Taking Antibiotics and Cannot Breastfeed??

I would call your pharmacist. They know more about medications than doctors do a lot of the time, and are usually more accessible as well.

The reason that there isn't much medical info on a lot of this is because (for some relatively good reasons) there are laws in place in this country that prevent drug tests on pregnant and nursing women, limiting the amount of info that is available to MD's and RPh's. It is quite limiting, but I don't know as I would want me or my baby to be the guinea pig.

I would go to ibreastfeeding.com and download or purchase the 2006 Medication and Mother's Milk by Dr. Hale. He is the know-all guru of breastfeeding and this book is simply the last word on what you can and cannot take while nursing, how long you need to wait, etc...
What I discovered in breastfeeding 2 kids 2yrs each is that doctors and pharmaceutical companies don't know jack about nursing. They are not taught this in school and no one seems to care to actually research, so they just tell you "You can't nurse." I am not sure about your specific antibiotics, but I know I took standard a.b.'s several times while nursing. SEVERAL times I was also told not to nurse, only to find out it was just fine.
So! Don't give up! Get the book or download it to your computer and read WELL RESEARCHED, SCIENTIFIC data about medications in your milk. It makes me sad when I hear stories like yours, because 9times out of 10, you actually can nurse when you are taking meds. You may have to time your nursing, but it is doable, MOST OF THE TIME.
You are doing the best thing you possibly can by nursing your baby and I admire you for trying to get through this!

Hi I., I am a Pharmacist and the advice I can give you is depending on what type of BV you have find out from your doctor if you can use the Metronidazole Vaginal gel (Vandazole 0.75% or MetroGel- 1 appl. vaginally once a day for 5 days). It's safer because a much lesser amount is excreted into your breast milk compared to taking the 500mg pill, about 2% - 237mcg/L vs 12,785mcg/L. The package insert will tell you otherwise but the lactation references give info on the latest studies. Also, if you talk to your retail Pharmacist he/she may tell you that Metronidazole is a "L2" in the breastfeeding category which means "safer." Yes, a small amount is excreted into the breast milk, but in the studies they did not see any adverse affects in infants. Of course if you can avoid it why expose your child to an antibiotic? I work with a doctor who is a widely known lactation guru and as clinicians we believe it's ok as long as the benefits out-weigh the risks. In your case I am sure most lactation specialist will tell you your baby would benefit more from breast-feeding. Again talk to your doctor and pediatrician. Let him/her know you really want to be able to breastfeed. If you have to take the oral med and not the gel because you have Trichomoniasis BV then the recommendation is 2gm stat - interrupt breastfeeding for only 12-24hrs then you can take 250mg three times a day, but for 10 days and continue breastfeeding. This was published in a study with no reports of any "untoward affects." This information is from a reference called "Medications and Mothers' Milk" and your local retail pharmacy should have a copy. Also, hospitals have breastfeeding clinics you can call which provide tons of references. See the information for yourself. As for the fluconazole, I am sure the one dose of 150mg is out of your system already. Hope this helps.

Be patient and keep doing what you are doing. Your baby will be able to return back to the breast soon enough. Look at the bright side. . . Your daughter is learning to also take a bottle which is a good thing. Also, try to hold out longer before pumping then you won't need to pump so often. When you are ready for you daughter to go back on the breast she will be able to regulate your milk flow back to her normal feeding intake amount/schedule.

My response has nothing to do with breastfeeding but to you. Antibiotics will make your yeast infection worse. Make sure that you take a probiotic supplement too to replenish your good bacteria

don't give up breastfeeding!!! your baby is ONLY 5 months old. Keep up the pumping or find out that you can just breastfeed.

If you supplement with formula, then your milk supply will go down.

You can do it!

You know that breast milk is best for your baby. Do the best!

and don't forget to take probiotics or a lot of kefir or yogurt to offset the yeast inducing effects of antibiotics.