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Infant feeding

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

Original poster

May have to stop BF suddenly - best way to do this for baby?

29 replies

StrangeTown · 05/01/2008 21:59

I have a tooth/nerve/gum infection which is not responding to Amoxicillin. Dentist today said I need to go onto another Antibiotic to clear up the infection. Problem is that I cannot breastfeed through the 7 day course or for 10 days after .

DS is 5 weeks old and has never had bottle or formula. I have not expressed yet and have no time to build up stock.

I really don't want to stop BF, but can't go on with tooth in this state, I haven't been able to eat for a couple of days.

I am trying double dose of Amoxicillin - Dentist said prob wouldn't work, but I feel it it worth a try before stopping BF my baby.

If I do have to - what is best way to do it? Cold turkey straight to bottle FF or mixed EBM? I have not expressed before, but do have pump? So could do a few mixed feeds before start course.
Any info/advice appreciated.

Thanks

OP posts:
Monkeybird · 05/01/2008 22:04

I'd suggest you first get a second opinion on the antibiotics AND look up what they want to give you on kellymom and www.drjacknewman.com to be sure... If your priority is keeping BF there must surely be other solutions?

could you just go straight for rootcanal treatment instead?

It seems like such a brutal requirement to fully stop BF...

Maybe put out a call for Tiktok and see what she says?

FrannyandZooey · 05/01/2008 22:04

I would phone LLL and get a second or third opinion on this - first they will check the meds as they have all the latest research on drugs etc

secondly they will be able to advise you on how to make this less traumatic if you do have to wean suddenly

would you consider pumping to keep up supply while on the abs, with a view to restarting when finished?

am very sorry to hear of the pain and this worry for you

vole3 · 05/01/2008 22:06

Is there anything to stop you pumping and dumping and going back to BF / mixed once you're in the clear?

fingerwoman · 05/01/2008 22:11

oh strangetown, what a horrible position to be in.
I would definitely second monkeybird's anf franny's advice and get a second opinion on the AB's and talk to someone like LLL.
Also might be worth ringing your midwife, or the maternity ward where you had your baby to ask their advice (my GP did this before prescribing me drugs which weren't licensed for use with BF but the midwives gave it the ok!)

fingerwoman · 05/01/2008 22:12

I would definitely start pumping now though, just in case

Original poster
StrangeTown · 05/01/2008 22:18

Thanks for advice everyone - I do feel awful about it. I cried in the emergency dentists

I think I will try midwives for any advice. Am not sure of AB dentist wanted to prescribe, but maybe they have come across this before?

Thanks

OP posts:
deckthehallswithboughsofholly · 05/01/2008 22:19

Exactly the same thing happened to me. I had a hideous abcess on a tooth and had to get it treated whilst I was still bfing my dd. I do not respond to regular strength ABs because of recurrant tonsilitis, so had to have a 7 day course of 2 strong ABs. My dentist told me I could not bf whilst taking them. I double checked with the pharmacist and she said bfing whilst taking them would be fine, she even did some research for me to find out for sure.

Dentists will always tell you not to take ABs whilst bfing to cover their backs, but most are perfectly safe.

I'm sure you won't have to give up bfing...fingers crossed and hope your tooth gets better.

laundrylover · 05/01/2008 22:19

StrangeTown,

Cut and poste this link: www.breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk/assets/docs/pdfs/Antibiotics%20and%20Breastfeeding.pdf

or go to Breast Feeding Network site and look under drug info. Is the antibiotic he wants you have on here?

As has been mentioned, some drugs are in fact safe to take whilst bfing (such as Fluconazole for thrush) but are not licensed in the UK. A good GP should still prescribe though.

Original poster
StrangeTown · 05/01/2008 22:22

Thanks for that Deck - will try and find out what was going to be prescribed somehow...

OP posts:
Pannacotta · 05/01/2008 22:25

Def seek other advice and would also do some research yourself, such as checking on kellymom/drjacknewman.com and the other links given. It sounds very drastic and am sure there are other ways round this.
Hope someone who knows more will be along soon to advise.
Wouldnt take the word of your dentist as gospel. Good luck.

FrannyandZooey · 05/01/2008 22:35

I have heard this happening so many times

there are very few drugs which are absolute no go with bf and the ones that are include cancer trestment and anti-psychotics, not things like anti-biotics

there is usually an alternative treatment that is known to be safe, but doctors and dentists don't tend to put needs of bf child at the forefront of their minds when they are prescribing

Jennster · 05/01/2008 22:37

DO NOT GIVE UP BREAST FEEDING (unless of course you want to) but def. not because of antibiotics.

Dentists frequently prescribe Metronidazole. 200-400mg Metronidazole three times a day is ok. The dose that eventually gets into breast milk is much less than the equivalent dose given to a baby (per kg) if they were ill.

Erythromycin 250-500mg four times a day, Clarithromycin 250mg twice a day and Cefalexin 250mg four times a day are all ok. All these antibiotics are also available in liquid form for children. There are loads more that can be given

Jennster · 05/01/2008 22:39

PRINT OUT THIS AND GIVE TO DENTIST

[whispers I'm a pharmacist by the way]

FrannyandZooey · 05/01/2008 22:41

oh superb link Jennster

Pannacotta · 05/01/2008 22:42

Oh am glad someone in the know came along, is good to hear.
I did think it sounded odd and overly drastic. For some reason dentists and GPs seem to be very cautious about prescribing antibiotics to breastfeeding women.

laundrylover · 05/01/2008 22:44

That was my link Jennster - must learn how to do links properly! BFN is a really good source of pdfs for all sorts of drugs.

Jennster · 05/01/2008 22:50

Sorry laundry, that link wasn't there when I started the post, got called to help dh hang a picture in the middle.

Jennster · 05/01/2008 22:51

But I'll take bow anyway!

laundrylover · 05/01/2008 22:52

I wasn't taking offence!! Good to know that a pharmicist recommends the leaflets too.

No, I meant that I really should learn how to do MN links - I did my own elfyourself at Xmas so am not a complete technophobe these days.

Pannacotta · 05/01/2008 22:55

llover just put two square brackets around your actual link and it will work (I never used to be able to do links but its much easier now than it was).

Jennster · 05/01/2008 22:58

I'm starting peer supporter training with them next week. I've also been to a training session with Wendy Jones the Phd pharmacist who wrote the sheets too. She was SO sensible.

laundrylover · 05/01/2008 23:00

OK will try that, thanks. It did use to be very complicated I seem to remember.

Hey F&Z can I have a 'superb cut and paste, even though you spelt paste wrong, linky kind of thingy' post though??

FrannyandZooey · 05/01/2008 23:03

ooh yes, certainly

it was marvellous, well done all round everybody

laundrylover · 05/01/2008 23:04

this leaflet

Oh yeah!!!
Look at me - I can do links! Wahey.

Thanks Pan (calling you that as am reading The Subtle Knife at the mo so you can be my daemon!).

Apologies for highjacking the thread with a computer lesson for morons.

Jen, enjoy your peer support training - I did the LLL course and really enjoyed it.

laundrylover · 05/01/2008 23:07

Many thanks F&Z - you've made my evening on MN feel most worthwhile and I've even forgotten that in fact I was meant to be writing a huge funding bid that needs to be finished by Monday!

Oops, now am off to bed to read more Subtle Knife so that's an evening where I've earned absolutely no money at all but learnt to do a link. Must add it to my CV!