[jdjnjsmommy]

My ds is 15 months and I am so not ready to wean. but I have to. I have a ruptured disk which is causing SEVERE extreme pain to where I cant move most of the time, and I have used pain meds that are ok with b/f for the last 5 months. They just arent working anymore and I am now on pain meds that is not compatable with b/f. I have to use this(patch) because I have another situation where my husband steals my oral meds, so this patch really is my salvation and my only option. I decreased nursing for one day and tonight will be the first night with no nursey, I keep crying, poor kiddo doesnt understand and keeps kissing me then handing me his paci, as if he is saying Im sorry for what I did wrong can I please nurse now. Its killing me. Is there anyone else who has had to just go cold turkey, and how long did it take your baby to accept it? If he doesnt nurse he still wants to rub my breast, and sleep up against my bare skin. I let him do that but I dont know if that is more confusing than just keeping my shirt down. Any thoughts???

 

[Quirky]

I am so, so sorry. I don't have any advice on weaning but I can hear how sad and upset this is making you. My only thought is: are you absolutely, positively sure you can't breastfeed at all using this patch? Did your MD look up the drug in Hale's or another source on medications and breastfeeding, or did he/she look at the Physician's Desk Reference (PDR) which is NOT an authoritative guide to the safety of meds during breastfeeding?

I hope I am not raising any false hopes but there are so many times when doctors do not have the right information on the compatibility of drugs and breastfeeding. Here's where to look for the right information:

http://www.kellymom.com/meds/med-risks.html

http://www.kellymom.com/meds/aap-approved-meds.html

Also, Dr. Hale has a forum where your MD or lactation consultant can ask about the med you're on if it's not in Hale's reference book. http://neonatal.ttuhsc.edu/lact/

I think an important consideration for your doctor/lactation professional is that your baby is 15 months, not 1 month, so he's probably not solely relying on you for nutrition, and if he's not nursing as much as he used to, how much of the med will he really be exposed to if you nurse just a couple of times a day? I would get a second opinion, or at least get your doctor to do all the research necessary to make absolutely positively sure you cannot breastfeed at all before you totally wean.

I hope you are feeling better soon.

 

[Curious]

When I saw your other post I thought you must be having a surgical procedure. Most of Hale's information relates to a one time use, but he does mention the patch.

I'll give you the basics. If you want more information, send an email to the address I'll PM to you, and I can send a scan of the whole writeup.

Hale, paraphrased, not quoted: transfer of fentalyl into milk occurrs but is low. Some data suggests the inflant would ingest less than 3% of the weight adjusted maternal dose per day...since concentrations are low and fentanyl is of low bioavailability (not well absorbed orally), "IV fentanyl analgesia may be used safely in breastfeeding women."

Increased toxicity when used with other CNS depressants, phenothiazines, tricyclic antidepressants.

I'll PM too.

 

[1jooj]

I had to wean all at once as well, in fact, without any warning--not even to be able to do a "one last time" nursing. Ds was 20 mos. My situation was an ectopic pregnancy...and I think I grieved for the loss of nursing my ds more intensely than the loss of the baby. It's hard, and give yourself permission to cry a lot.
My ds seemed to get it after just a couple of days cold turkey. He was a little older than yours, and I think he was really so bothered by my own sadness that he put me first. He gave me lots of kisses and rubbed my arms, and when he wanted to nurse, I would hold him and cry. I was a mess and did not have the help I needed. He bit me on the first day. We'd fall asleep crying.
Don't offer a bottle as a substitute. My dh started him on that habit, out of desperation, and it stuck for WAY TOO LONG.
He did go from twiddling my nipples for comfort to twiddling his own, and he still sticks his hand in his shirt when he is ready to fall asleep or tired/stressed. He's almost done with this habit.
Still now, at 2.5, he tries to get a bobo out once in a while, and would like to nurse (I am pg now and the colostrum would probably deter him, but I am afraid he may have forgotten how to latch without hurting me, and I am not emotionally ready to lactate yet), but he understands that his time for nursing is done.
It'll be OK.

 

[DaryLLL]

jdjnj and jooj--

Sorry both of you are having your bfing disrupted this way. And jdj, if your dh is stealing your pain meds, sounds like you have even more hard stuff to deal with! I hope the info provided helps, and you may not need to completely wean after all.

jooj--why would an ectopic pg make you have to wean?

Even if you were in hosp a couple days, couldn't you have resumed when you got out? Don't mean to pry, just curious.

 

[Curious]

My PM was garbled; interrupted by Dd sounding like she was waking up. But my scanner isn't working, and I'm not sure the information is very helpful in your case because it's all on one time use, not chronic use. It sounds like you have a lot on your hands now, best of luck.

 

[1jooj]

My ectopic was treated with methotrexate and the ob told me they didn't want it coming near ds. It's also used as a chemo drug (in addition to other uses), so it is not something I wanted to take lightly. My cousin was on it for Rheumatoid Arthritis, and had to be off meds for 6 months before trying to get pg.

 

[beachrock]

I'm so sad for these mommies & babies having to suddenly wean. Tearing up now. Hugs to you all.

 

[BowenTherapist]

hugs to you and your ds, this must be so tough to go through!

ot but, i thought would tell you about mckenzie therapy, a type of physical therapy, for low back pain. it is amazing! and the therapist teaches you how to manage your pain with special exercises.
here is a link to read more about it http://www.mckenziemdt.org/
if you do go for this, make sure you go to a certified mckenzie therapist, not all physical therapy is the same!