Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Infant feeding

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

Original poster

Having to stop Breastfeeding...please help!

26 replies

LizP77 · 19/05/2010 17:15

Hi..please help!!!

DS is 7 weeks old and breastfeeding...(oh, and loves it!). I had a C section, and have had some problems with the scar healing. A couple of weeks ago I was diagnosed having MRSA, which after 2 failed treatments mean I have to go onto antibiotics...which mean I have to stop breastfeeding.

When we had this a couple of weeks ago, we tried DS on Aptamel, which he seemed to have an allergic reaction to. So, the doc tried an alternative treatment...which still hasn;t worked.

So its back to trying to find a formula he likes...

Any advice on which? Also, whats the best way to make up formula...can it be done in advance?

Really appreciate any advice...

Thanks
x

OP posts:
youlikewineilikewine · 19/05/2010 17:24

Hello, sorry you've had problems and have to give up, but v. important for you to be healthy, so get well soon!

I've always given DS some formula as well as Bf. I'm now using HIPP organic which they stock at Boots.

What I do (and it's just what I do, I could be wrong!) is, mornings and afternoons, boil a freshly filled kettle and use it to fill a lidded jug which i keep in the fridge. Then every time I make up a feed with freshly boiled water I combine it with the cold from the fridge to make the right temperature.

I also buy plenty of cartons of made-up formula to take out with me, or for during the night when I don't want to faff.

Good luck

Cathpot · 19/05/2010 17:26

Hello. Is it the particular type of anitbiotics you are on that matter? I breast fed through 2 lots of mastitis and antibiotics and wasnt told not to. Also would you want to pick up bf again after your infection has cleared? If so you will need to think about expressing etc.

Hope other peopel will come on with more useful info on different formulas- you can make them up in advance and store in fridge- or cool bag if you are out and about, but look up for how long as I'm not sure. Also once they have had a bit of the bottle if they dont finish it, not a good idea to leave half finshed ones around to have later. You can get ready made cartons of formula which are handy when you are out adn about.

thisisyesterday · 19/05/2010 17:27

sorry, i can't say much as dinner almost ready... but are you 100% sure that you cannot breastfeed on the medication? if so, have you queried whether or not there is a safer alternative?

i only ask as doctors are not always up on what is and isn't safe and tend to err on the side of caution if they are not sure.

it's def worth looking into it and making sure you really need to give up or if there is another way!

CantSleepWontSleep · 19/05/2010 17:42

There are very very very few medicines that would mean that you have to give up bf to take them. Doctors generally don't have a clue so often give out crap standard advice without checking. Tell us which drug it is that you have to take and one of us will find a contact who can check it for you.

Original poster
LizP77 · 19/05/2010 18:01

Hi...
Thanks for your help. We tried a different treatment which they said we could breastfeed on, but that hasn;t worked. The treatment I'm about to start is Doxycyckine (12, 1 taken twice per day).

I've asked the GP if there was any alternative, but he said this is now my only option and I can;t breastfeeding on this particular treatment.

I hope somebody knows something different as he LOVES breastfeeding and I'd rather stick with it. I'm also worried about which formula to use.

Thanks once again..

OP posts:
CantSleepWontSleep · 19/05/2010 18:08

I've just posted a message to a couple of my La Leche League contacts, so hopefully I'll get an answer back for you later today if they are around tonight.

Original poster
LizP77 · 19/05/2010 18:13

Perfect...thanks so much.

Anyone any tips on formula just in case?

OP posts:
CantSleepWontSleep · 19/05/2010 18:19

They've got back to me already, and it appears that it is fine to take for up to 3 weeks. Do you know how long a course you would need? I wouldn't assume it would be longer than that would it?

Bit more info here about it.

Original poster
LizP77 · 19/05/2010 18:29

Ahh...that sounds great. Sorry to seem paraniod, but it that forum official 'proper' gp's?

Thanks again though..

