Nursing w/Lupus

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My youngest son is a month old now and I am having the same problem w/him as I did w/my oldest (who is now 10 years old). The problem I'm having is w/nursing. I really enjoy it and want to continue as I did w/my oldest however my son is not gaining enough weight. I'm really frustrated w/this because the same thing happened w/my first.

Does anyone know if lupus can effect the milk supply or milk ducts? My doctor & my son's doctor are encouraging me to continue breastfeeding (and I really want to) as well as adding some formula to my son's diet. I don't really like the idea of adding formula because my family is full of seasonal & food allergies as well as asthma. My son has not gained back his birth weight of 8 lb. 6 oz., but he's not loosing weight either. He's in otherwise good health. If anyone has any suggestions I would appreciate it.

I don't think it's my meds as I just started taking voltarian again a few days ago. I was on neurotian & voltarian but had to stop the neurotian before I got pregnant & the voltarian when I found out I was pregnant. According to my son's dr. the voltarian is safe to take while breastfeeding, but I should stay away from the neurotian.

Any ideas or suggestions would be helpful. style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/Thanx.gif

CB

[oesa]

Hi CB - I don't know the answer to your question, (no kids of my own as yet) but I know who might... I'd look up your local La Leche League or (alternatively) a lactation consultant. My mum is an LC (and long-time LLL leader too!) and I remember her dealing with tons of questions like this.

You'll get lots of good information, and might even find someone in your area who's in the same boat for some moral support.

Good luck!

Lisa

[Clare.T]

I'm sorry you having this dilemma but as far as I know Lupus doesn't interfere with milk production or the mechanics of nursing.

I agree that you would get better advice from a specialised forum, if a live expert isn't available.

I think that weight gain is is generally regarded as an indication of thriving but surely failure to put on weight can't be considered alone as a reason for giving up breast feeding or supplementing. There must be wide variations as with anything. Does he show any signs of being malnourished -what about his behaviour and temperament, normal BMs and urine, or are there any physical reasons why he can't suck well enough like palate. Presumably he has had a really thorough check up that might include blood tests for some metabolic disorder.

In my prehistoric times, we weighed the babies after each feed to see how much they had in fact taken and kept a record.

However if your baby really isn't getting enough nourishment for some reason or another, obviously he risks serious maybe lasting developmental delays that would be far more harmful than the risk of asthma.

It can be hard to weigh the risks and benefits and there are so many very definite views about the whole breast feeding issue that one can get to feel guilty or even a failure. Try to withstand those pressures and view it logically and as dispassionately as possible.

Well, this is just grandma talking, and I am sure you'll do whatever is best and your very best for the baby. Very often that's not what one would ideally like, but the baby comes first of course.

Wishing you and your family the best of luck.

Clare

[confused1]

Hi There,

Congratuulations on your little one!

Look in your yellow pages for Lactation Consultants. If there is none there, ask your OB if s/he knows of anyone practicing lactation consultation in your area. And then look up La Leche League to see if they have a support group in your area. You will be given the information you need to make good decisions and you will find support and friendship among other new mothers nursing their babies with the support of older moms who have successfully breastfed and have studied extensively to help others.

No matter what you decide about how to feed your little one, I know the love and tenderness you will show him is what will make the real difference in his life.

Sunny

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ClareT ~

Thank you. My son is not loosing weight, nor does he show signs of being malnurished. He is very alert when he is awake and not overly fussy. He has not had any blood work done or any testing what-so-ever. The PA just said that he wasn't gaining weight & I needed to supplement. As this happened w/my first son, I never thought to have testing done. I did try asking if he just had a high metabolism, it was never answered. I'm not very happy w/the PA at my children's dr. office. I think from now on, I'll ask to see the dr. Maybe I'll get the answer's I need.

As for a LLL in my area, I think the closest is a state away (according to the internet). I will recheck. I could as the lactation consultant and the hospital where my son was born. Anything is better than what we're going thru now.

We gave him his first bit of formula yesterday and it broke my heart. He slept thru a couple of normal feedings so I pumped all that I could (my breast pump is not the best). He slept a lot today, I think more so than normal. All this worrying over what to do & is it the right thing as well as my hormones running rampet, I've put myself right into a flare.

I will ask my son's dr. about the testing and see what she thinks. Thanks again.

CB

[confused1]

Dear CB

This is such a hard time for any new mom. Hormones, lack of sleep and the constant wondering if you're doing the right thing and if that tiny, helpless and non-verbal being is OK. Does more sleep mean he's happier or fuller or does it mean something's wrong...... Oh my gosh but I must have worried myself into a million frenzies over those kinds of questions when my two were young.

But your health must be considered very highly. If you are flaring, sick, down.... well then your little one will definitely not benefit. So take care of yourself. Definitely demand to see the dr rather than the PA. And don't wait until the next scheduled visit. If you feel that you need another visit, then call and say you must see the dr and quickly. A visit to the dr. is well worth it for abit of peace of mind.

Please don't torture yourself over how to feed your babe. I am the strongest advocate of breastfeeding you'll ever find, but I want to tell you that 10 years from now it will make absolutely no difference. You are going to hug and cuddle and love and smooch and cherish your baby. And that loving is what will make the difference. Breastfeed if it works for you and works for him. If it becomes a source of grief and misery, then stop. Remember that he'll only be a baby once and your main "task" is to enjoy that tiny brief season.

Don't worry. I can tell you're a good mom and the you'll do all the right things. Relax and rest when you can and please don't think that your baby will suffer if you decide to bottle feed him.

Love and good wishes,
Sunny

[cath]

Dear CB,

Hi style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/hehe.gif

I have two ideas which may or may not help.... style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/goodvibes.gif

It might be that the growth chart being used on your babies is not a good fit with your genetic makeup - some of us are naturally thiner or fatter than others, and this goes for babies too. Especially if your older son had the same issue (anid I'm presuming is now growing normally), maybe you can take the growth curve with a pinch of salt. There has been talk in the UK of making customised growth charts taking parental stature and race etc into account. Also breastfed babies grow at a different rate than bottle fed babies, and the charts (in the UK anyway) are based on botle feeding.

On trick to increase your milk supply is to have a 'babymoon' (like a honeymoon) where you dedicate a whole day to being in bed with your baby. Ideally you are both naked (except for a daiper on baby!!!), and the idea is that your baby has free access to cuddles and feeding for 24 hours. You can make a family day or weekend out of it, with pre-cooked or takeaway meals, videos etc, whatever you fancy. The idea is un-interupted together time with hubby and older son encouraged to join in the party but not to stop it. Hopefully baby will want to feed more than usual, with the result being that your milk supply will increase.

Good luck with everything!!

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