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Nursing "Time-Out" for Antibiotics?
I've been sick for about three weeks (it started about a week after my son was born). The good news is that the doctors think they finally know what's going on. The bad news is that if they're right, I'll be on antibiotics for five days and won't be able to breastfeed. We've tried introducing a little formula the last few days just to get him used to it, and he hasn't responded very well (lots of spitting up). I have about two days before the test results come in and I know for sure if the doctors are right, and I'm frantically trying to pump enough to get us through five days, but it's not looking good. Does anyone have any ideas for a quick increase in production so I can pump enough? I'm getting worried the baby is going to starve if we can't get him to take the formula and there's not enough breastmilk! :-( Even though I know it's probably a bad idea, I'm even thinking about putting off starting the antibiotics until I can store enough milk... Anyone have any thoughts or ideas?
Tags: breastfeeding, medications, safety
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Jace's Mommy on -
Whenever I would get sick, my doctor would prescribe me a very mild, child's antibiotic so I could still breastfeed. It happened a couple times, and my son never acted any different. Is this not possible in your case?
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Permalink Reply by Marissa on -
Unfortunately, no. I've got a pretty ugly infection that only has two drugs that treat it. They did give me the more mild of the two, but it's one of those "no one really knows" drugs, so most of the literature says to avoid nursing. It's actually worse than I thought... it's a ten-day course of antibiotics instead of the five that I thought, so I'm in time-out for at least that long. I'm also frustrated because I can't get the baby to take a bottle from me... It's like he knows the breast milk is there and is mad that I won't give it to him! I'm not sure who's more frustrated right now, me or him! :-(
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Permalink Reply by skylark97 on -
You could try easing him into the formula. Mix the breast milk 60%/40% or 50%/50% with the formula so at least you can try and get him the breast milk and hopefully extend the supply of what you have so that you can make it through the antibiotic treatment. Try out different bottles too (we went with Breastflow because it was easiest for baby to latch onto, but there are a lot of different kinds out there and some do work better for a baby than others). Also, we discovered in our one foray into formula feeding that baby definitely prefers the powder mix to the already pre-mixed in a can kind. Something about the emulsifiers in the ready made stuff just pissed her off (and made her constipated) like no one's business.
Good luck! I'm so sorry this is happening to you. *hugs*
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Permalink Reply by Jen, Mom365 Host on -
Are they able to culture whatever it is you have to be certain that something that is boobie-friendly won't work? There is a fairly long list of antibiotics that are approved. Check here: http://kellymom.com/bf/can-i-breastfeed/meds/aap-approved-meds/#Ant...
Honestly, Duricef is a strong broad spectrum antibiotic that is safe for use in breastfeeding. Have they said why they can't start with that to see if it works?
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Permalink Reply by Marissa on
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What I have apparently has only two specific antibiotics that treat it, but it all worked out okay. I spoke to my pediatrician late Monday, and she gave me the go-ahead to go back to breastfeeding even though I'm on the antibiotic. THANK GOD! I was ready to lose it! I'm trying to time out feedings so I'm not nursing him right after I take the medicine since it seems to upset his tummy a little, but even with that he seems so much happier nursing then he did with the bottles. This whole thing has really made me appreciate breastfeeding, and I definitely won't take the ability to do it for granted anymore!!!
Thanks for the website... Will definitely bookmark that one!
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Permalink Reply by Jamie on
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I exclusively nursed my son from birth to 5 months when I had to start antibiotics. What I had required very specific and strong antibiotics. I knew I didn't want to give it up so I decided to pump and throw out the milk. I had about 50 oz stored at that time. I too didn't want to use formula but you have to get well! I gave him formula, which he didn't like for the first few days, and I gave him one breast milk bottle a day. He eventually got to where you took the formula with no problem. My condition did not gt better and now I have been on different antibiotics and meds for 2months now. I am still expressing milk...which takes alot of time... But I want my son to have the health benefits of breast milk. in between meds I actuall get to give him breast milk... He willnot take from the breast anymore so I am stuck with pumping and my supply went down tremendously.. Now I make about 12 oz a day. But there is light at the end of my tunnel. Turns out I just have to have my gallbladder removed lol and when all these meds are out of my system I wil get to give my son good milk again.. My advise get a good breast pump and pump as much as you can. If I cando it for 2months you can do it too. Your baby will get used to the formula. Sad but true
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Permalink Reply by Bright777 on -
Its strange that you say that... My pediatrician and the emergency room Dr both told me that I could nurse my son threw anything! I thought I couldn't cause I had a bad fever and needed to take antibiotics and they said no, go right ahead. Maybe get a second opinion? And then a 3rd?
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Permalink Reply by Jamie on
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All my med info said to breastfeed on that medication. I didn't want to take the risk.
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Permalink Reply by Evie'smom on
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This is probably too late to help you but I would talk to a certified lactation consultant. There are a lot of medications out there that are ok to breastfeed on. It is a matter of timing for the medication, molecule size, solubility etc. Hang in there!
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Permalink Reply by MorganMarie on
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I been in this same situation, but to the point if I dodnt agree to the medicine than and there I had to be hospitalized... i know breastfeeding is important, but sometimes you have to do things you dont want... I cried having to give my son formula for a week, but it was for his best intrest... he didnt like it, but it came down to do, he took it, and spit up alot more. SOmetimes you just have to take bad with the good. The sooner you get better the sooner you can be happy and healthy with your baby, and you never know you infection may tranfer or make the baby sick?
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