Pump and dump

I need to take one dose of a medication that will require me to pump and dump for 24 hours. Do you think this will ruin my supply and confuse my little one (he'll need to take formula)? He's only 6 days old I can skip the medication but it will take 6 weeks for my body to resolve it on its own.

Pump and dump

Uggh, that stinks. My friend had to do this when her DC was about a week old. She went on to bf for at least 6 months but did end up supplementing. I would probably talk to a LC to make sure you're doing everything you can to keep up your supply. Hopefully just 24 hours won't make a difference in the long run.

Re: Pump and dump

Was it just for 24 hours or was it prolonged?

I'll call the lc when I get home.

Message edited 5/1/2014 3:21:23 PM.

Re: Pump and dump

Re: Pump and dump

Posted by MrsT809

Posted by PitterPatter11

Was it just for 24 hours or was it prolonged?

I'll call the lc when I get home.

I'm pretty sure it was longer. She also spent several hours back in the hospital so I don't think she was pumping during that time at all. Also, I believe at that point the baby still wasn't gaining so I think they likely would have supplemented anyway. I think if it's just 24 hours and you are determined to get back to nursing, you'll do fine. Maybe plan to see a LC the day after to help get the baby back to the boob in case you have a hard time. It couldn't hurt.

Pump and dump

You should be ok as long as you pump and dump

Pump and dump

Why don't you first try to pump and get enough milk for him to have for the day and then take the medicine if it is not urgent?

Re: Pump and dump

What medication? Many, many medications do not actually require you to pump and dump. But as long as you keep pumping every 2-3 hours your supply should be fine.

Re: Pump and dump

Re: Pump and dump

Ugh. So annoying. I hate dumping my BM.

I had to do formula for 36 hours or so when DD wasn't gaining well and they needed her to get some calories in. She had no trouble nursing after. My SIL had to pump and dump for about 2 weeks when she had an infection that wasn't resolving and her DS went right back to BM in a bottle after.
Good Luck and feel better.

Re: Pump and dump

Re: Pump and dump

Which medication is it? many medications are safe to take when breastfeeding. please call the infant risk hotline and check with them first. they have done studies on a lot of meds and their effects on breastmilk and can tell you which medications are safe when nursing.

http://www.infantrisk.com/

(806)-352-2519

eta i'm only saying this because ive had doctors tell me I need to pump and dump with some asthma medication but when i looked into it further, the doctor was unfortunately incorrect.

Message edited 5/1/2014 4:06:55 PM.

Re: Pump and dump

double

Message edited 5/1/2014 4:03:42 PM.

Re: Pump and dump

Re: Pump and dump

lots of great advice here already.

1. make sure its really not safe for BF and that there is no BF safe alternative. many antibiotics are safe for BF and I have been given misinformation in the past as well.

2. if you truly cant nurse and take the meds, see if you can pump a little before starting the meds so you can give BM (even just some) the day you cant nurse.

3. as long as you pump and dump, your supply should be OK.

Good luck...

4. Slightly more controversial (I know some people might not feel comfortable with this option) but you can also consider donor milk if you want to keep your DS used to breastmilk and are really concerned about it hurting your BM relationship

Message edited 5/1/2014 4:43:03 PM.

Pump and dump

I talked to lactation consultant and think I can still breastfeed according to literature she has and what I read online. The pharmacy will not have meds until tomorrow so I am going to try to pump before then.

Re: Pump and dump

Re: Pump and dump

When my first was 2 weeks old I got mastitis. Even though they told me the antibiotics were safe - I was not happy with the idea of giving my two week old antibiotics. So, I pumped and dumped for 10 days. I pumped every time he ate and dumped the milk and it was SO HARD. My lactation consultant caused me so much grief telling me I was never going to be able to EBF again, that my DS would never latch, that I would have no supply etc. WELL - she was wrong. The day I started EBF again, I was able to EBF for 10 months with no supplementation necessary. My DS latched just fine and we rarely used bottles after that - in fact, he wouldn't even take a bottle lol!

Point being, DON'T WORRY!!! Just make sure you pump and dump EVERY time your LO eats - it's exhausting but, it will maintain your supply! GOOD LUCK!

Re: Pump and dump

I would definitely take the medication and pump every 2-3 hours. This may even increase your supply. I would pump in between feedings anyway so that I could increase my supply and start to build a stash for when I went back to work.