Has anyone kept bf supply going for a week while not bf because on antibiotics? Help!

[greenlawn]

Hi my ds3 is 4 weeks old and unfortunately my caesarean scar is infected - its been swabbed and the only antibiotics that will help would mean I have to stop bf for a week.

GP says I can give it another week, get it dressed, see if that helps - but if no better there are no alternative antibiotics so my only option would be pumping and dumping for a week then trying to re-establish bf.

Has anyone done this? Ds3 is a big boy by the way, putting on nearly a lb a week - would I need to keep supply at that level, or can I just keep it going at a lower level and hope it picks up afterwards? Any advice would be appreciated.

What antibiotics do they want to give you ? Because almost all are compatible with bfing - you can download a leaflet with full information from here

It would be hard to keep going as you'd have to pump every time he had a feed, day and night, and he might not latch on afterwards as he'd have got used to a bottle.

not sure at that age- i had to pump and dump whilst having chemo treatment but my twins went back fine and boosted up supply again- but they were 5 months at the time. it is possible but cup feeding may be better so no nipple confusion

I would double check to see what other ab's you can have so you can feed

Thanks, I'll have to ask GP the name of the anti-b. - he said it would be a 5-7 day course and the dose would make it incompatible with bf. He also said would be a last resort though, so hopefully it won't come to that.

If you want to check with your GP, I have access via work to Drugs in pregnancy and lactation: a guide to fetal and neonatal risk by Briggs which is the "bible" for drugs and breastfeeding.

He's unlikely to have access to it as it's a big specialist tome, and I think the BNF is very cautious on drugs and bf. Briggs synthesises the available research on drugs & bf and gives a risk assessment.

I may be wrong, he may have based his reasoning re: the abs being incompatible with bf on accurate, up to date info, but he wouldn't be the first not to (speaking from personal experience here!)

The Breastfeeding Network site is excellent on drugs. Kellymom.com also has lots of info on drugs & bf with references iirc to Briggs.

(Only problem is that I don't have internet access after today until Monday so it may not be a help to you - you could ask him to double check though. His local Medical Library would help him if he didn't have online access via NELH which he might - he would if he was in Scotland).

And apologies if "he" is "she" - and I think you could well get back to bf if you do have to pump. You would be looking at 8 times in 24 hrs - but it would be great if you didn't have to.

Thank you! I've got a weeks grace so not panicking yet (GP - he - has been v. helpful so far) ...