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Anyone breastfeed AND take 6MP?

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Posted 2/20/2009 5:12 AM (GMT 0)
So I know most threads on this topic tell of moms on here who have stopped 6MP before breastfeeding or have not breastfed at all due to staying on 6MP. Is there anyone out there who stayed on 6MP and decided with their doctor/pediatrician/lactation consultant that it was okay to still breastfeed while staying on 6MP?

I ask because obviously most information out there says to not breastfeed while taking 6MP, because there is simply not enough research (or at least formal studies) of mothers who have breastfed while on 6MP. I've talked to my GI about this and he can't come out and say it's safe, but has said that he has heard of and had patients who have decided to breastfeed while staying on the drug. My pediatrician's office referred me to a lactation consultant who I used with my first daughter and according to her latest edition of Medication in Mother's Milk book by Dr. Hale, he says that it appears to be "okay" to breastfeed and take 6MP. He says that if a pregnant woman was on the medication throughout her pregnancy that the baby likelyhad greater exposure while in utero than through breast milk.

That was the first time I had heard that and I have never understood why I could take a medication while pregnant but not breastfeed. I guess doctors figure that when pregnant sometimes you have no other options and have to take medication to stay healthy and keep the pregnancy health, but when it comes to feeding your baby there is more than one option (formula). According to Dr. Hale and the limited studies there have, he concludes that the amount of 6MP peaks two hours after taking it and that the infants tested who were being breastfed with mom's on 6MP showed little medication of any significance in their blood.

Has anyone heard anything like this or came to a similar conclusion and decided to still breastfeed while on 6MP? Thank you for your experiences.
Posted 2/20/2009 2:15 PM (GMT 0)
The reason for the difference while pregnant and breastfeeding is that some drugs are unable to pass through the placenta but do pass through breastmilk. That is how I've always understood the difference. That said - I've also only seen these studies you are talking about and every time I discuss this with my GI he always says we'll cross that bridge when we get there and won't give me a definitive answer either way. Curious to see what you come up with.
Posted 2/20/2009 3:17 PM (GMT 0)
If there isn't a clear answer, I would not risk it. What if the 6MP passes through the breastmilk and lowers the baby's immune system? Their little immune systems fight so much that I would not want anything to interfere with that. I would never risk the health of my baby if I didn't have a 100% answer that it was safe. It's different than having to take a drug during pregnancy to protect your own health but breastfeeding isn't an absolute must. I was way too sick after I had my baby and was on many medications so I didn't breastfeed. She is now 6 years old and has never been on an antibiotic or been to the doctor besides her well visits. She's had a few minor colds but that's it. She is the healthiest kid!
Posted 2/20/2009 5:08 PM (GMT 0)
Mamas Boy - That has always been how it has been explained to me, that some medications may not cross the placenta but will in breast milk. So I've always assumed and heard that was the case and was just surprised when the lactation consultant read from Dr. Hale's book that the infants are getting far less exposure to the medication through breast milk than throughout an entire pregnancy. That the babies tested who were breastfed had no amounts of any significance in their system. That on a weight adjusted dose it was the equivalent of 0.2% (don't quote me on that, can't remember if it was 0.2% or 0.02%) of the mother's dose. I want to see if I can find that online again.
Posted 2/23/2009 4:46 PM (GMT 0)
Bump
Posted 2/23/2009 6:33 PM (GMT 0)
I am currently breastfeeding. My GI wants me to be on 6mp but I told him absolutely not while I'm breastfeeding, I don't want to risk it - he understood. I believe he looked it up online while I was at his office and he said it was safe for breastfeeding.

Here is a great website to check to see what drugs are safe during pregnancy and breastfeeding:

http://safefetus.com/
Posted 2/24/2009 4:51 AM (GMT 0)
AMK77 - Were you on any medication during your pregnancy that you then decided to stop prior to breastfeeding? It looks like in your signature you're not taking any medication now and are breastfeeding. How are you feeling, no flares? Were you flare-free during your pregnancy at at delivery? Thanks for your response.
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