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Infant feeding

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

Original poster

Friend in hosp with DVT, baby is 2weeks (ish), she has been told she must stop bf, are the docs right?

142 replies

JustBeBuffy · 11/10/2009 10:10

OK so i don't know what meds she's on & i don't want to pester her but am sad if she's being given false info.

She says she's spoken to 3 doctors, all of whom have said she must stop bf as the baby could have an internal bleed as he's so small.

She has to be on the meds for 6months.

Her DVT was misdiagnosed as a trapped nerve first apparently , she's been in hosp since Fri so baby has been on a bottle since then anyway.

Having done a quick google i found this that implies she should be ok to carry on?

I don't know how much of a fight she's prepared to put up tbh, but just feeling & for her.

(this is dc2 for her, she bf her first for most of a year as far as i remember - we met at bf group)

OP posts:
kando · 11/10/2009 10:18

I have to say I'm not sure your friend has been given the right info justbe. But I suppose it depends on the dose of the warfarin/anticoagulant she is on. I had a dvt whilst pg with my dd2. When she was delivered I was switched from heparin injections to warfarin, and was told that it was fine to breastfeed her. Not sure if this helps at all, and again, I suppose it depends on her meds. I hope it all gets sorted out for her soon .

ninedragons · 11/10/2009 10:21

I'm all for breastfeeding but I'd take the opinion of three doctors who had personally examined me over that of a bunch of strangers on the internet.

LovestheChaos · 11/10/2009 10:21

If she is on warfarin then breast feeding would be extremely dangerous.

The low molecular weight heps would probably be okay.

It depends on what meds she is on.

Lulumama · 11/10/2009 10:22

my sister just had a baby, she is on Clexane and is breastfeeding.

Deemented · 11/10/2009 10:22

No, no no no no!!!!

A lady i know on another forum spent time in hospital when her DD was a newborn as she developed DVT, and she managed to continue to breastfeed, with support.

I'll PM her and see if she'll pop over here...

Lulumama · 11/10/2009 10:24

it will depend what drugs she is on though and we can't really say as the OP does not know what drugs her friend is on

Original poster
JustBeBuffy · 11/10/2009 10:26

Thanks all - have texted her back with the link to the BfN anyway & asked her what she's on - but she may think i'm a pest and not reply!

Ninedragons - she's not going to suddenly bf her baby on my texted advice gained from opinions on MN, i'm just asking as i feel sad for her and somehow feel that there must be a way to carry on bf.

OP posts:
ILikeToQuickstepItTangoIt · 11/10/2009 10:28

I would advise her and her Docs to refer to BFN phoneline before they make any decisions.

Hopefully she will be able to carry on.

Original poster
JustBeBuffy · 11/10/2009 10:31

Thanks will text her the phone line in a mo - she has replied, yey so maybe does want to try & carry on.

She says she's on warfarin & clexane, says docs & midwives have said no to bf.

hopefully she can ring the BfN and they can say one way of the other.

OP posts:
Original poster
JustBeBuffy · 11/10/2009 10:32

one way or the other, doh

OP posts:
kando · 11/10/2009 10:33

Lovesthechaos - I was told it was fine to start breastfeeding whilst on warfarin. Why do you say it would be extremely dangerous?

mamalovesmojitos · 11/10/2009 10:35

bit worrying, considering some of the posts here, but i was on warfarin while breastfeeding - also had dvt during pregnancy. had to change to daily injections of heparin in the months approaching pregnancy but moved back to warfarin after the birth.

ruddynorah · 11/10/2009 10:35

i would assume the 3 doctors wouldn't be experts in breatsfeeding or which drugs would be compatible with bfing and so would err on the side of caution and say to stop bfing.

the helplines will have good info to help your friend make an informed decision.

rather different but when i was in hospital with a dislocated jaw at 14 wks pregnant i had to stay in, untreated, for nearly 2 days while the ENT doctors couldn't decide what pain relief i could have. they referred to obstetrician who also couldn't decide. it seemed to be preferrable to keep my in, unable to eat or drink (they couldn't even get a drip into me) while they went forward and back between depts trying to decide what they could give me. worst 2 days of my life.

rubyslippers · 11/10/2009 10:39

i took warfarin whilst breastfeeding DS

it is not extremeley dangerous - it is when you are pregnant though

am currently breastfeeding DD and am on clexane but will switch to warfarin in around 5 weeks

i saw my haematologist 4 weeks ago and he assrued me it is fine to take warfarin and breastfeed

kando · 11/10/2009 10:39

me too mama, which is why I was asking why it's so dangerous [curious]? Thankfully dd2 is absolutely fine - a strapping 6 year old with attitude, and also dd3 is fine as had to inject heparin whilst pg with her too.

Original poster
JustBeBuffy · 11/10/2009 10:40

From further googling - warfarin seems fine, clexane is not 'recommended' but is still safe.

so much in life is not recommended....

OP posts:
verylittlecarrot · 11/10/2009 10:40

"I'm all for breastfeeding but I'd take the opinion of three doctors who had personally examined me over that of a bunch of strangers on the internet. "

  • I wouldn't. I'd take the opinion of doctors / pharmacists who know about BOTH the meds AND breastfeeding. Which usually involves doing some research. It's too easy for a doctor who doesn't value bf to dismiss it without bothering to investigate whether that is necessary.

I had a dentist tell me to stop bf because he couldn't be arsed to look up which antibiotics were compatible.

You only need trawl the threads here to see how many people have been given duff advice by medics on bf. I think the OP is trying to avoid unnecessary grief for her friend by ceasing bf without need - whilst in no way affecting her own health.

rubyslippers · 11/10/2009 10:40

and i am on a HIGH dose of clexane

2 x .40 mg every day

it really is ok IME and from everything the doctors have told me

kando · 11/10/2009 10:42

Thanks for that ruby - its good to have reassurance from someone who is currently going through it.

Original poster
JustBeBuffy · 11/10/2009 10:42

ruby so you are on clexane & bf?

i will keep encouraging her to find out more.

agree that the docs are erring on side of caution and are unlikely to be bf-experts.

in the meanwhile, the baby will have been on a bottle for 3-ish days when she comes home, can she restart easily?

tips for that would be great too

OP posts:
rubyslippers · 11/10/2009 10:48

yes i am currently breastfeeding and on clexane

DD is feeding right now

mamalovesmojitos · 11/10/2009 10:51

it seems a lot of us have had dvts! i don't know anyone in rl who has had one. i still worry about mine, came off meds about four years ago but always wonder ; how do they really know that it is gone??

Lulumama · 11/10/2009 11:07

I think that on the whole, docs and medics do err on the side of caution I think as it is unethical to trial drugs on pregnant and/or nursing mothers, so they tend to say things are not safe, as they are not tested clinically.

but as Ruby has said, in her personal case, she has taken warfarin and clexane whilst pregnant and breastfeeding

Lulumama · 11/10/2009 11:08

if baby has been off the breast for two days has she been expressing to keep her supply up? she needs to ensure her breasts are stimulated to keep producing

bluebump · 11/10/2009 11:11

I also have taken Warfarin and breastfed/expressed and was sure assured this was fine.

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