and never thought of alternative therapies. Did it work v quickly?

Mastitis is what its called when the milk gets all lumpy inside or your pores get blocked resulting in the milk clotting inside making you very ill. Horrible in fact.

mastitis is an infection

it doesnt automatically happen

Shame about the meds, just thought it was worth a try. Do you think your migraine specialist would be able to find you another effective medicine that would be OK for b/f? I think the drug I'm on is sometimes used for migraine (it's got three or four indications). Lamictal (lamotrigine), it's basically an anti-convulsant so you have to start very gradually and build up to an effective dose.

Another idea, do you know if your GP can refer you for acupuncture on the NHS? Some surgeries offer it. And it would be cost-effective for NHS if it enables you to b/f.

No it doesn't automatically happen but if you are mixed feeding which I was its more likely to happen if you are not careful to ensure you don't get engorged. When I got it the first time (had twice) the doctor explained to me that way and said to express the milk I would normally feed to help prevent it happening again. I followed her advice and only got once more with my next child.

Foxinsocks - acupuncture (chinese not western but make sure practitioner is qualified) can be extremely effective for hormonal migraine and definitely worth a try if you can afford it. You have to get on with the practitioner as well as it's been shown a good rapport can increase the effectiveness.

Edam - I've never used an anti-convulsant for migraine as it's a relatively extreme measure in terms of treament. Are you BF with yours then?

If only! The most my GP can do is refer me for physio who, if she thinks it would help, can give me basic acupuncture. However, real snag is 26 week waiting list at least - and I have 8/9 wks before LO arrives. I know though, it makes crap financial sense on NHS's part not to help me. I also firmly believe that if I'd been given a side room with no fluorescent lights and the chance of some sleep (best cure for migraine IMO), along with a little tiny bit of encouragement, I MIGHT have been able to BF DS1.

honestly the hormones in breastfeeding seem to get rid of mine

worth gritting your teeth through the inevitable post-brith one and see how it goes?

I was told that pg would help them too. I seem to be one of those unlucky women who's completely unaffected by her hormone levels. My main triggers are irregular sleep (fun with a newborn!), bright lights, stress and relaxation (no chance of relaxation though so no worries with tha one!).