Ok, my son is 7 1/2 weeks old, and has never tasted formula. Well, the pregnancy really messed my insides up, and i have to go for a colonoscopy on tuedays, and i was recently put on the depo shot, which reduced my milk to the point that i only make enough to feed him every hour to two hours.
I have to start taking the laxitives sunday night, which leaves me with no other option then to formula feed temp. I got a gift can of Similac Advanced, and today called and asked how to use it, which i was told if he doesnt deny the bottle to just give it to him blind. well i did, and so far no problems, he can switch between the formula and my breastmilk just fine. Does anyone see any problems with this temp. mix up? i really want to keep breast feeding him, but i am not allowed to with the medicines going through me, which means i cant even pump it, but i can pump and dump to keep my milk supply up right?
THANKS FOR HELP!!!
~lost mom at 18~
2007-05-10 08:58:12 · 14 answers · asked by ruspecialenuf 3 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Newborn & Baby
Just wanted to inform you that alot of times when a Doctor tells you not to breastfeed because of medications. It is because they are really not educated about breastfeeding!
There are very few meds that require temporary weaning. I would not think that the laxative that they will give you would be one. I am not certain. YOU could however email the name of the drug to me! Then I could tell you for certain. I have a book called Medications and mothers milk.
To answer your question yes pump while your not breastfeeding! It will keep your milk supply up!
2007-05-10 09:07:59 · answer #1 · answered by Carla R 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I was put on depo right after I had my daughter and it all but dried me up, regardless of how often I pumped or breastfed. If you are seeing a change in your production already, don't expect to be breastfeeding for long. I got the shot while I was still in the hospital after I had my daughter (by a dumb nurse who should have known what the effects of depo had on breastfeeding) and by the time she was 3 months I was getting less than one oz out of each breast every 2 hours...hardly enough to keep baby full, so I would make her a bottle of formula and mix the small amount of breastmilk I would get into the formula. I figured something was better than nothing. By 5 months I was totally dried up. I wanted to breastfeed so bad for at least six months, but because of the stupidity of a nurse who knew I was breastfeeding, she took that away from my child...
2007-05-10 09:14:22 · answer #2 · answered by Janhellyca 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Definately pump and dump to keep your supply. Breast feed when you can, and plan right just like that!!
Also another note from above, dr.s don't always know about drugs and nursing, heck most drug companies don't even know. Do lots of research on that! If you can nurse before you take a pill but then have to dump the next and then nurse etc. I had to take severe pain killers for some complications too, I pumped and dumped while the meds were in my system, but before they were in there I kept. Also look up some tips for increasing milk supply, and most importantly on that keep relaxed. I know many moms who lose milk from nothing other than just stress.
Hope everything goes well with your surgery, I can sympathize with pregnancy induced body havac.
2007-05-10 09:43:14 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
You can totally pump and dump to keep the supply up. Just make sure to pump both sides at the same time. Your insurance might even cover the rental of a hospital grade pump since your pumping for medical reasons. I found the hospital grade pump was better for keeping the milk up than even one of the best Medelas.
And if you get sick of the pumping, (formula does become easy) just think of all the cals your burning - 40 per ounce (20 in the milk and 20 in the making) When you add that up - its much easier than working out!
2007-05-10 09:02:53 · answer #4 · answered by lillilou 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you continue to pump to keep your milk production up, you can dump it until you are off your meds. However, I don't know about the depo shot. Ask your OB about that. I had to go on birth control after I had my daughter, but I was put on a low dosage pill because I was breastfeeding. Getting back to pumping your milk, you don't have to pump a lot to keep your milk going. As long as you are producing some milk, you can build your milk production back up when you can resume breastfeeding. It takes at least a week of pumping longer and more often to increase your milk production. As long as your baby accepts both now, you shouldn't have a problem later. Breastmilk is sweeter than formula, so if you want him to go back to breastmilk, you should have no problem. If you have any questions regarding breastfeeding, check the hospital where you delivered to see if they have a lactation specialist on staff. Mine did, and they helped me out a lot. Best of luck to you.
2007-05-10 09:08:48 · answer #5 · answered by Melissa B 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
DO NOT trust what they told you about the meds. Call a La Leche League Leader or a Lactation Consultant and have them look the meds up in the book "Medications & Mother's Milk" by Dr. Hale. I am almost certain you have been given BAD info on this as I have known other moms who had similar tests done with NO INTERRUPTION in breastfeeding. DO NOT trust what you've been told unless you know it came from "M&MM" as that is *THE* resource for this info. (But many docs will give you info from the PDR instead, which basically says nothing is saf.)
As for "only having enough to feed every two hours" you DO NOT need to wait for your breasts to "refill" between feedings. The more often you nurse, the more milk you'll make. It's all about supply and demand. And there are also herbs that can be used to boost your supply.
If you do end up temporarily suspending breastfeeding for your test, DEFINATELY try to pump every 2 hours to keep your milk supply up.
ETA:
you can also post the drug names and I can check my "M&MM" for you.
2007-05-10 09:06:06 · answer #6 · answered by momma2mingbu 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I'm sorry your birth caused some medical issues. I hope you get well soon. Yes, you can pump and dump to keep your supply up. That's great news that your baby has taken to the formula! All I can say is when you're ready to take up breastfeeding again, just give it a try. Your baby might take to it, or not. Try using bottles with nipples close to your natural size and shape. www.onestepahead.com has a baby bottle that's shaped like a breast.
2007-05-10 09:10:11 · answer #7 · answered by cottagemama 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes. Not only can you pump and dump but you must. It will keep up your supply AND get the yucks out of your milk. He should be fine going back and forth for a while though he may get constipated. Good luck
2007-05-10 09:03:24 · answer #8 · answered by Mrs. Always Right 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well I just went to a health seminar and found out that women should breast feed there baby's. we humans were not made to operate off animal milk. But to answer your question if your still giving the baby breast milk even after your medical condition and it has not effected him Id say go for it. But I'm no doc. just trying to help.
2007-05-10 09:14:12 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
How long are you going to be on your meds? I pumped for my daughter for about 7 weeks, but towards the end, my milk was barely there. You may be able to pump and dump, but this may be the time for switching to formula. It sounds like your body needs time to recover. You want to be healthy enough to take care of your baby.
2007-05-10 09:05:24 · answer #10 · answered by Rebecca 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