Anyone had to stop nursing suddenly for a few days? Could use advice please

[Tammy]

I was put on some meds today (antibiotics and pain meds) for 5 days. I cannot nurse DD2 while taking these meds because it's harmful to her. No other options available for me though. Normally I pump during the day while DD2 is in daycare and then nurse her at night and in the morning. She's typically up through the night to eat a couple times also. She's 9 months old and I don't want to stop nursing her yet. I'll continue to pump and then dump the milk (wow does this suck). I feel so bad for her though- here I just nursed her this morning and when she comes home she won't understand why we're not doing it for several days. Plus I'm really sad about it and really praying that once I'm done with the meds I'm still able to produce enough, and even more so that DD2 will still want to BF. It's such a special time for me and her and I hate to lose that. Any advice or BTDT to help us along the way? Thanks.

[tiapam]

No BTDT, but lots of skin to skin contact afterward will hopefully help if she balks at nursing again. I kind of forget about that skin thing after the babies get big and are nursing fine but you might need that extra help. Good luck and hugs to you!

[hillview]

YES I did. For I think 3 days (it is all a blur) we did mix of BM in my stash and formula (mainly formula) and DS2 went back to the breast after.

[mikala]

Originally Posted by tiapam

No BTDT, but lots of skin to skin contact afterward will hopefully help if she balks at nursing again. I kind of forget about that skin thing after the babies get big and are nursing fine but you might need that extra help. Good luck and hugs to you!

It should also help to stay hydrated while on the meds and after to keep your supply up. I'd make extra effort to cuddle skin to skin afterwards.

I totally understand where you're coming from about not wanting to give up breastfeeding and hope the days pass quickly for both of you and you heal quickly!

[lalasmama]

Just want to make sure that you are 100% sure that the medicines aren't compatible with breastfeeding. Assuming your child is healthy, very few medications are truly incompatible. Have you checked Dr Hale's site? In my lactation consulting classes, we talked A LOT about how many doctors will say it's something that's not okay to nurse while taking--but it's a medicine they give babies. Uuummm, where's that logic? Let me know if you'd like me to look up any meds in Hale's Medications and Mother's Milk. Amazingly, even some medicines like morphine and third generation antibiotics like cephalosporins are safe while nursing, because they are absorbed so poorly by the infant's GI tract. Just want to make sure you have the information available to you to make sure of a medication's safety in breastfeeding.

If you aren't comfortable nursing while taking any meds (which I can COMPLETELY understand!), then pumping is the way to keep your supply up until you can start nursing again. When you can start nursing again, lots of skin-to-skin time should help things move back into a familiar territory, and has the bonus of boosting hormone levels, which can boost milk supply.

[citymama]

Sending you hugs. I agree with the others that you should make sure your meds are indeed incompatible with BFing. If they are, then this is in some ways like taking a work or other trip away for a few days - but with the bonus of having baby around. (Although I know it will be so confusing for her!) To maintain supply, pump often and drink tons of water. Make sure you take a little "nursing vacation" when you are able to nurse again, meaning that the two of you spend tons of time nursing and cuddling. I have had work trips away from both babies who were EBFed (am on one now and pumping madly!) and if they temporarily lose interest, the "nursing vacation" has helped bring back both interest and supply. All the best!

[ged]

aww, so sorry to hear this. i know how bad you must feel. dd2 decided to go on a nursing strike for about 3 days and it killed me. but, i know that is not your case, since she was the one calling the shots, and you feel sad because you think she will think you are holding something back from her. but babies are resilient. and she will NOT be scarred by this stay strong mama!

[Tammy]

Originally Posted by lalasmama

Just want to make sure that you are 100% sure that the medicines aren't compatible with breastfeeding. Assuming your child is healthy, very few medications are truly incompatible. Have you checked Dr Hale's site? In my lactation consulting classes, we talked A LOT about how many doctors will say it's something that's not okay to nurse while taking--but it's a medicine they give babies. Uuummm, where's that logic? Let me know if you'd like me to look up any meds in Hale's Medications and Mother's Milk. Amazingly, even some medicines like morphine and third generation antibiotics like cephalosporins are safe while nursing, because they are absorbed so poorly by the infant's GI tract.

Thank you so much for the reference! I did not know about Dr Hale, but I did look up the website and called the Infant Risk Center about my meds. They were so helpful and said my meds were safe for BF! (I would insert the little cheerleader here but on my blackberry ). Then I checked with DD's ped who also said yes okay to use. I should have checked with her ped that first day but I was a little out of it. The ER doctor, nurse, and pharmacist all said no I could not BF DD2 so I figured that was that. This was such great news- thanks everyone for advice and the Dr Hale rec. I'll definitely remember this in the future and pass on to other BF mamas out there. So I was able to nurse DD2 last night again and she was so excited. She was actually giggling.
I've learned so much on this board with you smart mamas (and papas too)!

[brittone2]

Originally Posted by Tammy

Thank you so much for the reference! I did not know about Dr Hale, but I did look up the website and called the Infant Risk Center about my meds. They were so helpful and said my meds were safe for BF! (I would insert the little cheerleader here but on my blackberry ). Then I checked with DD's ped who also said yes okay to use. I should have checked with her ped that first day but I was a little out of it. The ER doctor, nurse, and pharmacist all said no I could not BF DD2 so I figured that was that. This was such great news- thanks everyone for advice and the Dr Hale rec. I'll definitely remember this in the future and pass on to other BF mamas out there. So I was able to nurse DD2 last night again and she was so excited. She was actually giggling.
I've learned so much on this board with you smart mamas (and papas too)!

Love the Infant Risk center. I was going to recommend checking w/ them but I'm glad to see it was already covered! Wooohooo

[hellokitty]

Originally Posted by lalasmama

Just want to make sure that you are 100% sure that the medicines aren't compatible with breastfeeding. Assuming your child is healthy, very few medications are truly incompatible. Have you checked Dr Hale's site? In my lactation consulting classes, we talked A LOT about how many doctors will say it's something that's not okay to nurse while taking--but it's a medicine they give babies. Uuummm, where's that logic? Let me know if you'd like me to look up any meds in Hale's Medications and Mother's Milk. Amazingly, even some medicines like morphine and third generation antibiotics like cephalosporins are safe while nursing, because they are absorbed so poorly by the infant's GI tract. Just want to make sure you have the information available to you to make sure of a medication's safety in breastfeeding.

If you aren't comfortable nursing while taking any meds (which I can COMPLETELY understand!), then pumping is the way to keep your supply up until you can start nursing again. When you can start nursing again, lots of skin-to-skin time should help things move back into a familiar territory, and has the bonus of boosting hormone levels, which can boost milk supply.

So many times docs will just automatically tell nursing moms not to nurse, just to be safe, instead of taking the time to see if it really is safe or not. I suggest you check out this site to see what it says about your med... http://toxnet.nlm.nih.gov/cgi-bin/sis/htmlgen?LACT