Would you pump and dump?

[boysmom2]

I'm scheduled to have an MRI tonight and I'll be given a contrast (gadolinium) for it. The MRI lady said I'd have to pump and dump for 24hours. I looked it up on Hale's website and it says that there are trace amounts in BM, but not enough to warrant a break from BF, but if the mom is concerned she could avoid BF for 24 hours. Right now I'm kind of thinking of pumping and dumping for a few hours. The MRI is at 6pm, so I thought I'd at least pump as much I can before bed. Ds is 11mo, so he still nurses a lot, but if I'm not home he doesn't ask for it. He's happy to hang out with daddy and will nap for him without a bottle. If he's with me he NEEDS to nurse to sleep. DH hasn't had him alone overnight, so I'm not sure how it would go if I tried not to nurse him during the night. I might sleep in another room to give DH a chance to settle him if he wakes up and then maybe nurse him if that doesn't work. I don't know, wwyd?

[Sharon, RN]

I also have an MRI scheduled in a couple of weeks.

Honestly, the contrast is metabolized so quickly, unless you have some kind of kidney disfunction. I will avoid feeding my ds for probably 4 hours, max, after the MRI. But I won't go 24 hours.

I know this is late, but good luck!

[Drummer's Wife]

I don't think I would dump for a full 24 hours, either. Hope the MRI goes well - the noise for me was almost unbearable.

[boysmom2]

Thanks! I went to the grocery store after the MRI and by the time I got home ds was already asleep. Hopefully he sleeps well with daddy tonight.

Oddly, the tech who did the MRI told me that I had to pump and dump for 3 days. I think they really need to get their stories straight over there. The test was fine. I actually found the noise to be kind of relaxing. I'm a little weird though I think!

[Drummer's Wife]

Glad it wasn't too bad. I'd go by Hale's, personally - I'm sure it won't bother your LO.

[boysmom2]

Just thought I'd update, in case anyone's interested. I made it until about 1:30am before nursing ds, so about 6.5 hours after I got the contrast. I also drank buckets of water up until then to help flush it out - don't know if that made any difference. Anyway, got the results today. My brain's fine, my neck has a slightly bulging disk which may or may not explain the numbness in my hand. Next to see a neuro (primary ordered MRI). Thanks for your help ladies!!