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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

Original poster

In desperate need for help! How do I stop bf?

20 replies

shauna72 · 16/12/2006 19:01

My dd was born 4 weeks ago and I have been bf brilliantly during this time.Unfortunately, I am having terrible migraines, one every 2-3 days, and my Gp has put me back on the medication I was on before pregnancy, which I cannot breast feed if I take it.I have tried not to take it but have been so poorly during the last week with migraine that I have had to take it as I haven;t been able to look after our dd. I tried expressing and throwing the milk away for 24hours after taking the tablets and using formula during that time period, but now since I am having them so often, it is just not working and been advised by the health visitor and GP to stop bf.I have a really high milk supply and I just don't know how I am meant to stop bf with the least trauma?
Don't know where to start

OP posts:
moondog · 16/12/2006 19:02

Are yuo sure the medication is imcompatible?

If I was you I'd ring one of the helplines first.

Assoc. for Breastfeeding Mothers is good.

0870 401 7711

Scootergirl · 16/12/2006 19:04

Poor thing - I hope you feel better soon
The advice seems to be to do it as gradually as possible. Do you want to stop straight away or can you cut down over a few days? What does your HV say?

Original poster
shauna72 · 16/12/2006 19:06

Hi Moondog,
I have spoken to the pharmacist at the hospital where I worked and they have checked and it is.So gutted.Been trying to take co-codamol and ibuprofen,even tried herbal feverfew, instead of taking the imigran but been sick and having to go to bed,which means can't look after dd properly.Think getting them as so tired and must be hormone changes too.Just don't know what to do.Feel like a failure

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Original poster
shauna72 · 16/12/2006 19:08

Hi Scootergirl,
Do I express as many times as I would normally feed or do I cut one out a day? Worried will get mastitis.Or do I express only a bit each time? Can't ring HV til Monday

OP posts:
Scootergirl · 16/12/2006 19:09

You're not a failure - don't even think about thinking that way.
You've done brilliantly to go for a month with migraines and you've given her a great start. If you can't look after her properly because you're in agony the benefits of taking the medication surely outweight the benefits of bf. PLease don't feel bad.

Original poster
shauna72 · 16/12/2006 19:10

Thanks Scootergirl. JUst so disappointed, love bf.And she loves it too.

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SaintGeorge · 16/12/2006 19:11

Please check again shauna.

I took sumatriptans whilst breastfeeding and it was fine.

Scootergirl · 16/12/2006 19:11

Sorry - crossed messages! I think you should cut down one feed a day because if you express then your body still makes enough milk for those feeds and you need to shut it down gradually if you can.
I would say to make sure you're as comfortable as possible (no Jordan-esque enormous boobs!) and do it as slowly as you can - migraines allowing.

Glassofwine · 16/12/2006 19:12

I don't know if this will help, but when I has ds my kidney stones were causing me a lot of pain and had to be treated involving medication that I couldn't breastfeed with. I had the treatment, stopped bf and then about two weeks later felt so guilty that I tried again. It worked and I continued to feed him for some time after.

Scootergirl · 16/12/2006 19:23

And do try not to feel too sad... there's so much more to being a mum than feeeding them. You did your very best, and no-one can ask more than that.
(Apart from all children who obviously demand your best and then another 200 per cent but that's another story!)

CouldEquallyHaveBeenAnAardvark · 16/12/2006 19:24

Are you the person who posted re migraines and bfeeding a little while ago?

There were some threads - Mears posted a fair bit iirc. Will try to find.

CouldEquallyHaveBeenAnAardvark · 16/12/2006 19:25

Here's the thread - it might have some helpful stuff on it for you

tiktok · 16/12/2006 19:48

Imigran? This is certainly not contra-indicated when bf, according to the latest edition of Hale....please check again and ask them if they are referring to the best sources on this. Don;t let them make the error of assuming that something that isn;'t licensed is not safe.

On my reading of the Hale entry, your baby would be at much greater risk from not breastfeeding, than breastfeeding with the tiniest trace (and that's all it is) of this med.

Hope you get this sorted.

SaintGeorge · 16/12/2006 19:56

That is how my GP read it too tiktok, hence I was allowed to keep taking it.

Original poster
shauna72 · 16/12/2006 23:57

Thanks very much for all your advice and support.Started propanolol on Sat last wk and am on zomatriptan (zomig) rather than imigran.Started feverfew on thurs.Have had acupuncture before with some success but its the worry of the zomig really.Is Hale a breastfeeding formulary? Could you possibly check zomig for me tiktok? I read the previous thread thanks Couldequallyhavebeenanardvark, very useful.Feel much more inclined to persevere and give the propanolol a couple of wks to kick in,if zomig ok.I will express off the milk for 24 hrs after I've had the zomig today then.If zomig not ok, will ask GP to prescribe imigran for me.

OP posts:
tiktok · 17/12/2006 00:20

Hale is 'Medications and Mothers Milk', a US book but internationally-used as a reference. Dr Thomas Hale has a website, too.

He says no data on zomig, and suggests sumatriptan (imigran) as an alternative because there is data.

Shauna, I should stress I am not a doc or a pharmacist, and anything I am saying here has to be checked out with your doctor . You can also check this NHS site here which again does not contraindicate sumatripan, but gives it a '?'...which you can ask about.

Original poster
shauna72 · 17/12/2006 11:55

Thanks very much tiktok, will check with GP but feel much more cheery.Head better today and she is back bf happy as larry.Felt so desperate yesterday but am going to keep persevering!

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katewilson13 · 17/12/2006 19:13

Please don't feel guilty. As one poster said you have given your baby the best start in life. Your relationship with your baby is even more important - bottlefeeding isn't evil and can sometimes be the best thing for both of you. I had to stop breastfeeding at 6 weeks and used the following techniques: expressing small amounts of milk (don't express too much or they will just fill up again), baths, massage if breasts get solid; I did get mastitis and treated it immediately with antibiotics. Whatever you decide to do will be the best thing for you.

Eeek · 17/12/2006 19:30

Just checking the obvious so hopefully not offending you. You've a new baby, no sleep etc etc. Are you eating properly and drinking enough water? Are you eating too much of your trigger foods? Is your sitting position as good as you can make it? Do you normally wear contacts but you've swapped to glasses because you're so tired? All of these will make any headaches worse. Your hormonal changes you can't help but you can do something about the rest. If you aren't already of course!

As others have said it isn't impossible to stop feeding for a while and then restart.

Good luck and here's hoping the head sorts itself out soon

lol, E

Original poster
shauna72 · 21/12/2006 21:08

Am feeling much better. At my parents this week and getting lots more rest and eating and drinking better too.Not had migraine for 4 days which is a big improvement so am going to keep trying! Thanks for all the advice, it really has been a life saver

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