Tooth Infection and Breastmilk?!
Question:
Tooth Infection and Breastmilk?
I posted an earlier question about by son’s pediatrician telling me to stop breastfeeding because I was taking Amoxicillin and my dentist also telling me to supplement because of my tooth infection. I have been exclusively breastfeeding my son for 11 months and had to stop cold turkey when given the news. I am still expressing and will continue in a week but the breast milk Nazi’s all decided to answer my last question and told me I should not listen and continue breastfeeding. My question is not so much the amoxicillin as much as the tooth infection? Can it really pass through the bloodstream to the milk and harm my baby? I am better off ignoring doctor's and dentist or should I supplement until the I am off the antibiotic and get the tooth fixed (1 week). Side note: he is having a hard time pooping on the formula and I don't want it him on anymore than the breast milk Nazi’s do but I want to do the safest thing for my baby ...which is.........?
Answers:
Your caregivers are unfortunately clueless about breastfeeding and are giving you bad advice.
Talk to a La Leche League Leader and/or a Lactation Consultant because these ladies know more about breastfeeding and what is safe than just about any doctor.
As you can see from the link below, amoxicillin is approved by the AAP for use in breastfeeding mothers.
http://www.kellymom.com/health/meds/aap-...
http://aappolicy.aappublications.org/cgi... (scroll to table # 6)
Amoxicillin is even given in pediatric doses sometimes. The ONLY concern that I can come up with is that BOTH of you would need to be on the watch for thrush while you're on antibiotics. You should be taking acidopholis as a precaution so you don't develop thrush.
No, you can't pass your infection to your baby by nursing. (IF that were true, wouldn't you have already done so before you saw the doctor!?) It is *VERY* rare for mom to ever need to stop breastfeeding due to an illness. If a mother had a breast infection (mastitis) stopping breastfeeding would be the WORST thing she could do. There is no reason to stop nursing for a tooth infection.
Per Dr. Ruth Lawrence, "HIV and HTLV-1 are the only infectious diseases that are considered absolute contraindications to breastfeeding in developed countries" (Lawrence & Lawrence 2001).
http://www.kellymom.com/health/illness/m...
Please refrain from calling the women who are trying to HELP you and giving you more accurate advice than your doctors as "Nazi's!" What a sick and insulting comparison! Nazi's killed millions of people....how in the world can this be compared!?