Hi Mamas!
I am wondering if any of you know if it is safe to BF a 2 month old while taking 81 mg of baby aspirin? I am 29 and had a stroke last week out of the blue. I am recovering fairly well, but my dr wants me on baby aspirin for the time being. For the last week I have been pumping and dumping, but I would like to nurse again as soon as I can. I haven't seen my LO or my toddler in over a week. Sniff. Thanks ladies for your input. BTW the dr says ask the ped. and the ped says ask your dr. Anybody know who I can really ask who would know for sure?
TIA
Perhaps the LeLeche League? Ask the pediatrician for the name and number of the specialist he'd refer you to feed bf issues.
I'd insist on an answer from the pediatrician. If he doesn't know, I'd insist that he refer me to someone who is more likely to know.
Just wanted to send a HUG your way. You must be missing your little ones terribly.
Ask the pharmacist and look up what the American Academy of Pediatrics says, contact a lactation consultant. It really depends on how low the dose is. Read here for insight:
http://www.drugs.com/breastfeeding/aspirin.html
"Aspirin is best avoided during breastfeeding, especially with very young infants. However, some expert opinion indicates that low-dose (75 to 162 mg daily) aspirin may be considered as an antiplatelet drug for use in breastfeeding women.[1] Chronic, high-dose aspirin should probably be avoided. If aspirin is taken, avoid breastfeeding for 1 to 2 hours after a dose to minimize antiplatelet effects in the infant. The risk of Reye's syndrome caused by salicylate in breastmilk is unknown"
Call a lactation center. They have a guidebook that can tell you what you should take and what you can do to minimize the effects on your child.
Kellymom.com classifies it as an L3.
http://www.kellymom.com/health/meds/pain-meds.html
Says, "Aspirin use is discouraged in children and nursing mothers due to the risk of Reye's syndrome and internal bleeding." I do not know what dose this pertains to. Yours may be fine.
In the meantime, I'd pump to see if I could maintain supply. Ask your doctor what the "time being" means and if he/she has any other options for you.
Oh my goodness. What an ordeal.
Regarding the asprin, call La Leche League. They will certainly be able to give you an answer. Also, you can check on the asprin bottle to see if it says "do not use while pregnant or breastfeeding."
My guess would be you're probably fine to go ahead and nurse. Most medication is fine for nursing mothers even when it isn't fine while pregnant. Milk is different than sharing a circulatory system :)
HTH
T.
Get a referral from your OB for a lactation consultant. They generally know more about drug interactions and breastmilk. I had the same issue when I had shingles - Dr and Ped said pump & dump, but LC said that it was ok - they learn specifically about medication and lactation, more so than doctors.
I'd call a lactation consultant or La Leche League. They will know.
I hope you get to feeling better soon and are on your way to recovery!
Low dose is okay. Do not exceed 162mg/day.
So sorry for your ordeal. I can't begin to imagine what you are going thru.
A lactation consultant may help, but I can tell you in my experience it was ok. I have been on 81 mg aspirin daily since 1990 (I had a stroke when I was 13, very long story not for here). Anyways, I nursed both my son for a year (who is 6 1/2 yo today) and my daughter for 6 months (she is 3 3/4 yo) while taking 81mg daily. There are no issues for either child as of current.
Definitely ask a lactation consultant, one who is certified. Call your hospital and see if they have lactation consultants on staff. They would know for sure.
I have clotting disorders & should be on baby aspirin. However, my OB said to ask the pedi, pedi says I shouldn't take it while nursing. My son just had his 1yr checkup & I asked a different pedi, she too recommended against it until I was done nursing. On a side note though, I only was diagnosed with these because of 2 early miscarraiges, otherwise I would never have known about them. Yours is a different situation. I would as a Lactation Consultant as some others have mentioned. Good lluck and hope you get to see your babies again soon!
I would pose your question to a lactation consultant, and I'd also ask your pharmacist. It would be wonderful if you could continue to breastfeed but the most important thing is for you to regain your health. Wishing you the best in your recovery!
This is from the mayoclinic website:
"Breastfeeding
Salicylates [this includes aspirin] pass into the breast milk. Although salicylates have not been reported to cause problems in nursing babies, it is possible that problems may occur if large amounts are taken regularly, as for arthritis (rheumatism)."
So it seems to be "safe", but may not be. Clearly a grey area.
The study done in Medications and Mother's Milk state is was an L3 and used ###-###-####mg, and even then there were no adverse reactions in the infants. It's considered an L3 because of the link of older children and Reyes syndrome, but it goes on to say they do not foresee any issues or correlations between the breastfeeding and infant's aspirin levels. I would say such a low dose, even every day - would be safe.
