Breastfeeding with cancer/ alkaline diet?

[Jeannabna]

Some back story: I was diagnosed with stage 2 cervical cancer when I was 6 weeks pregnant. I turned down Drs advise to terminate or do Chemo during pregnancy and I have made some serious dietary & lifestyle changes to fight the cancer. I am 28 weeks now, and as far as all stays well I will have a c-section at 37 weeks. (they initially wanted me to at 28-32wks) 6 weeks later, I will go back in for a hysterectomy. I plan to continue my alternative treatment until several weeks after that, then do some testing to see where the cancer stands and decide on traditional vs alternative treatment. I plan to breastfeed through all of that, but I don't have ANY colostrum yet, no matter how hard I try. I dont usually have much or even leak but I have always had some colostrum. Im worried that my diet might be the problem, or just the general stress on my body from fighting cancer and growing a baby at the same time. My diet is now alkaline which is basically vegan (I eat eggs still, since im preggo) and no bread pasta etc. no sugar of course, very limited fruit. I eat vegetables, beans, nuts, quinoa, sprouted grain bread and I juice beets/carrots/lemon several times a day. Just wondering if anybody else has breastfed on a similar diet, and if I should have colostrum by now or not to worry so much. Thanks for your help. 

[AndtheStars]

I don't have any real advice but wanted to offer you a hug.  You're a strong mama for making such healthy choices for you and your new LO.  I am 37 weeks pregnant and have no colostrum either.  Can't express any, don't leak any, nothing.  I had some with my first pregnancy by this point but was surprised that I have nothing this time even though I nursed DS a couple times a day until week 12 or so and still nurse once before bed now.  I wouldn't worry about the colostrum. 

this is a just out of curiousity question...did your oncologist/gyn say anything about a vaginal birth?  I'm guessing that they want you to have a c-section to get the baby out so they can treat the cancer.  I had a severely abnormal pap (Stage 4 dysplasia, the level below Stage 1 cancer) about two months before we conceived and from what I could tell, a vaginal birth might slough off enough cells to "clear" the problem.  I know once it's progressed to cancer, things are probably different but I'm just curious what changes so drastically that a vaginal birth would be out of the question.  My gyn was ready to do a LEEP the next day but I told her that I didn't want to compromise my cervix and would get tested again after we conceived and the baby was born.  She advised me against that plan but she didn't seem too concerned. 

Anyway, if any of the above is too nosy, I understand.  Either way, here's a .     

[Jeannabna]

Thanks, that makes me feel better about having no colostrum.

I have a tumor that is about the size of an orange on my cervix and it is very vascular, so the baby definitely can't come out that way, but I have  entertained the idea, trust me! Im fairly certain that if I started to dilate at all it would bleed a ton. I dont really like taking the baby early but Im not sure my cervix will even hold up that long and since the baby will be "term" and healthy I have just made myself ok with 3 weeks early. The cancer has spread to at least one lymph node and My first oncologist told me I would die in 18 months if I didnt do treatment and I have a 20% chance of living if I do when the baby is born. I fired him and found a much better one since then. Ive never had a bad pap and this cancer grew in 1.5 years. It makes me sick that they are recommending paps every 3 years now. 

Thanks for responding and for the hugs & support. 

[AndtheStars]

Thanks for being open to sharing your situation.  Wow!  Obviously a vaginal birth would be out of the question.  I think a section at 37 weeks is totally justified in this case and I'm glad you found an oncologist who is more in tune with reality.  As someone who has had multiple abnormal paps, I agree that paps every 3 years aren't going to catch problems when they need to be caught.

I'll be thinking about you and sending good thoughts for a speedy,complete recovery and a healthy, beautiful baby.  And if you end up not being able to breastfeed, please remember that your baby will be much better off with a healthy mama around.  Don't beat yourself up; formula isn't the end of the world.