The antibiotic AMOXYCILLIN and BREASTFEEDING

[milkmonsters]

I have a chest infection and have been diagnosed with Asthma (which I'm dubious about, but that's another story) and prescribed Amoxycillin antibiotic. The pracitce Nurse who prescribed it (wasn't even a real doctor,..another story!) after flicking through a manual then going next door to get second advice, said 'the benefits to you the mother outweigh risks to your baby while feeding'.

That's really reassuring

Has anyone else experienced any side effects or noticed changes to their baby's feeding pattern or health whilst taking this? Mine is 7 months old.

Also known as Amoxil (amoxicillin).

I've just googled and found an old mumsnet thread about this very question, so I'll have a read through that too.

I took it at some time while bf and had no problems with it.

www.netdoctor.co.uk/medicines/100000112.html

This link tells you lots about it for anyone who's interested, but I've opened the thread to see if anyone has any personal experience of using this drug.

Dont know if it is in any way helpful but my DS2 has had amoxicillin twice now in his lifetime (7 months) so i imagine your lo would be fine getting it through you.

Hi milkmonsters

I was prescribed this for pneumonia a few weeks ago and was breastfeeding. I was told it was safe to take while breastfeeding and never noticed any side effects on my ds.

If you are suffering from a chest infection, do take your antibiotics as it can go very quickly to pneumonia - mine did - or get worse.

Breast feeding network says it's safe here

These are written by a pharmacist who has researched all of the evidence and is also a breast feeding counsellor.

HTH

Lots of meds are not licenced for bfing mums but are still safe, Wendy Jones is the BfN pharmacist and she really is a true expert. Hope that reassures.

They prescribe amoxycillin for babies under a year with infections - my DS had it at 11 months and was prescribed only half the dosage of the adult prescription (I think? DS and XP had chest infections within a week of each other and both had it - am about 70% sure of the dosage but it was about 4 months ago so might be wrong)

OK I feel more reassured now. I've started the course a couple of hours ago, had two tablets already, but I feel napalmed. I've only had anti-bi's once before in my early 20s for gum infection and never take any kind of medication bar paracetomol, so I can really feel a war starting inside.

I'm feeling like all that effort to help immunise my baby by breastfeeding has now gone to waste because these antibiotics will wipe out absolutely everything good and bad, keep my immune system on an effectively non-functioning level now for several months, so there will be no good immunities left to pass on to him. I suppose it will also kill off any good immunities already in him because it will pass through the milk.

By napalmed, I mean my speech is either slurred or I cant get full words out, headache, drowsiness, weak - is this what antibiotics normally do to you?

mm antibiotics shouldn't have that effect I wouldn't have thought. Amoxycillin is a relatively mild, common one to take. You shouldn't beat yourself up about this, it's far more important to get yourself better and be able to look after yourself and baby. You will not be cancelling out all the good you've done for baby by bfing.

I am a bit concerned at the symptoms you say you're experiencing. They don't sound ab related to me.

I'll ring NHS direct

Milkmonsters a second from me too. The feelings you describe aren't usual for amoxicillin. Wise to ring NHS direct.

Antibiotics have an effect on the bacteria themselves, not your immune system.

You will still be producing lots of lovely antibodies to pass on to your baby.

Antibiotics weaken the immune system, SofaKingFedUpOfSnow, leaving you more susceptible to infections thereafter. This one's a 'braod-spectrum' version, meaning it helps prevent the infected bacteria growing further but it still weakens the immune system.

So, I'm looking forward to a year of ups and downs in 2010! _ i'm going to research some immune-boosting ideas through diet, homeopathy, etc. I think to counteract. I havent taken anti-Bi's in 10 years and have a toddler at nursery, so we all pick up bugs every week at the moment!

Don't beat yourself up milkmonsters. I was on amoxy the whole time I bf both my dc (chronic condition, amoxy was the only one I could take safely bfng) and they are strong as horses now. You have done a great thing and in no way have cancelled it out. don't worry, please. But if those symptoms persist yes do ring dr as they are not so usual. All the best.