Stop breastfeeding to take medication? - Long

I am sorry that my first post in the Parenting board is a question, so I will introduce myself quickly. My name is Colleen and my baby's name is Brady Thomas. He was born on 8/21/2007 via C-section. I have spent the past three weeks getting to know the little guy and hopping on these boards when I have a free moment. I am really looking forward to becoming more of an active participant in the weeks and months to come.

Now to my question - I developed a bladder infection while in the hospital. My doctor prescribed a week-long course of Macrobid (an antibiotic). I was able to breastfeed without a problem while on this med. When I went back to the doctor this week, I still had the infection. My OB prescribed a week-long course of Keflex. I started taking it on Saturday, and the baby has had horrible diarrhea and gassiness since then. It is awful. Yesterday he screamed all day long and slept for maybe 2 hours. You could hear the upset in his little belly and his screams of pain were heartbreaking. I cried a lot too.

I called the pediatrician this morning and the nurse suggested formula feeding him for a week while I take the Keflex. I love breastfeeding and I am so worried that if I do that, he will not take the breast again. I started pumping last week and he has had some bottles with expressed breast milk, but only one per day.

I feel horrible and confused. I don't want to have my baby screaming in pain for a week, but I really would not like to discontinue breastfeeding at 3 weeks. I called my OB to see if he could switch the medication again.

Sorry for the long lead-in, but has anyone had any experience with stopping breastfeeding temporarily to take medicine? If yes, did your child go back to the breast? Do you have any pointers /advice about how t make the more likely? I am desperate.

Thank you in advance for the help and sorry for the rambling post. I am just so sad and worried.

Thanks,
Colleen

Re: Stop breastfeeding to take medication? - Long

HUGS I am sure this is a very emotional situation.
Personally I would call my OB and remind him that I am BFing my child and need something safe during BFing.
I am sure they can help you figure this out.
You should pump every time you would have breastfeed if you cannot nurse due to medication. Pump and dumb is emotionally draining IMO but it will maintance your supply! 7 days out of the many, many months you will nurse your child is really a very small thing. You will NURSE your baby again!!!! But you need to be healthy.