May Need to Stop Breastfeeding for Medical Reason

I was not able to breast feed much longer than you. My daughter was 3 months. The upside for me was to see my husband have the chance to bond with my daughter like I had. It made me so happy to give that gift to him when many fathers don't get that chance and he really did carish the opertunity. In the long run, it saved me a lot of time, so when I did feed her, I could sit down and totaly enjoy it instead of trying to squeeze it in here or there. Not doing it as often made it more special.

I dont know how long you need to be on the medication. But I have heard where moms will use a pump to keep there supply up. Just pour out the milk. Talk to your doctor to find out how long you would have to do this after completing the meds to completly get them out of your system. I couldnt breast feed at all my milk never made more than half an ounce for the entire day. I am sorry I do know what a dissapointment it is. Best of luck.

Your baby will be FINE. You need to be fine, too. Don't be so h*** o* yourself. Giving your baby a healthy mom is JUST as important if not MORE so than nursing her. And she got those first eight weeks...so she has had the great benefits of nursing. My first one I just never got my milk in- I had strep twice in the first 6 weeks he was here and I finally gave up and gave him a bottle and he pretty much said "Thank you very much for your time. Now- keep those bottles coming." He never had any interest in nursing after that - I'm pretty sure he had been starving those first 6 weeks. And you know what? He's a strapping, fun, totally entertaining 16 year old boy now. My second I nursed for 6 months, the third for - oh! who knows?- two or three months. The bond you get nursing is wonderful- but you will have many, many opportunites to be close to that baby for many, many years to come. Do what is best for you. Good luck.

I don't know what your medical medication need is, or rather how long you will be on medication.
Is it possible for you to wait to take the medication till you have built up a supply that you can mix with formula, and then pump and dump while you are on the medication.
If it is not possible, don't be so h*** o* yourself, things happen, and sometimes they happen for a reason. You may not know it now, but be patient, god reveals himself to us in many ways.
Love yourself and your baby, and the rest will fall into place.
I will keep you in my prayers...

I had a medical problem at around 5 weeks and had to stop and start feeding my daughter formula. She's fine. She took to the bottle like it was nothing new and does great on the formula. The best thing to remember about formula is there are so many out there and to find the right one for your daughter. We started with the sensitive versions since it was lower in lactose because my family has a long history of lactose intolerance so that was advised by my doctor. As soon as we saw she was doing fine on it we moved her up to the regular "yellow" can formula. The reason I'm giving exact names of the formula is because there are several really great brands out there and they all seem to follow primarily the same color coding. I now use Targets brand which is half the price as the name brand and she does great on it too. Just don't switch your daughter from one to the other fast. Start mixing a scoop or two into the bottle at a time and make a slow adjustment. You might see small changes in her poo as you make the change but going slow on the change over will keep her from getting constipated.
Also, you will see a difference in her poo. Don't let it shock you when it goes to a darker green color or even something crazier. This is normal.
Lastly, the feelings of guilt you have will take time to go away. Every now and then I still get a twinge of longing to be able to feed my baby. This is all normal. But trust me, your daughter isn't going to be sitting there, once she's happy with the formula, wishing and feeling lost because you aren't feeding her from your body. There's too much out there for her to explore to get stuck on that one. Her belly is happy and so is she. One woman I was talking to during the time of forced weening reminded me that first off, it wasn't my fault, second, it's a lie that women always breast fed their children since the beginning of time like the lactation consultants and extremest would like you to believe. There were such things as "nursemaids" back in the day too. Go back in history yourself and you will find that even in the smallest villages there were women who's duty it was only to nurse babies. So this is not a new thing for women to deal with. Just love your baby and give her kisses when the feelings become too much and remind yourself that your daughter is happy. Then remind yourself that now your hubby gets to feed her sometimes too and that can be even more special than that guilty feeling.

Good luck!

My friend had a very hard pregnancy and wanted to breast feed but due to medical issues had to stop. Her doctors words helped "Your baby needs a healthy living mom. Not a dead mom." Yes she almost died but now is doing great. She leaned on my mom and her mom for the emotional support.

