My DD was born in August by emergency c-section, after going 15 days over and being induced. Unfortunately the c-section epidural went wrong and I ended up with a post dural puncture headache. This is basically a severe migraine only relieved when lying down. I was in hospital for over a week and was unable to care for my babies physical needs (e.g. nappy et..). Despite being very ill I was determined to breast feed and learnt to feed lying down. By day five I was no better and an anesthetist prescribed medication for the headaches (same one that botched up epidural). I was not asked if I was breast feeding so I told the doctor I was and asked if the medication was ok to take whilst b-feeding. He said yes in quite an uninterested manner so when he had gone I asked the midwife to double check. She did not return and another midwife gave me my meds which I took assuming they were ok. An hour later I was feeding my baby and the first midwife came rushing in asking if I had taken the medication - apparently she had found it should not be used by b-feeding mothers. Consequently, my newborn baby had to be monitored by a paediatrician and I was unable to feed her for 12 hours (till the drugs were out of my system). I will never forget how horrific that night was - my milk had come in, my baby was screaming with hunger and rooting and I was desperate to feed her. The midwife had to take her away from me because I was so distressed and as she would not accept formula she cried/whimpered all night. Breastfeeding was the only thing that had gone well since giving birth and
I am still very upset 10 months on, I never complained to the hospital about the doctor prescribing this medication, although the impact was documented by the midwife in my notes. Do you think I should make a complaint or should I just try and let it go?
On a happy note, ten months on I am still breastfeeding my milk monster DD.