Forced to stop breastfeeding due to medication

[TabsTiger]

I'm absolutely devastated to have been told today that I have Graves Disease and that the dose of medicine I require to bring it under control means I will be unable to breastfeed for at least a month and likely longer.

My DD is 7 months old and up until now she has been exclusively breastfed. She's never drank from a bottle or had formula. She feeds to sleep at night and for naps.

It's breaking my heart that I'll suddenly have to stop feeding and comforting her in this way and I know she's going to be so confused and upset at first.

Part of me wants to keep pumping so I can return to breastfeeding as soon as it's safe but if she smells my milk constantly I think it will distress her more in which case I'll have to let my milk dry up.

Anyone else been in a similar position? It's been such a tough day and I'm dreading starting medication tomorrow. Very tearful, tired and anxious. I know my health is the priority here and I have to take the medicine but I'm feeling so sad about having breastfeeding taken away before either of us were ready.

I’m so sorry to read that you’re unwell and this choice has been taken away from you - it must be really hard.

You should be so proud to have breastfed for so long. Your little one is a lot less little now and will likely soon be cutting back milk quite significantly as solids take over. It’s hard to imagine when they’re so little but lots of change is coming and this will be one of many, try not to stress and to enjoy your little one, babies are often remarkably adaptable.

Just in case you haven’t, have you checked in with the breastfeeding network that you definitely can’t bf with the medication? They have a very good service with a pharmacist

Just about to day similar to Ducking - who has said no to bf? Definitely check with the breastfeeding network about the drugs if the info hasn't already come from them.

I hope, whatever path you end up following, you and your daughter adapt quickly to the changes.

Have you had a look at information on the Breastfeeding Network? Sometimes they have information that is different to the standard advice given out or can recommend alternatives.

I would continue to pump, if you're happy to. If you stopped altogether it could takes a couple weeks for your milk to dry up completely and she'd still be smelling it in that time. She'd get used to not having it before you dried up completely so might as well pump.
But that's really only if you're prepared to do this, it can be exhausting keeping a supply going this way.

Are you certain you can't breastfeed with the medication? It's often advised to stop as a precaution when actually a lot of medication taken in the morning can be gone from your milk by bedtime, or even 23 hours later for example.

Second the breastfeeding network as a check. You can email their drugs in lactation service for advice from a specialist pharmacist.

I have had GD. It is a horrible condition and you will need all your strength to fight it. Please focus on your recovery and don’t make yourself any more ill than you need to be. Your baby needs you well. She will adapt quickly.

What medicine?

The exposure of infants to methimazole or propylthiouracil through breast milk is minimal and not clinically significant. Women with hyperthyroidism using methimazole or propylthiouracil should not be discouraged from breastfeeding, as the benefits of breastfeeding largely outweigh the theoretical minimal risks.

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2726094/#:~:text=ANSWER%20The%20exposure%20of%20infants,outweigh%20the%20theoretical%20minimal%20risks.

I was in a similar position when my little girl was 6 months. I had to have a scan using a dye which I couldn't feed for 4 days afterwards. Fortunately as it was only 4 days I pumped and continued afterwards.

I was so worried about it as my little girl had never had a bottle either. I introduced a bottle in play in the days beforehand for her to get used to the texture. I had a mixture of bottles and teets to try. She did best with newborn sizes as normal bottle flow was faster than breast. She didn't do great in the first couple of days but by day 3 she was absolutely fine. I also gave foods with lots of moisture, fruit pouches, yoghurts.

Definitely check the breastfeeding network. I was on a steroid for a while that I couldn't feed on for a few hours after. I could happily feed around those times. I've found doctors don't tend to know a lot about medication and breastfeeding. You can even message the lady who runs the breastfeeding network Facebook page and she will triple check things. I think she's a pharmacist if I remember.

This happened to me when baby was 10 months - a different medical condition & drug, but also a 4-week period. I contacted the Breastfeeding Network, who were helpful, and talked to my consultant. As is often the case, the drug was contraindicated due to a lack of any research into its effects on breast milk. We ended up picking the drug that had the largest molecular size (least likely to enter breast milk) and shortest half-life and agreeing that I would cut out bf for week 1 (but pump, although I never got much out), then reintroduce bf once every 24h for week 2, before building up further in weeks 3-4. Baby had water, solids and a vitamin supplement (refused all other milk). I had to take three monthly doses of the drug. It all went OK and I ended up being able to continue feeding baby normally after the course of treatment and until they were aged 3.5. The first week was the hardest as baby was so desperate for milk and I did crack once after hours of anguished screaming in the small hours. My advice is to take all the medical advice you can get, do as much research as possible and, if you get a green light from the doctor, hang in there!

Thanks everyone for all your responses, I'll definitely make enquiries with the breastfeeding network. It was my endocrinologist who told me I'd have to stop. He's prescribed me a hefty starting dose of carbimazole and said lower doses are fine for breastfeeding but high doses could potentially affect my baby's own thyroid levels and development. I asked if I could start on a lower dose but my free T4 levels are dangerously high so he said the priority needs to be bringing it down asap. Had a complicated pregnancy and labour so this just feels like one thing after another but hopefully I'll be feeling more resilient about it once I start feeling healthier