Ok moms I sent a thank you out this morning for all of you your responses where awesome! There was one response mentioned something about maybe genetically it can't be done. So it sparked another ? I had for all you moms. Does anyone have Lupus or any other auto-amune difficiency and is able to breast feed completely? I would love to hear from those who do. I have talk to breastfeeding consultants with my last one from the hospital I was at. But never a leache instructor so I am going to seek out one of those. But am absultly curious to know if any out there has breastfed with lupus? Because I have had alot of negativity towards it.
I have an autoimmune disease and had no problems breastfeeding or producing enough milk.
K., I don'th ave an answer regarding lupus, but, there is a medication called domperidone that is available everywhere in the world except the U.S. It is used in 3rd world countries because it increases prolactin levels, and it is also an anti nausea drug, unlike the ones we use here in the us. (I take it for the latter). As your circumstancer is unusual, the first thing you should do is talk to your doctor about it and ask them to research it for you. You wouldn't need to take it in advance, only if your milk level is low. If you are affiliated with a hospital, look for a doctor that came from another country, they would be familiar with the drug. If your ob can't find another ob that knows about it, ask them to talk to gi dr.'s, they know about it. I think you will be comforted with an action plan put into place by a la leche league rep, they know so much! I wish for you an easy, easy labor!
Hi K.,
I don't have lupus, but from what I know of it you can still breastfeed. The disease itself doesn't impede your ability to nurse. The only concern would be any medications that you may be taking. I don't know of any medications that do not get past through breastmilk, so it would be a question of whether or not it is dangerous for your little one.
Keep in mind, even if the doctors agree that the medications are OK for your baby... the baby most likely will still have a response to them. I had to have an emergent C-section and then my incision became infected. As a result, I was on some pretty heavy antibiotics. I was assured they were not harmful to my baby since I was nursing. That being said, my daughter did have a hard time metabolising the medication and she broke out with severe baby acne. Her liver just wasn't mature enough to handle processing the medication so it was processed through her skin. That's how her body got rid of it.
Once the antibiotics were done, and I no longer took them ... the acne went away.
I would talk with La Leche league as well as your doctor. You may also need to do some research yourself. Doctors are great and they certainly serve a purpose, but they are not God...they do not know everything. Doctors are limited by their education and experiences. Often times one doctor has experienced something in his/her practice another has not...so the second just doesn't have the information to deal with the situation. All too often, the doctor will just tell you it can't be done ... but in reality, they just don't know.
If nursing is important to you, I would do as much research as possible. Talk to as many different sources as possible and determine the best course of action together with your team. Find something that works for both you and your baby.
Good luck!!!
I would suggest that you write your unique question about the lupus to La Leche League headquarters - the website is www.llli.org. You can also call them. On there you can locate a local group as well, and I would highly recommend that you become involved in one. You need ongoing support! Good luck!
This is an interesting qustion. You may want to check out Dr Jack Newmans website and email him the question. He a breastfeeding expert!
Blessings K.
http://www.drjacknewman.com/
