WWYD - MRI and Breastfeeding

I just had an MRI (with contrast) done.

I asked my doctor if it was OK to BF after it - He said YES.

I asked DS Pediatrician - He said YES.

Everyone at Nassau Radiology said NO - I'd have to wait 72 hours.

Are they telling me "No" just to cover their arses or do I legitimately have to wait 72 hours? I've even looked this up online and everything says that it's not necessary to stop BF at all. I'm going to pump and dump the next 2 feedings and give him frozen BM just for peace of mind, but WWYD? I don't want to take any chances here!

Thanks!

Re: WWYD - MRI and Breastfeeding

I would follow your gut. I have to go for an MRI with contrast and I asked if I had to stay away from my kids for a few hours and they said the levels weren't harmful enough but I don't know if I would BF at least for 24 hrs.

Re: WWYD - MRI and Breastfeeding

I assume you had to ingest something for the contrast and that's your concern?

I think your pump and dump for 2 feedings idea works.. just think, it if was alcohol that would be about right, actually that would be overly-cautious.. I can't imagine the contrast would last longer in your system than alcohol?

Re: WWYD - MRI and Breastfeeding

Re: WWYD - MRI and Breastfeeding

I'm having a cat scan next week with contrast and our ped said to pump & dump two times (10 hour span) if I wanted to be safe but that it really doesnt make it into the breastmilk- so I would just do a couple definitely not 72 hours

Re: WWYD - MRI and Breastfeeding

I'm an MRI Tech and yes you should NOT give the baby that milk for at least 48-72Hrs.

Re: WWYD - MRI and Breastfeeding

I was told No by the man giving me the contrast into my vein.

That was enough for me.

I did tell him everyone else said yes and he looked me like I was a fool.

Better safe than sorry. I held off BF

Re: WWYD - MRI and Breastfeeding

Re: WWYD - MRI and Breastfeeding

Re: WWYD - MRI and Breastfeeding

Posted by Maria31

Posted by MissHaileysMom

I'm an MRI Tech and yes you should NOT give the baby that milk for at least 48-72Hrs.

This thread is such an emotional rollercoaster!

Thank you so much for responding! I will hold off. What exactly does the dye consist of?

Re: WWYD - MRI and Breastfeeding

Posted by MissHaileysMom

Posted by Maria31

Posted by MissHaileysMom

I'm an MRI Tech and yes you should NOT give the baby that milk for at least 48-72Hrs.

This thread is such an emotional rollercoaster!

Thank you so much for responding! I will hold off. What exactly does the dye consist of?

The Dye is called Gadolinium. It is a pretty safe material for the most part. It usually gets out of your system within the day. But takes longer to get out of Breast Tissure/Glands/Milk.

Re: WWYD - MRI and Breastfeeding

Kellymom.com seems to say it's ok, but you need to do whatever makes you comfortable.

Kellymom

Re: WWYD - MRI and Breastfeeding

My DH had to do this while I was PG and he couldn't come near me for 72 hours, he stayed at his parent's house.

Re: WWYD - MRI and Breastfeeding

Re: WWYD - MRI and Breastfeeding

I had this issue and I was really furious at the time. I was BFing and DD#1 wouldn't take a bottle (there was a about 10 weeks she just refused to take pumped bottles).

I told them I was BFing and that DD would not take a bottle. No one said anything to me at the time of the MRI.

The NEXT morning I get a phone call asking me how I'm doing and how it is going with NOT BFing my DD. I told them I had NO idea what they were talking about and the nurse says well you can't BF for 48 hours and you indicated that you BF so we were following up to see how the baby was doing with the bottles??????? I could tell she was covering her a**. So I immediately called my Ped. He called a NICU doctor who is an expert on BFing - who said it was okay that I had BF DD b.c I was freaking out and very upset. Long story short - they say that while it is OKAY to BF the Radiology recommendation is to NOT BF for 48 hours after contrast b.c there is a very very very slight chance some of the contrast could enter the BM and there could be an allergic reaction.

I was really furious after that. It is the radiology office's place to ensure that they provide accurate informed consent. They should not have allowed you to have the MRI without informing you that you should not BF for 48 hours after the test.