What will be worse?

[2ndBelgiumbun]

Any breast feeding pros able to advise? I suffer from a medical condition which requires nasty medication not suitable for breastfeeding. I am due to go back on this meds at the end of the month, if I don't need an emergency appointment before then.
I had my gorgeous baby on Tuesday and have been exclusively breast feeding since then. My milk is now starting to come in so he is feeding and feeding to up the supply and I'm having a panic.
If I know I have to stop, should I just stop now to avoid the whole 24 hour feeds and then possible engorgement, or should I carry on til the last minute?
What's going to be worse? Will it make a difference to him?

Many congratulation on the birth of your baby!
Personally (not a pro but breast fed both of mine), I would carry on till the last minute - as the benefits re immunity and helping prepare babies gut bacteria etc are so worthwhile. And it is a lovely experience for both of you whilst it lasts (not discounting some people find it hard - but it sounds like you are doing great).
Maybe introduce the odd bottle sooner rather than later so that doesn't come as a surprise to him.

Thank you!
I breastfed my first too, I'm just thinking about all that goes into getting the supply right and then cutting it off a week later anyway, and if this will make it harder.
I was so matter of fact and accepting about having to stop and now he is here it's a different matter!

Every feed counts, so I'd continue as long as you can.

Hmm tough one. On the one hand getting as much breast milk in to him as you can is important, but on the other you don't want to get him used to breast just to take it away from him after a week. The engorgement will happen anyway if your milk is already in so don't let that sway you.

I think I would carry on breast feeding but use expressed milk in a bottle a couple of times a day

I'm no pro but I think expressing a little can make you more comfortable when you stop. If you're enjoying it keep going as long as you like.

The engorgement will happen anyway so I'd keep going as long as poss.

Congrats on your new baby. I'm not a pro either but would definitely not go cold turkey when the time comes(if you do go cold turkey, you can get mastitis or a blocked duct which can make feel very sick). Do it gradually, drop a feed every few days. If you get engorged gently hand massage or apply a warm compress to release some milk until you feel relief. You can substitute the dropped feed with a bottle. If your dc is missing the comfort of sucking, a dummy might help to settle baby.

Forgot to say you could try expressing& freezing a supply but be careful not to over do it because the more demand you build(feeds & expressing), the more supply that will be there for the next feed which can cause more engorgement. It might be worth going along to a local breastfeeding support group and they can advise you and help you through it. Gradually dropping feeds will also help with the drop in hormones (cold turkey would cause huge crash of hormones and leave you feeling very emotional and teary).

Thanks all.
I think gradually substituting may be the way to go. Was just looking at online support groups / helplines to contact and will speak to the midwife too.
Midwives at hospital suggested expressing and freezing a whole supply but not sure I can cope with that as well as dealing with returning symptoms.

You may have already checked, but have you tried the Breastfeeding Network Drugs in Breastmilk helpline to see if you definitely can't breastfeed on your meds or if there may be an alternative? If there isn't, I would personally want to breastfeed for as long as possible, as your baby is likely to be quite young when you stop they are unlikely to care much about the switch to bottle and you will get equally engorged whether you stop now or in a few weeks or so.

Please do check you need to stop bf - you can put the name of the meds into Lactmed toxnet.nlm.nih.gov/cgi-bin/sis/htmlgen?LACT and read the information, which you can then share with your docs.

Very few medications rule out bf.