Do what is best to make you healthy and remember that. You have done great for 8 weeks. Anything is better than nothing and I am proud to hear you did 8 weeks. I know lots a women who don't even do it for a day. Your baby will love you no matter what! They are good at that. :)

Hi B.,

First of all, I really respect your desire to nurse your baby. Yes breast is best, but a healthy mom is more important still! Your wonderful little baby has already received so much benefit in terms of love, security, immunity, brain development... the list goes on and on.

It is unfortunate that you have to make the choice, but rest assured that you are making the right one. (I'm pretty sure you've investigated the options). So it boils down to can you live with providing the very best for her under the real circumstances of your present life. Sure. You're doing what is best by being healthy for her. She needs your energy, your strength, your wholeness more than she needs your milk.

Understand that I'm a total lactavist and I fully understand your dilemma. And I believe that you're doing the right thing.

She will be fine. Lots and lots and lots of people you meet every single day never had a drop of mama milk, and they are doing just fine. You can still hold and cuddle her while she has her bottle. YOu can still stare into her sweet little eyes and whisper to her while she feeds.

Be at peace. You'll both get through it just fine.

I recently had to stop nursing for the same reason, but my baby was already 18 mos. I'd have gone to 2 years, given the option and he was certainly old enough to stop, but it was hard nonetheless. He still hugs me as he falls asleep. He knows love when he sees it, and contrary to what HE believed, it doesn't just come from the breast.

Good luck to you.

it happened to me too. nursed my first til he was 3, and my second child for three months. i felt like a loser, like i was giving my child away, all sorts of guilt. and besides, what exactly is IN that formula anyway?? my mother saved me, held me by the shoulders and said, it doesn't matter! she is healthy, and all will be fine. you know what? she is fine, will be 4 in a few weeks. don't beat yourself up. if you need the med, take it. your daughter needs you to be happy, and formula is not as scary as it sounds. and, she got 8 weeks of nursing! you are wonderful!

I weaned my son off breastfeeding at 5 weeks, not for medical reasons, but it just wasn't for me, but the whole time I put myself under a guilt trip for it, I finally excepted that formula is not bad, he is perfectly healthy now (he's 4 months old), I know the guilty feeling you feel, I promise your not a bad person for having to wean him off. Good for you for getting to 8 weeks!

I too had the same issue, and the number one thing to remember is - you are the momma and you have to be healthy for your baby.

I have no idea what meds you are going to need to be on, but in my case I needed them immediately. In my case it was the little one goes on formula and I take the meds or the little one would be on formula and I wouldn't be here.

There are plenty of babies that never get breastmilk yours has gotten enough to get him started.

Love the baby and yourself and take your meds.

Also, if it helps -- my ped recommended Nestle Good Start with Natural Cultures, which has probiotics in it. My son loves it!

One of my friends had to stop nursing to take meds also. The baby took the bottle during that time but she went right back to nursing when the meds were over. She pumped through out the time of not nursing to help with the milk supply. Her meds were only a week or two so I don't know how long your meds will be but the baby could go straight back to nursing. Good Luck!

So emotional. But, it will pass. You have to do what is right for your health or you won't be any good for your family. Breastfeeding is wonderful and best, but it's not the only option. Many babies survive and thrive on formula - and even plain milk in the past. If you can't put off the medication any longer, then start the process as soon as you can so that it will be easier on your baby. Pump as much as you can if that makes you feel better. How long will you be on this medication? If it is temporary - you can pump and throw away that milk but it will keep up your supply and you can try to breastfeed again in a few weeks. You can do this. Weigh all the risks and consequences. Research all your options. Then, make the best decision given your circumstances and give it to God. You've already given your child a great head start! And, if you can afford it, buy formula that has DHA in it.

