Medication related early weaning

[fmajor]

What is the most painless way of weaning my three month old daughter? I must start taking Zarontin (an anticonvulsant) again; I've had two seizures this week, one while holding my daughter. I'm a single mother, and my daughter's only caretaker; I can't go back to having frequent seizures again.

[Llyra]

I'm so sorry you're going through this. That sounds scary.

The first thing I would do is to be sure you really need to wean. The list of medications that genuinely require weaning is very small, and I'm finding information about Zarontin that suggests that continuing nursing might be okay.

http://epilepsy.emedtv.com/zarontin/...stfeeding.html

for instance.

I don't have a copy of Dr. Hale's book, and not a lot of physicians do either, but that's considered the authoritative source for that kind of information. Why don't you start a thread in this forum, and give it a title that says something like "Please if you have a copy of Hale's read this," to get the attention of somebody who has a copy who can look up the drug for you.

I weaned my twins early because of a medication; I was taking a powerful immunosuppressant drug for my ulcerative colitis. I did a lot of research before deciding that weaning really was necessary, and I found out that my drug was one of only a few that really do require weaning.

Most physicians don't have the up-to-date and reliable information about this. They will rely on the drug company's information, which is usually designed to cover their butts, rather than genuinely help nursing pairs make the right decision.

At three months, the benefits of continuing to nurse may genuinely outweigh the risks, and it's worth look further before making the decision to wean, which is to my mind a drastic step.

[Llyra]

Kellymom.com puts it as an L4, but also specifies that it is AAP approved for use in breastfeeding mothers. I'm still looking for more information...

If you do decide to wean, you'll probably want to introduce the bottle, and then gradually substitute the bottle for more and more feeds each day. You can pump just enough to relieve discomfort, if you have to do that to prevent plugged ducts. Gradually, your milk supply will taper off as you give more and more bottles. For me, the process took about three weeks, but mine were older and already on solids. I've never done it with a young infant, so I don't know how quickly it can be done. You may find a pacifier necessary, because the need for non-nutritive suckling can't be filled with just a bottle. And you'll of course want to love on baby a lot and be prepared to offer lots of alternative comfort measures, during the transition.

Good luck in making your decision. It's a hard one to make. I understand though that your ability to be a mother depends on your own health. I nearly died, that first year with the twins, because I was so focused on their needs that I neglected mine, and it wasn't good for any of us.

[PatioGardener]

nak

hale is v cautious about using it in his 2006 book. i would check his 2010 version and forum just to be sure. i can't help with weaning as i have no experience with a baby so young, but my heart aches for you.

bottle nursing with donated milk may be something you would consider?

[boobs4milk]

the forum doesn't say much. here's what i found:
http://neonatal.ttuhsc.edu/discus/me...57/156542.html

can you take something else? it seems there are anti-convulsants (listed on the main forum) that are safer. i'm taking medication for something else, but i worked with my doctor and found a med that both my dh and i and our ped was comfortable with.

good luck!

[fmajor]

Zarontin was what I was on before, and interacts least with my anxiety meds. I suppose I could pressure my doc to prescribe something new, but she's hesitant to give me something else when Zarontin works well for me.

Donated breast milk sounds interesting, but I've heard it can be pricey. Is there anywhere that has a sliding payment scale for it?

[JessBB]

Your MD can call Dr. Hale. There are LOTS of anti-convulsants that are safe to take while bf. I had to take an anti-convulsant and my son's ped called a pediatric neuro, who said that they use it for babies and so we decided it was safe even though there wasn't much info. On balance I was ok with the degree of risk bc 1) we checked ds's blood serum level and it was very low; 2) formula has its own very real set of risk factors which MD's never seem to consider. Actually, now that I think of it you should call an IBCLC because they will have access to all Hale's info and can even advocate for you with your neuro if need be. You very likely may not have to wean if you don't want to!