Re: For Kirsten - Breastfeeding and RA

[Guest guest]

Hi there Kirsten,

I am an " old " member that has been very inactive lately, just can't seem to

keep up with the mails since I had my little boy! I had to reply to your

post because I think my experience would be helpful for your friend.

I was diagnosed with RA when I was 25 years old and trying for a baby. Our

little boy is now 15 months old and we are STILL breastfeeding!!

I was on prednisone for most of my pregnancy - very low doses and tapering

off until I went into remission (my baby was premature and low birth weight

which the doctors attribute either to the RA or the prednisone?). I had a

flare when he was 10 days old and was advised by the paediatrician and my

Rheumy to stop breastfeeding and go onto plaquenil - they did not want me

back on prednisone and believed it would not be good for the baby (although

I've read that it is fine I was a bit nervous after being told it was fine

in pregnancy and then having complications that they thought might be due to

the pred.) They did not want me breastfeeding on Plaquenil (I don't know if

they were right there though!)

After a very tearful meeting with my Rheumy - who was very luckily for me a

breastfeeding mom herself! - we came up with a " Plan B " . I took 100mgs of

Voltaren 2x per day whenever my pain and swelling were too much, she didn't

believe that it would be harmful for the baby. I did not go on plaquenil at

that stage. It wasn't easy some days because of the pain but I have been

very blessed and lucky, after a number of flares that I managed to control

with the Voltaren I have now been in remission for the last few months.

When my baby was a year old the Rheumy did say that if it was necessary I

could take the plaquenil and breastfeed as the baby was much bigger and not

drinking as much milk so it would be fine.

I have a great book on breastfeeding that I'd recommend for your friend -

It's called " the Ultimate Breastfeeding Book of Answers " by Jack Newman and

Pitman (I got in on Amazon). He goes into medication and

breastfeeding in some detail - he mentions mothers with RA specifically and

the problems they may encounter - and believes that Plaquenil and

anti-inflammatories are fine (he also recommends ibuprofen). He is a

paediatrician and it might be useful for her to show his views on the meds

to her Rheumy and pediatrician.

Unfortunately a lot of doctors don't take into account all the benefits of

breastfeeding and are maybe over-cautious when it comes to medication. It

seems to be a case of " when in doubt stop the breastfeeding " without really

doing any research into whether that is necessary.

I feel for your friend, I know how frustrating and painful (emotionally and

physically!) this situation can be. Please feel free to get her to e-mail

me privately if she wants to know more about my experience or just vent her

frustrations with someone who has been through the same thing. I have had

so much joy out of breastfeeding my little boy and I hope that she will be

able to enjoy the same experience.

Take care,

Heidi

[ ] Re: friend having RA/ Fibro flare after birth of baby

>Kirsten,

>

>I am not sure if I will ever have another child, but breastfeeding is

>very important to me if I do, so I try to keep up on this topic.

>Being breastfed is said to also reduce one's chance of getting RA, so

>even more important if you have it. I have read that prednisone does

>not pass into breastmilk and is safe. The problem of course is it's

>not good for the mother. There has been at least one test on Enbrel

>that demonstrated it does not pass into breastmilk. Both her baby's

>pediatrician and her rheumatologist should have access to this

>research and should help her make a decision about what they think is

>safe. If not, she could look for a pediatrician that has experience

>with RA if there is such a thing in her area.

>

>Jennie

>

>

>> Hi--I don't post that often but am seeking advice for a good friend

>> of mine that has JRA and Fibromyalgia. Her JRA has flared up after

>> birth of baby two weeks ago (She is 27). She so wants to breast

>feed

>> but feels she might have to go back on meds. Any of you had this

>> experience? Are there any drugs that are considered relatively safe

>> while breastfeeding? Her rheumy says " talk to the pediatrician " and

>> vice-versa. I've had RA for 7 years but adopted our children, so

>not

>> much help to her.

