Help -Breastfeeding Friend v poorly needs to stop BF and that is making her feel worse

[CHOCOLATEPEANUT]

I have just heard from my friend.She has a 10mth old baby and has been BF.

She has been poorly for a while.Had lots of mastitus and infections.Low blood count and lots of dizzy spells.Shes been diagnosed with very low calcium levels and para thyroid levels. Shes been told that shes got post natal depression too.

Shes been told by Dr to stop BF.She cant take anti depressents while she is.But shes trying to wean herself off to one feed a day and thats making her v v sad.Its her last baby and I recently had my last baby and although I have never bf I know how hard that is.

Shes in a very bad place right now and I am trying to help but as a non Bf mum I dont want to make her feel any worse by saying the wrong thing.

I am so worried about her.Shes a lovely woman and she wanted her baby so much and now she cant enjoy her

Is the need for AD's the only reason she's stopping? It is possible to breastfeed on some AD's, in fact a few MNers have done it, although I'm afraid Im not sure which ones.

I hope someone comes along soon with clearer advice

It would be such a shame for her to stop when it really isn't necessary.

I think the most pressing need for her stopping is the results of her blood tests.I think the AD issue is another need which I agree,could be solved by other ADs.

Sorry to hear about your friend.

It is totally possible to take antidepressants while breastfeeding - her doctor is wrong and very misinformed.

There's information on Kellymom here which links to the information from Hale's Medication and Mothers' Milk.

I was diagnosed with PND while bfeeding and told the same bollocks - fortunately LLL sorted me out with this information and I took paroxetine for over a year while still bfeeding.

PND sucks, the last thing your friend needs is to be made more miserable by giving up a breastfeeding relationship that's going well. Hope this info helps.

I agree that it isn't necessary that she stop breast feeding to go on ADs. Can make depression worse when a mum feels forced to give up breastfeeding. Will link to BFN

I took sertraline whilst b/feeding DS. Continued to b/feed for nearly 2 years after starting them.

There is no evidence that sertraline has a negative effect on babies having been ingested through b/milk. It's not something that can be ethically studied. They certainly have no reason to be concerned as yet, but, for legal reasons they have to say it's not recommended.

Fact is, it's healthier to b/feed, and healthier for mum to take AD's, so on balance she's best of taking AD's and carrying on.

thyroid drugs might mean she has to though.

drugline

No one can order her to stop bf, and her doctor should discuss with her different treatment options. Antidepressants are not a reason to stop - there are several commonly-prescribed ads that are safe to use when bf.

She (or you) can do research on the internet

(or search mumsnet archives) to find out more, if she knows the name of the ads she is likely to be prescribed.

toxnet.nlm.nih.gov/cgi-bin/sis/htmlgen?LACT is a good site; there is also meds information at the Breastfeeding Network site.

Calcium levels and parathyroid levels would normally be treated without needing to stop breastfeeding.

She needs to arm herself with more info, and to discuss all this with the doctor again.

thyroid info

I BF for 10 months whlst taking ADs....was prescribed sertraline by the psych at the peri-natal unit of the local psych hospital.

I also know of a MNer who is still BFing inspite of taking thyroid medication. There are some good links on Kellymom for drugs that can be used whilst BFing, or a call to the LaLecheLeague or ABM will get your friend information on the drugs.

Unfortunately doctors are not experts on BFing, or the most suitable drugs for taking whilst BFing.

If she still wants to carry on with the BFing, she should aske her doctor to prescribe suitable alternatives and do some research herself on what's suitable.

I do have some links somewhere, but they are on the other pooter which can't connect to the internet at the moment.

Hopefully someone will be able to link something for you soon. In the meantime, all the helpline numbers are on www.howbreastfeedingworks.com
I hope she can keep going as long as she and her DC want to

I am going to link her to this thread,when I work out how to...

Can she get advice from LLL or NCT? IMO many GP's are too quick to tell people to stop bfing as it is far easier to tell them to stop than it is to find a way round it.

When dd was tiny I went to my GP because I felt so crap (PND). I was still breastfeeding at that point. I was told to stop so that I could start on AD's. I couldn't stop at that point because dd wouldn't take a bottle. "Make her take a bottle" said the oh-so-helpful GP. Well, erm, thanks for that

CP, just go on MSN, or whereever and type www.mumsnet.com/Talk/1364/533632?stamp=080519231408 into the message, she just then needs to copy and paste it to her address bar.

I have nothing better to offer except to agree there are many ways around stopping bf, especially if it will make her feel worse.

Will do thanks

We are so at the opposite ends of how to feed.I am staunch FF and she BF.But shes my friend and if I cant help her then I know you lot can
x

CP, you aren't opposite ends of anything.
You both want to feed your babies as you choose and are well-informed.
End of matter.
Enjoy your babies.

I am taking fluoxetine and bfing dd2 who is almost 12 weeks. i also took it after developing PND after dd1, started taking it when she was 2wks, stopped bfing her just after her 1st birthday, and she is fine, a normal 2-going-on-16 yr old. I agree with the others, the ad's alone should not be a reason for stopping.

The results of the blood tests might be a reason for stopping though, I'm not really an expert in this area, but I would advise further reasearch, possably through the NCT or LLL, and I know there is a help group who can advise which meds are safe and not safe to take while bf but I cannot remember its name.

I hope she can keep going, but as a bf mum, trying to put myself in her position I think I would be needing someone to keep reassuring me that formula isn't the devils stuff, it's even more vital for all dcs to have a functioning and healthy mum as that could cause more damage that not being bf if I make sense.

Thats exactly what I told her.I feel better for hearing that,I did not want to upset her

I know a lady, when her baby was six months she was told "you could have carried on BFing" she had a thyroid problem and the doctor she saw at the time told her she had to stop.

I know many BFing women who are on AD's and I have friends who have extreme problems that need really strong AD's that can't BF.

I'm told that there is evidence that very few drugs mean that you have to stop BFing and it's often the doctors being to scared of the fall out if they say you can BF, then you have problems and come back on them because they said you could.

I don't know about the rest of it, but that's a start. Who is her doctor - a GP or specialist?