wellbutrin mamas-- issues with BFing? x-post

[vanessab23]

My DS (13 mos) has been on a mini strike for the last 24 hrs, biting me to tell me he doesn't want it, and pretty much nursing every 8 - 11 hours. Normal for him is every 3 or 4 hrs (day) and at night pretty much every 2 to 3 hrs. I have been so engorged that I had to dust off my pump to get some relief. (BTW, he won't take the EBM out of a cup or sippy/straw cup either, and he's eating *some* solids but not much, as usual)

Things to consider: I am pretty sure he is getting his molars (he won't even let me *look* in there, I'm giving him motrin), he started taking iron drops last week (not constipated though, he's pooping just fine), he's getting over a little cold (just a little runny nose left, and never ran a fever), and also I started on wellbutrin 3 days ago (switched from zoloft, and we had no problems with that). I have not gotten AF back yet and do not believe I am pregnant.

So, I'm trying to find the cause (I think maybe it's the teeth) but I also wanted to find out if it's possible that he's reacting to the new meds.

Anyone have experience with wellbutrin & BFing? Did baby have any adverse reactions?

TIA, I need to get to the bottom of this!

--Vanessa

[Christine&men]

I hate to tell you but you sound just like me. I could not take Zoloft during BF because it made me sooooo sleepy. So I went back to Wellbutrin (well, the generic Bupropion). There is anecdotal evidence that Wellbutrin causes a drop in milk supply. DD and I got ourselves so confused that it ended with me having less and less milk and it was more of a fight, me being anxious all the time and so at 6 months I started to supplement with formula. BTW, DD started to fall off the charts with BF, while her height is in the 80's. Now she has gained.

So, if it is only for a couple of days because of teething, etc. I would pump like a mad-woman to keep the flow up (nothing came out with me). Otherwise, just watch for dehydration and offer your breast whenever possible...

Good luck.

[vanessab23]

I still have a pretty good supply. Felt nearly engorgned b/c he wouldn't eat. Been pumping but only twice today. He has nursed 4 times in the last 24 hrs. that's something I guess.

DH is in there trying to get him to sleep (he is crying I gotta go) b/c he bit me again when I tried to nurse him.

I REALLY hope that doesn't happen to me, more later. gotta go. can't stand hearing him cry like that

[Birth&Bunnies]

I was taking it.

It sounds like you are trying to eliminate each possible reason, one by one. I think that's best. I think I was on it while BF-ing (been on many different ones over the years). I would look up your local LLL contact. There are usually phone numbers and emails. They may help you with the nursing strike as well.

[vanessab23]

OMG, I am not handling this well. we both just cried our eyes out. I tried to offer the breast, and again he bit me. so we cried.

I mentioned this issue at playgroup today (one of my friends there is a LLL leader, she just said offer offer offer, and don't offer it in other forms like a cup. not sure i agree b/c he needs the nutrition SOME way, but no matter....he won't take it any way) and most of the mamas said they thought it was teething.

Hale also mentions the anecdotal evidence about dropping milk supply, but stresses that it's not proven yet and may not be the case for all mamas. I asked him if he'd heard of any mamas reporting a change in taste. He said "no" but that perhaps I could taste it. But I don't remember what it tasted like pre-wellbutrin so how would I know? :


PLEASE keep the advice coming-- this is such a stress to me. I do not want to go down the road of lowering supply and needing to supplement. I do not want him to wean. that would truly break my heart. if I need to stop the meds and go back to zoloft, so be it. I will put a call into the psych who prescribed it to ask her what she thinks.

[vanessab23]

update

the last time he nursed was yesterday at 12 noon-- since then every offer has been met with a suck and a bite, or just a bite. won't take EBM out of anything. obviously less wet diapers, so I am pushing water.

I spoke to my psychiatrist this morning and although she says she's had few patients BFing on wellbutrin (so she hasn't heard any bad stories) and that the strike could be due to any number of things, she said in light of my "obvious commitment" to BFing, I should stop the W and go back to Zoloft, in case he is in fact pissed off about some new taste or effect on him.

Christine--
Thankfully my only side effect on Z was no libido. It works for me otherwise. Since I have an option (unlike you), I want to avoid what you went thru at all costs.

I will go back to Z and hopefully DS will come back to the breast. I can try the W again in a few more weeks. If the same happens again we'll know it was the W.

I feel so much better having decided to stop the W. Relief already! I know things will get back on track. Or at least I hope! I just assumed my psych would say it had nothing to do with the W, and since she is erring on the side of caution and being respectful to my BF relationship, I feel well supported in my decision.

Thank you for listening, all.

[javamama]

I am hoping for an update in a few weeks. I am on welbutrin with this pregnancy and plan to continue through the pp period. I am curious if this will turn out to be a teething nursing strike or if it is truley the welbutrin. Will you please share what you find out?
I am proud of you for your committment to BF and to sorting this out.

[vanessab23]

I will update, yes. Thanks for the support. I am pumping more and his has been eating more solids, but still no breast or EBM.

As long as we get through this okay, the only positive experience I can see from this (aside from more first hand experience to share with future clients) is that it's nice to know and see that both me and DH can comfort and put to sleep a baby that usually falls asleep on the boob and eats all night.

[vanessab23]

UPDATE:
DS still hasn't nursed since thursday 12noon, but last night he started throwing up and today has a fever. : Ped said it's a tummy virus, so perhaps he has been not nursing b/c he feels bad (altho most babies nurse more when sick) but I am still inclined to believe that his incoming molars started the strike and now the virus has made things worse. My ped didn't think the wellbutrin could be the problem ("if anything It's more likely that he would react to the decrease in zoloft" he said) if that is any consolation for mamas wanting to take W while BF (myself included).