I am considering having a baby soon, and I was wondering if it is safe to breast feed? My old llmd so NO, and my new llmd says yes. Any thoughts?
Thanks Posted by Kendrick (Member # 10990) on :
I wouldn't take my chances if your Lyme is active. Congratulations. I think you will be a wonderful mother.
Posted by sixgoofykids (Member # 11141) on :
I think it's a mixed bag ... breastfeeding is so good for the immune system on the one hand, but it can contain the Lyme on the other. It will protect your child from so many illnesses, but expose your child to Lyme.
Of course, your child will be exposed to Lyme through pregnancy, too. I know, I for one would rather exist with Lyme than not exist at all, so I wouldn't use that as a reason to not have a baby at all.
Of my six kids, none of them are currently showing signs of Lyme ... though my 16 year old son has started sleeping an inordinate amount of time. If it continues for more than a couple weeks, I'll have him tested. Oddly enough, I breastfed him for only 6 weeks, but the others for 6 months- over a year.
It's a tough decision. Which LLMD's opinion do you generally value more?
I've had Lyme for over 30 years, so I definately had it for all my pregnancies, which were very tough ... you will need lots of rest ... it's well-worth it, too!
Posted by CaliforniaLyme (Member # 7136) on :
I am at 99.9% and am breastfeeding and have been for 2 years while on amoxicillin. My baby is fine*!!! But I am very very well- and on amoxicillin!!!
I infected my older daughter through breastfeeding but was not on abx and was very sick. She was sick for years. It was awful-
Take care- Sarah
Posted by savebabe (Member # 9847) on :
Thanks everyone. I will have to really think about this one.
Posted by bejoy (Member # 11129) on :
I have two children, and gave birth to both while untreated for lyme. I breast fed both for three years. Both most likely have lyme (tests currently pending.)
A doctor has to tell you not to take your chances, that's his job. He'd be liable if he told you it was absolutely safe to breast feed.
Studies show that lyme can cross the placental barrier, so you'd never know if they were being exposed to it anyway.
I'd think that breastfeeding would transmit your antibodies against lyme in case it came through the placenta. That sounds like a really good idea to me.
If I had it to do all over again, I'd definately breast feed. The immune system building, bonding, and comforting is so profound, that I wouldn't want to raise a baby any other way.
Its a very personal choice though, and many women feel as strongly about bottle feeding, and sharing the bonding and night time feedings with the father.
My question would be for you if you could feel good about breast feeding and not have to second guess yourself.
The way I see it, lyme is an epidemic. We like to camp and travel. If my kids didn't get it through the placenta or through breast milk, the chances are good that they would pick it up somewhere else throughout their lives.
The bonus is that we know they have it, what it is, and how to keep them healthy life long. They'll be asking the same questions as you are in twenty years.
Best baby wishes!
bejoy
Posted by nikkib (Member # 10016) on :
No. My 2 children (5 and 2 1/2 years) both have congenital Lyme. I breastfed both of them. They see Dr J . He knows that when I finally get well (I didnt know I had it for the past 6 years until I became bedbound this past summer)that we are planning on having another baby. We have spoken to him extensively on this and he said that having another baby is fine as long as I stay on abx prior to and during the pregnancy, but breastfeeding is an absolute no! He was actually able to look at my childrens IGENEx test and tell us of some of the bands they were positive to which are often transferred in the breastmilk. Also, babesia and the other coinfections can be passed. I wish I had known prior, I would have done formula! I thought they were going to be the healthiest kids in the world with all the brestfeeding I was doing....little did I know! He also said that as soon as the baby is born that the cordblood, placenta and baby should be tested for presence of the BB bacteria and all coinfections. -Nikki
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