I didn't have to stop due to medical reasons, but when my daughter was 3 mos old I had to go back to work and my supply decreased IMMEDIATELY, and it was impossible to pump often enough to keep up so I had to wean much sooner than I expected to.
The experience was sad (which surprised my b/c I didn't really enjoy breastfeeding) and I did greive for a couple of weeks that I was no longer able to provide for my daughter in that way... but it didn't last long and I realized she still needed me in every other way (including to prepare bottles) and I began to enjoy having my body all to myself again. Fortunately the transition for her was smooth as silk, she didn't seem to notice the difference at all.

I had many problems nursing for many reasons, but basically my milk dried up at 8 weeks, even though I had tried everything under the sun for 2 months, it just ran out. I was devastated. I felt like I was failing my son on a very fundamental level. Looking back, I still wish it could have worked out better for us, but I see that I really did everything I could & I didn't fail him. He's a happy, healthy 16 month old. Luckily these days we have good formula! Try not to beat yourself up. Easier said than done, I know. Take care of yourself so you can take care of your baby. This couldn't be helped & you did all that you could. Thankfully she at least got the colostrum & all the benefits in the 1st 8 weeks.

B.,
My middle child has special needs and did not nurse well so we didn't last long, either. He's almost 6 and I still feel bad about it! Moms beat themselves up so much, its just crazy.
Your baby needs a healthy mommy more than breastmilk. Keep holding her close at feeding times and start the bottle feeding with breastmilk if you can and keep all those special snuggle times the same and she'll be fine. Yes, you will feel bad, but you did the best thing for your baby starting her out with breastmilk for as long as you could, and now it's time for you to do what is best for your own health.
Try to remind yourself of the 8 weeks of success when you feel you are dwelling on what you didn't/couldn't do. We are not supermoms, but doing the best we can each day, one day at a time.

P. (mom with three boys ages 7,5,& 3...and hubby, too!)

B.,
There are times a Dr. will tell you that you cannot breastfeed due to meds when in reality the meds are not harmful to the breastfeeding infant because they don't pass into the milk. It really depends on the treatment plan. Also, if you must stop breastfeeding there are options such as Mother's Milk Bank in Austin to keep the child on breastmilk instead of formula. Also, there are less uncomforable ways of drying up if needed... IF needed.
I would be glad to offer a free phone consultation if you would like (just mention Mamasource). If you have a list of the meds you will be taking it would be helpful.
Kimberly, Lactation Specialist, CLE
T.
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I personally would not elect to expose my newborn to pharmaceutical chemicals. I would not breast feed while on the medication or expose the child to breast milk for several weeks after stopping the medication.

I would however pump & dump, to help get my post-pregnancy weight off.

You have a rush of hormones going on right now. Baby blues, plus you're beating yourself up from the guilt of being sick. Let it go. Your baby will do fine on formula. (And to me, maybe better than exposing her to any medication, especially adult strength concentrations.)

I'm going to go another way than just making you feel better about giving formula. Of course, it is perfectly fine, but I just thought I'd mention something that I didn't notice anyone else mentioning.

I don't have any experience with this, and don't know your medical problems, but I WOULD suggest seeking other opinions just in case there are other options for you. 8 weeks is so young to wean. However, if your health is at stake, you need to be a healthy mom for her.

Again, it never hurts to seek other opinions, even seeking alternative medicine, to see if there is another option besides this medication. Also check out kellymom, to see if your medication might be ok, or if there is something else that might be and you could consult with your doctor. http://www.kellymom.com/health/meds/index.html Very often doctors use one way because it is what they're used to, but there could be alternatives. If you really don't want to wean yet, then I would definitely suggest researching what is possible.

Also, it might be possible (depending on your situation) to pump to keep up your supply, and then pick up nursing again when you can.

Good luck, and remember, if you DO have to wean, it is ok. Having a healthy mama is most important to your little girl. But I definitely understand why this is a struggle for you.

***And I have to disagree with the statement of nursemaids in history. Wet nurses were often employed in wealthy households because the matriarch needed to be able to get pregnant again to produce an heir. They were also used many times when mothers died. It is not just that babies were handed off to a specific woman to nurse. There were always reasons.