>>

>> We are in Chicago area,

>> Kirsten

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi there Kirsten,

I am an " old " member that has been very inactive lately, just can't seem to

keep up with the mails since I had my little boy! I had to reply to your

post because I think my experience would be helpful for your friend.

I was diagnosed with RA when I was 25 years old and trying for a baby. Our

little boy is now 15 months old and we are STILL breastfeeding!!

I was on prednisone for most of my pregnancy - very low doses and tapering

off until I went into remission (my baby was premature and low birth weight

which the doctors attribute either to the RA or the prednisone?). I had a

flare when he was 10 days old and was advised by the paediatrician and my

Rheumy to stop breastfeeding and go onto plaquenil - they did not want me

back on prednisone and believed it would not be good for the baby (although

I've read that it is fine I was a bit nervous after being told it was fine

in pregnancy and then having complications that they thought might be due to

the pred.) They did not want me breastfeeding on Plaquenil (I don't know if

they were right there though!)

After a very tearful meeting with my Rheumy - who was very luckily for me a

breastfeeding mom herself! - we came up with a " Plan B " . I took 100mgs of

Voltaren 2x per day whenever my pain and swelling were too much, she didn't

believe that it would be harmful for the baby. I did not go on plaquenil at

that stage. It wasn't easy some days because of the pain but I have been

very blessed and lucky, after a number of flares that I managed to control

with the Voltaren I have now been in remission for the last few months.

When my baby was a year old the Rheumy did say that if it was necessary I

could take the plaquenil and breastfeed as the baby was much bigger and not

drinking as much milk so it would be fine.

I have a great book on breastfeeding that I'd recommend for your friend -

It's called " the Ultimate Breastfeeding Book of Answers " by Jack Newman and

Pitman (I got in on Amazon). He goes into medication and

breastfeeding in some detail - he mentions mothers with RA specifically and

the problems they may encounter - and believes that Plaquenil and

anti-inflammatories are fine (he also recommends ibuprofen). He is a

paediatrician and it might be useful for her to show his views on the meds

to her Rheumy and pediatrician.

Unfortunately a lot of doctors don't take into account all the benefits of

breastfeeding and are maybe over-cautious when it comes to medication. It

seems to be a case of " when in doubt stop the breastfeeding " without really

doing any research into whether that is necessary.

I feel for your friend, I know how frustrating and painful (emotionally and

physically!) this situation can be. Please feel free to get her to e-mail

me privately if she wants to know more about my experience or just vent her

frustrations with someone who has been through the same thing. I have had

so much joy out of breastfeeding my little boy and I hope that she will be

able to enjoy the same experience.

Take care,

Heidi

[ ] Re: friend having RA/ Fibro flare after birth of baby

>Kirsten,

>

>I am not sure if I will ever have another child, but breastfeeding is

>very important to me if I do, so I try to keep up on this topic.

>Being breastfed is said to also reduce one's chance of getting RA, so

>even more important if you have it. I have read that prednisone does

>not pass into breastmilk and is safe. The problem of course is it's

>not good for the mother. There has been at least one test on Enbrel

>that demonstrated it does not pass into breastmilk. Both her baby's

>pediatrician and her rheumatologist should have access to this

>research and should help her make a decision about what they think is

>safe. If not, she could look for a pediatrician that has experience

>with RA if there is such a thing in her area.

>

>Jennie

>

>

>> Hi--I don't post that often but am seeking advice for a good friend

>> of mine that has JRA and Fibromyalgia. Her JRA has flared up after

>> birth of baby two weeks ago (She is 27). She so wants to breast

>feed

>> but feels she might have to go back on meds. Any of you had this

>> experience? Are there any drugs that are considered relatively safe

>> while breastfeeding? Her rheumy says " talk to the pediatrician " and

>> vice-versa. I've had RA for 7 years but adopted our children, so

>not

>> much help to her.

>>

>> We are in Chicago area,

>> Kirsten

>

>

>

>

>