Antiobiotics and breast feeding

[Minniethemoocher]

Having a horrid time, I have a hospital acquired infection in my c-section incision, and I have been on antibiotics for 2 weeks now, first Eyrthmicin now Clindamycin.

Stopped the antibiotics on Monday, but the infection has returned. It is meant to be dressed by the district nurse every other day, but sometimes it is every 3 days...

I am getting conflicting advice on whether I can breast feed whilst taking Clindamycin, the leaflet says "avoid breast feeding" Doctor tells me that it is safe to breast feed, pharmacist just wrinkles up their nose and shrugs...

I am on 450mg 4 times a day, the maximum dose.

I am so fed up... Health visitor suggested one breast feed a day and using a breast pump to express and tip my lovely breast milk down the sink!!!! And to bottle feed

Should I just give up on the whole idea of breast feeding?

the bfn has a drug helpline, you could ask them?

here

Sorry don't know the answer on that partic. antibiotics. But keep going on the bf'ing if you can! WTF is your HV on about??? Don't follow that reasoning. TRy and get some independent advice.

I would totally recommend getting your DH to get you some Acidophilus tablets from the health care centre. Basically they are a strong dose of good bacteria and will stop you and the babe from getting oral thrush after you stop the anti-bs. (happened to me post anti-bs for mastitis)

Many thanks Scorpio1, I will have a look online and give them a call.

I had a similar problem. Hopefully Tiktok or Determination will be along soon as they were great. They directed me to a webpage where you can look it up.

Hang on... I can probably find it... Sorry for some reason I can't but I do know that most antibiotics are fine, so don't panic.

[http://www.ukmicentral.nhs.uk/drugpreg/qrg_p1.asp]

This link covers lots of drugs and their suitability during BFing

Minnie - firstly do you know what the infection is?

I would ask for a different antib. personally as I have suffered from c difficile as a result of taking a broad spec a/b - clindamycin is one of the most prone to give you this. SO be sure you take a good probiotic whilst on it and eat lots of natural live yogurt. Any signs of bowel trouble, stop immediately.

it is actually rare to get c diff so you should be Ok. But do avoid hospitals whilst on this drug and after for a few weeks, to avoid picking up anything else while your gut flora is low.
Ok now that's out the way

There are likely to be alternatives which can be taken with breastfeeding. Do ask them if they can prescribe something else.

Btw Minnie I am so sorry to hear you're going through this. I have a friend who was in a similar situation, and did get c diff, and has had the first few months with her new dd ruined by it - so I know how awful it is when you've just given birth, to be ill - not what you need

Please don't give up bfing though. With any luck it'll all be dealt with in a week or two and you can carry on if you've managed to keep yor supply up, or been given a different drug to take - very best of luck xx

Be aware that antibiotics can cause oral thrush in the baby which is VERY painful for you, but can be very successfully treated quickly if you know what you're looking for.

Pain in both breasts, deep and stabbing pain right up inside your breasts and can last for up to an hour after feed, pale nipples, white sheen in baby's mouth, etc.

Not wanting to worry you, but thought it best that you know what to look for!!

Thank you for all your replies, it is really a truly miserable experience that I am going through. I will definitely send DH out for some "friendly bacteria" at the weekend.

Maybe I will try a cautious approach and BF a couple of times a day, and see how baby does on it...

My GP does know that I am BF.

As to the infection, well they have told me that it ISN'T MRSA, but that it is still a nasty one. I am allergic to Penicillin based antibiotics, so that may be why I have been given the Clindamycin.

Minnie - the best sort to get are called Diarsafe, they're available in some health food shops and will survive the a/b's because they're yeast based. Normal acidophilus gets killed off a bit by a/b's but if you space the dose between a/b doses, as far as possible, it helps repopulate with the good ones in between.

If you google diarsafe dtecta (dtecta is the brand) it'll take you to their website and they have a list of stockists. it's £5.95 a packet, not too bad.

there are a few contraindications to check on the leaflet but only if you're on some heart drugs I think or have bleeding when you go to the loo. (can get into bloodstream if so, not good!)

It's worth taking as a preventative measure. I'd hate anyone to go through what me and my friend went through! The one I took was cephalexin which made me so ill, so avoid that too x

Minnie, so sorry your having such a rough time {we all send big healing hugs your way}.

This is the only page i know of bfn antibiotics and bfing

Hi I'm in a similar situation - have had the cs infection for 4 weeks now and have reluctantly started erythromycin and metronidazole as a last resort as the scar keeps opening up. I was initially told I couldn't bf with the latter but the GP has now said its OK in small doses. Still feel unhappy about it, but the thought of expressing for a week was too grim for words.

Did they swab it for you to check the abs are actually going to work? Like you I can't take penicillin so options are limited. Hope it gets better soon.

Hello Determination - sorry but I can't open the file with Adobe,had the same problem with the website documents too.

Greenlawn - sorry to hear that you are having the same problems as me, I am 3 weeks post birth and it is really getting me down...

They swabbed it again Friday, so I should get the results hopefully by Tuesday.

Oh, why couldn't I be one of the lucky ones who recover well from c-sections?

I had a third degree tear with my vaginal birth, and I was so hoping for a good recovery from my c-section....

No more children for me, that's it!!! Tore badly with my vaginal birth and and caught this damn infection with a c-section....

Until someone comes up with an alternative method of giving birth, that's it for me!!!

Greenlawn, I took metronidazole whilst feeding - true my ds was a fair bit older, but they can tolerate it pretty well apparently. I think it might make the milk taste a bit funny? Ds went off it briefly but soon got over that...

Hope you are both better very soon x
(remember to take the probiotics - very important! Though Metro. less broad spec so you should be ok)

Thanks, you're right about the probio's, I dread the dodgy tummy I always get on abs. - just wish I didn't have to have them ...

Minnie,
I have tried copying it to paste it for you and can't sorry

Thanks for trying determination! Swigging Actimel until I can get the diarsafe dtecta.

Quick update from me, I am half way through the course of Clindamycin, and baby is fine, no diarrhea and I am OK too, so far.

The Breast Feeding Network were very helpful and reassured me that Clindamycin is fine for breast feeding.

Thank you for your help and advice.

Glad to here it Minnie.. How are you feeling now? and your breast?!

Finished the antibiotics, managed to keep bf-ing, baby fine!

Thanks for all you help and advice, previous message short as typing one handed whilst BFing baby!