OP posts:
pipsy76 · 19/05/2010 18:36

see this on UKMI- which is highly respected NHS pharmacist site, states tetracyclines ok for upto 1 week
www.ukmicentral.nhs.uk/drugpreg/qrg_p1.asp#Antibacterials

CantSleepWontSleep · 19/05/2010 18:40

Don't worry about sounding paranoid - it's good to be sure. Tom Hale is leading expert in breastfeeding and medications - you'll find lots of info about him if you google, and there's more on here.

tiktok · 19/05/2010 18:40

Liz, I just posted on another thread suggesting you opened your own thread and indeed you have

It's a good idea to share the info on the Hale forum with your doc - Hale is the internationally-recognised leader in the field of medications and breastfeeding and the author of the world-standard textbook.

If you mean doxycycline, there really seems to be no problem with it - obviously you need to check with the doctors, but they have to show you there is a documented risk, to counter the other literature on it here:
toxnet.nlm.nih.gov/cgi-bin/sis/htmlgen?LACT. Given there is a clear risk to your baby of not breastfeeding, you will need to weigh this against the (apparent safe) use of the meds.

thisisyesterday · 19/05/2010 19:16

ahhh i knew someone would have come up with more info for you!

this is from the BfN factsheet on antibiotics too:

Tetracyclines:
It was believed in the past that tetracycline antibiotics were contra-indicated in breastfeeding because they could stain the infants teeth (even if they had not appeared). In short courses (less than a month) this appears not to be a problem as the drug forms a complex with the calcium in the milk and is not absorbed by the baby. Long courses eg. for acne, should be avoided wherever possible

Original poster
LizP77 · 19/05/2010 21:50

That's fantastic - thank you all so much for your help, advice and for caring...it makes such a difference.

I'll speak with my GP tomorrow and pass ALL this on.
x

OP posts:
kalo12 · 19/05/2010 21:55

i'm absolutely a breast feeding fanatic.. HOWEVER, i was given antibiotics and also told they were safe for breast feeding - they weren't and my baby was really ill for about a month and then developed a milk allergy. so i think its probably best to stop bfing even though thats very hard

i think nanny formula is the best, or the hipp orgnic

HumphreyCobbler · 19/05/2010 21:58

but kalo12, they have checked the specific one in question for the OP so it should be fine

so sorry about your experience, that must have been really hard

CantSleepWontSleep · 19/05/2010 21:59

It's illegal to sell nanny formula for children under 6 months kalo.

mehdismummy · 19/05/2010 22:05

csws you lovely lovely lady you xx what is nanny formula?

thisisyesterday · 19/05/2010 22:07

goats milk formula MM.

not supposed to sell it over here because it is not nutritionally complete, and there is no evidence to suggest the proteins in it are any easier to digest than that of cow's milk

CantSleepWontSleep · 19/05/2010 22:09

What tiy said .

mehdismummy · 19/05/2010 22:14

ewww why would you wanna feed goats milk to your dc? how is dd btw is she still bethrothed to my ds!!

CantSleepWontSleep · 19/05/2010 22:25

She is fine thank you, but I'm afraid that she's now betrothed to a boy from nursery, and has another boyfriend there waiting in the wings too! Not sure she'll be too impressed when they aren't at school with her come September!

tiktok · 20/05/2010 00:23

kalo - the OP's baby has already shown symptoms when on formula. You cannot tell her it's 'probably best to stop bf'. You don't know - she has to share the info she has gleaned here with her doc.

kalo12 · 20/05/2010 22:20

yes you are right and i am definately pro breast feeding, but i just had such a terrible time after knowing that i had harmed my baby from taking these anti biotics, that i had actually researched on the internet that many sites had said were safe for breast feeding, and so the doc said too, then when i did really thorough research found they were not.

i think docs give out meds easily, and also easily safe they are safe, so if even the docs are saying they aren't safe then that would definately worry me now.

kalo12 · 20/05/2010 22:25

i actually bfed my baby till he was two and have only tested hin with a bit of formula in food but hipp organic and nanny was defo the least offensive in terms of reaction, as he developed milk intolerance - i think as a result of the anti biotics

Swipe left for the next trending thread