baby and Rx mommy

[LMReggcellent]

Lamotrigine is the drug I'm referring to here.

It controls my seizures as long as Baby doesn't steal it from me. My neurologist and ob gave me the same answer regarding nursing: it passes to the breast milk, it hasn't been studied long enough to give a fair report about safety to baby or aging child, plenty of women have nursed while on it, there have been no bad reports since. My doctors don't have what they call a "valid recommendation" for me, in the end it's my choice.

I want to nurse so frikin' bad. There's lots of reasons in the books and I'm pretty sure the biggest reason is the whole mother/baby bonding thing. But I'm not scared of being unloved because I give my baby a bottle. So I'm hoping to get some advice here. Before January would be great, because that's when I'm supposed to meet Baby. Thanks a whole lots.

 

[Nakamova]

Generally, medications pass through breast milk in smaller amounts than they do through the bloodstream. While there isn't consensus, anecdotal reports suggests that it can be safe to breastfeed while on Lamictal. You can monitor your child for side effects and test Lamictal levels if you are concerned. You might find these links helpful/reassuring:
http://www.womensmentalhealth.org/posts/lamotrigine-and-breastfeeding-an-update/
http://www.mybipolarpregnancy.com/2008/05/study-breastfeeding-while-on.html
http://www.epilepsy.com/node/986072
http://www.epilepsy.com/epilepsy/ps_1131418303

If you decide not to breastfeed you will also be in good company. There are plenty of moms who for one reason or another can't breastfeed for very long, or even at all. That was the case for a good friend of mine. Her lovely son -- my godson -- is now ten, with no issues related to bonding, development, health, etc.

 

[Autumn Breeze]

contact Jack Newman or Tomas Hale. They will happily help you!

Sent from my Nexus One using Tapatalk 2

 

[Autumn Breeze]

If I'm reading this correctly, you aren't due until sometime in January? The links Nakamova posted are a really great start.

As I mentioned above, Jack Newman and Thomas Hale would also be a good place to start. Even thought the information is out there, and all you're likely to get back from Dr. Newman is "yes, it's safe to breastfeed while on ***mg of Lamictal. You might get a couple extra tidbits of info.

I own a copy of Dr. Hale's book, and would be happy to share the page on Lamictal with you, but here is what is listed on the site www.infantrisk.com :

http://www.infantrisk.com/content/medical-conditions-pregnancy

I am a doula and childbirth educator and a huge breastfeeding advocate so, please feel free to PM me if you have any further questions. I seem to miss a lot of thread updates unless they're the games threads *blush*