Re: RA postpartum & breastfeeding

January 10, 2010

What does your obstetrician think, ?

Over the years in the group, we've had several breastfeeding-with-RA

success stories. I'm hoping someone will be able to share one with

you.

What about trying it and seeing what happens? I'm not sure how well

your disease was controlled prior to your pregnancy and what sort of

flares you have had previously.

Not an MD

On Sun, Jan 10, 2010 at 10:17 AM, <burton_rr@...> wrote:

> Hello All...

> I am now 8 1/2 months pregnant and still on 5 mg Prednisone,...My

Rheumatologist has recommended that I DO NOT breastfeed. I was hoping to for at

least 1-2 weeks and was told since my Pred. dose is low it should be safe. My

Rheumy told me breastfeeding can bring on a flare and breastfeeding is

pro-inflammatory. I was really hoping to breastfeed as long as possible, and at

least pump and freeze milk like crazy for the first few weeks so I have some

stored. Can anyone share their experience with me? Wondering how long people

were able to breastfeed? anyone breastfeeding while on prednisone? Thanks All.

>

> - B.-

> Wisconsin

January 10, 2010

Hi ,

I was on 3mg of prednisone while pregnant. I only breastfed for a few days, but

that was just because my daughter was jaundice and the dr's recommended that I

should use formula with her while she was under the biliruben lights (since I

was going to use formula anyway after a few weeks). Both my OB and Rheumy said

it would be fine to breastfeed with the prednisone, they thought it may keep me

in a remission. I also wanted to ask you if you were on the prednisone during

your first trimester or if you needed to wait till the second? I started it in

my second, but I think it was because I was hoping for a remission. That first

trimester was really hard, and I thought if I got pregnant again if I would be

able to use the prednisone at the beginning.

Good Luck!!

Janet

________________________________

From: <burton_rr@...>

Sent: Sun, January 10, 2010 10:17:18 AM

Subject: [ ] RA postpartum & breastfeeding

Hello All...

I am now 8 1/2 months pregnant and still on 5 mg Prednisone,. ..My

Rheumatologist has recommended that I DO NOT breastfeed. I was hoping to for at

least 1-2 weeks and was told since my Pred. dose is low it should be safe. My

Rheumy told me breastfeeding can bring on a flare and breastfeeding is

pro-inflammatory. I was really hoping to breastfeed as long as possible, and at

least pump and freeze milk like crazy for the first few weeks so I have some

stored. Can anyone share their experience with me? Wondering how long people

were able to breastfeed? anyone breastfeeding while on prednisone? Thanks All..

- B.-

Wisconsin

January 10, 2010

....

Thanks so much for sharing all that info. I discovered I was pregnant one week

after I was officially diagnosed with RA. So far I have only been treated with

Prednisone. My OBGYN has told me breastfeeding while on prednisone, low doses,

is safe. I think I am going to just go for it and try and hope that it works,

even for a little while. Again...thanks so much.

--

>

> What does your obstetrician think, ?

>

> Over the years in the group, we've had several breastfeeding-with-RA

> success stories. I'm hoping someone will be able to share one with

> you.

>

> What about trying it and seeing what happens? I'm not sure how well

> your disease was controlled prior to your pregnancy and what sort of

> flares you have had previously.

>

January 10, 2010

Janet....

I was diagnosed with RA and put on 20 mg. of Prednisone, and one week after

being diagnosed found out I was pregnant. I weaned from 20 to around 5mg. and

have not been able to go too much below that without hand and foot pain. I am

shocked your Rheumy thought breastfeeding would keep you in remission....mine

recommended I not breastfeed AT ALL. Thannks for sharing...

--

>

> Hi ,

>

> I was on 3mg of prednisone while pregnant. I only breastfed for a few days,

but that was just because my daughter was jaundice and the dr's recommended that

I should use formula with her while she was under the biliruben lights (since I

was going to use formula anyway after a few weeks). Both my OB and Rheumy said

it would be fine to breastfeed with the prednisone, they thought it may keep me

in a remission. I also wanted to ask you if you were on the prednisone during

your first trimester or if you needed to wait till the second? I started it in

my second, but I think it was because I was hoping for a remission. That first

trimester was really hard, and I thought if I got pregnant again if I would be

able to use the prednisone at the beginning.

>

> Good Luck!!

>

> Janet

January 11, 2010

You're so welcome, .

What I meant was: did your obstetrician have any thoughts about

whether breastfeeding would increase your chances for a flare?

Not an MD

On Sun, Jan 10, 2010 at 6:56 PM, <burton_rr@...> wrote:

> ....

> Thanks so much for sharing all that info. I discovered I was pregnant one

week after I was officially diagnosed with RA. So far I have only been treated

with Prednisone. My OBGYN has told me breastfeeding while on prednisone, low

doses, is safe. I think I am going to just go for it and try and hope that it

works, even for a little while. Again...thanks so much.

>

> --

January 11, 2010

Hi. First, congratulations on the pregnancy. I was diagnosed when I was 3

months postpartum. I was on a low dose of Prednisone like you and they told me

that was ok. My son is now almost 2 and there are no issues. I had to make a

decision though, continue to breastfeed or start Plaquenil and MTX. I chose to

stop nursing. While pregnant is when my painful joints started but it was not

until after I delivered that I flared up TERRIBLY! And yes breastfeeding causes

a release of prostaglandins which calls on the inflammation process. You might

just have to wait it out and see just how your body reacts. I do wish you all

the luck in the world. I know how important of a decision it is to breastfeed

and an even harder decision when you are deciding to stop. I would be glad to

chat again if you need to. best of luck!

K