Why not just use your milk? At the very least, start using it now & see what happens; if the eye infection isn't resolving by the time you get more information, you can consider prescription medications. We only use milk for eye infections here, and they typically resolve within 48 hours. This is on the advice of our pediatrician, too. When my mom, both my DDs, and I had an eye infection recently, I used my milk for those of us in my house. My mom used a prescription antibiotic. Ours resolved in 2 days, hers in 5. And our treatment was free & safe for all of us. Article from Mothering about using breastmilk as medicine: http://mobile.mothering.com/breastfeeding/your-walking-medicine-chest
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FWIW, an eye infection seems unlikely to affect pregnancy besides making you miserable. I can't imagine how weaning would be necessary for treatment. It's also unlikely that any medication you use in your eye would transfer in your milk enough to affect your nursling, especially since in early pregnancy your milk supply has likely dropped. It has to be absorbed into your bloodstream through your eye, then be absorbed through your nursling's stomach. For example, polymyxin B, which is a common antibotic used for eye infections, according to Hale's Medications & Mother's Milk 2010, "When used ophthalmically, it is almost completely unabsorbed into surrounding tissues. . .Orally, it would be largely destroyed by the gastric acid. . ." And it looks like your nursing child is almost 2 - it's important also to consider the age of the nursling when deciding if a medication is safe to use in a breastfeeding mom. An older nursling is better able to metabolize anything that passes into milk. They are also consuming much less milk for the size of their bodies, so the relative dose is much lower. Dr. Hale's Infant Risk Center, as previously mentioned, can help you consider such factors. Your doctor is unlikely to know anything about the differences, as doctors aren't trained in such matters in medical school.Â
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If you do decide that you need to use prescription medication and feel that it's important not to nurse while using it, then consider a temporary weaning. Most eye infections resolve quickly and your LO will probably be very happy to return to nursing once you're done with treatment. If you go this route, ask your doctor to choose a medication based on length of treatment as well as safety.Â
