Multiple Sclerosis and baby?
Okay so I have MS and I have a dellema. I am stuck on the fence. When my baby is born I wanted to do breast milk for the first couple of months so she gets what she needs from my milk, but this means I can not get back on any of my MS meds while im doing that. I have chronic fatigue and Insomnia from my MS so this preg has been hell on me and me and my husband are worried that it will be worse when i have the baby and my 18 month old girl with the fatigue and insomnia. Now the meds im on for my MS and all the side effects get rid of those two things. So i guess my question is what do you all think i should do, wait to get back on my meds for a couple months or sacrafce breast feeding for a couple months so that I can get back on meds to help the damage thats been done and to prolong any other damage that can be done after i have baby. (a lot of preg. woman with MS will go through a relapse or a new attack between 6-8 months after they give birth. had it happen with first one. went blind in one eye.) Any advice or suggestions would be great! just sittin on the fence and not sure which way to go over it.
The point in doing this is my husband and I are worried that if i don't get back on my meds right away that i wont be able to be there like i need to be for both my children, I kinda just turn into a zombi recluse when im not on meds because im so tierd and sore all the time. just don't want to do that to my kids and my husband.
Okay so i guess from the answers i should also add this…….I am already set on my meds I was taking them before this second baby. my main MS med is copaxone it is one of the safest drugs on the market right now for MS so all of you know i have a med im on and it is not known if its okay with breastfeeding so the say don't breastfeed on it. so its an either or situ either i post pone my meds and chance a relapse or new attack to breast feed baby or put baby on formula and get back on my meds and completely avoid any new stuff with MS
As good as breastfeeding is for a baby, I think it's more important for mom to be happy and healthy. I am a 100% breastfeeding advocate when it's possible, but I think it's way more important in your situation to be there mentally and physically for your children who need you so much! Two children are much more challenging than one, and you're going to need to be there 100% in mind and body for them. I applaud you for sticking it out with your first one and breastfeeding, but what if something worse happens this time around with your second one?
I think that I would wait about a month or two, so that you are fully recovered from the birth. That way you can breast feed and get all the antibodies, and you have teh time to pump and freeze if thats something that you are interested in.
Good Luck and Congrats
Talk to your doc. There is a possibility there are newer safer meds. Also, to be honest, many docs are not well educated on the effects of meds and breastfeeding. http://www.safefetus.com is an awesome site that shows safety of meds. Dr. Hales book(I can't remember the name at the moment) is another fantastic resource for meds and breastfeeding.
now, its not me and I don't know how you personally feel from the MS. I would personally nurse for a month or two, to give the baby the best antibodies.
If you can possibly avoid having a relapse, I think you should. Your baby needs a well mummy FAR more than she needs breastmilk.
The most important breastmilk is the initial colostrum. If I were you I'd speak to your doctor, your consultant, and maybe a lactation consultant, and see how long it's going to be best for you to breastfeed for – maybe just a few days? But if the answer is "not at all" I really wouldn't worry. Sure, breastfeeding is best. But then a natural childbirth is best too. I had to have 2 C-sections. Sometimes the best isn't practical for you. Millions of babies the world over are formula fed and are fine.
I would suggest that you and your doctor talk to Dr Thomas Hale and Dr Jack Newman and come up with treatment options that are safer for baby and will still work for you. Remember that while there are risks from medications in mother's milk there are also a lot of risks from formula feeding. Most doctors are simply not up on the research about what medications are safer during breastfeeding, and remember the baby can and should be monitored for side effects and drug build up. Also remember that around 3 months a baby's liver becomes more mature and more able to excrete medications so that medications unsafe before then can often be started if needed.
I don't believe that this is a decision that needs to be made now. Right now you need to get as much information as possible so that you know what the risks are of the medications and what side effects to look for in the baby if you do take them. Then you need to take it one day at a time and add drugs as needed and remove drugs if the baby reacts poorly.
Get as much information as you can and make the best decisions you can and then see what happens.
Dr Thomas Hale (only a medical professional can contact):
http://neonatal.ttuhsc.edu/lact/medicationforumspage.html
Dr Jack Newman (anyone can contact)
http://www.drjacknewman.com/contact-us.asp
Breastfeeding and human lactation
By Jan Riordan
(MS section)
http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=-XhKfbW8ig8C&pg=PA471&lpg=PA471&dq=dr+hale+%22multiple+sclerosis%22+lactation&source=bl&ots=1SKzaMVQeV&sig=eGG_eO1ntiFmQIqrYTDnLe71A8c&hl=en&ei=PAscSoGDD5LAM5iW0JgP&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=2
Counseling the nursing mother
http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=crW6348Iw_wC&pg=PA499&lpg=PA499&dq=dr+hale+%22multiple+sclerosis%22+lactation&source=bl&ots=H00q5JI31B&sig=yIqgHtrSoVvKwKZy1JpstBOknOY&hl=en&ei=PAscSoGDD5LAM5iW0JgP&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=6
Breastfeeding management for the clinician
By Marsha Walker
http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=nuRf-YXawAcC&pg=PA439&lpg=PA439&dq=dr+hale+%22multiple+sclerosis%22+lactation&source=bl&ots=DO2Ka4uky9&sig=FWK5p1tO2KRMih8lGJUVvlodimw&hl=en&ei=PAscSoGDD5LAM5iW0JgP&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=8
Arthritis, Lupus, Fibromyalgia, Myasthenia gravis (MG), Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
http://www.mother-2-mother.com/mh2.htm#Fibromyalgia
Can Breastfeeding Reduce Multiple Sclerosis Relapses?
http://www.aan.com/press/index.cfm?fuseaction=release.view&release=697