B.,
I was not able to breastfeed because of medical reasons, and want you to learn from my mistake if you can. I let it devastate me, to the point that I developed postpartum depression. It was so painful for me to not be able to breastfeed, I cried for weeks. 2 years later, I still am tearing up at your post, thinking of how you feel. But I have to tell you, Abby is a wonderful, bright, loving child! She bonded with me completely, is well adjusted, and is quite intelligent as well! No one would know I did not breastfeed long (about a month). And to this day, if she is nervous or unsure of herself, she will put her hand in my shirt for comfort. I like to believe she, at some primal level, still associates my breasts with safety. Anyway, things would have been much better for both of us if I had been able to just let it go, so I urge you to try. Counseling may help. But you are not alone in being emotional about it, that is for sure!

Good luck, and I will pray for you!
Sherri

Hi B.,
I can totally see where you are coming from. I had to stop breastfeeding my little one at 6 weeks because I got mastitus twice on one side and my supply had all but diminished. I was overwhelmed with guilt. I thought that I was being a bad mother because I wasn't giving my baby the best possible nutrition. The thought of having to feed her formula made me cringe. I struggled with taking medicine to increase my milk supply and the possibility of increasing my chances of postpartum depression. After weeks of trying to nurse and supplement with formula and dealing with a grumpy baby who hated going from breast to bottle. I had to choose what was best for her, not for me. After about 2 weeks of bottle feeding and seeing the difference in her weight gain and alertness I knew I had made the right decision. Now she's 18 months old and in perfect health.

Hi B.,
Since you didn't mention what the medical reason or the name of the drug that the dr. wants to prescribe, I am not sure I can be much help. One thought...all medicines have side effects. Make certain you are aware of the side effects before you take anything. Is it possible to delay taking the medication until your baby is 6 months old? If so, consider going to a health food store for something milder that is homeopathic. Be kind to yourself. I hope you are getting help from family or friend during this time. It is important that you are resting as much as possible. Severe sleep deprivation can contribute to a lot of health problems (including depression among others) Good Luck!

My daugther has a 9 month son. Shis in the hospital due to a blood clot in here lung. she has braest feed and used a bottle with formalua but will been on pain meds for quite a while and we need to know how to make her quit making milk

It is very emotional! First off, you have a tremendous bond (physical and emotional) with your child through nursing. Also, you are surging with hormones. I really like the suggestion below of pumping during your medicine (if it is time limited) to keep up your milk supply. Then, when it is safe, you can return to breastfeeding. If your baby won't relatch, you can switch the formula in the bottle to your milk for the immunity benefits.

If that is not an option, go ahead and grieve. This is a change you did not chose for yourself, and is not what you would want. It's ok to be sad. Then, once you have really let yourself mourn it, you have to move forward. You still are the mom to an amazing little human. Good luck and God bless....

Hi B.!
Good for you for questioning what you are about to do. Many many times, the dr. will tell you you MUST stop bf for medication reasons... www.kellymom.com has a great site for asking if the meds are "safe" for taking during bf. Also- if you are interested in continuing bf- call a Lactation Consultant at the hospital that you delivered- ask them their opinion. Make sure it's a certified Lactation Specialist/Consultant- as you will get the best info. from them.
Pediatricians and Reg. Ob/Gyns tend not to be up to date as much- and also Maternity nurses as well...you'd think they'd know- but, I always got different info. from each of them. It was always best for me to go directly to a Lac.Consultant. I myself am on an antidepressant and was able to bf. my first son til 21 months and now bf our twin sons- who are just about to turn 2 this month. I also had to undergo surgery when they were 6 months old- and the surgeon told me to pump and dump- but, alas the Lac.Consultant told me it would be okay... that the meds. they would give me during the surgery and after would be fine- to pump once and dump and then resume regular nursing/pumping...Hope this helps and keep up the good work. Ivillage also has a great Breastfeeding/Lac.Cons. message board that you can look at. You can ask ?s for free and they always get back to youu.
xo,A.