Possible UTI/Bladder Infection

[tbirdlove]

Hi ladies. My DD is 11 days old and I think I may be coming down with a urinary tract infection or possibly a bladder infection. I'm going to try to get in to see my OB or PCP tomorrow to get checked out. I'm afraid that I'm going to have to go on antibiotics and won't be able to nurse during that time. Our nursing experience has been great so far and I don't want to mess it up. I didn't respond well to the pump with my DS so I'm afraid my supply will struggle and be ruined. Any advice? Any suggestions for natural remedies??? I also have a cold that is on day 3.

[tbirdlove]

Ok, I think I was freaking out a bit for nothing. I did some research and it sounds like some antibiotics are fine to take while bfing. My BFF is an NP and told me I wouldn't be able to. With the cold and whatever else is going on and the PP hormones and the sleep deprivation I kinda lost it. I feel better now 😊 I'll try to see a Dr tomorrow and I happen to have a pediatrician appt in the morning as well so I can talk to them about it first.

[byjove]

You should definitely be able to find a safe antibiotic while BFing. Hope you're feeling better!

[vvvvvfee]

very few drugs require moms to stop breastfeeding. the amount of a drug that actually passes into milk is usually extremely small. antibiotics are fine- infants are given antibiotics directly for infections all the time!

from dr. jack newman, BFing expert:

I am not aware of any antibiotic that is not compatible with continued breastfeeding. Drugs such as ciprofloxacin and norfloxacin (and others in the same family) were not recommended for nursing moms in the past because studies on beagle puppies suggested these drugs caused abnormal joint development. However, beagles are not humans, and the puppies were given large amounts directly, not the tiny amounts that would be passed through milk. In addition, more recent studies have shown this joint damage does not occur in humans.

It is generally thought that tetracycline shouldn't be used while breastfeeding because of its effects on children younger than eight (some say 12), namely staining of developing permanent teeth. However, this risk is very small when nursing. The reason? When you are prescribed tetracycline, the pharmacist will warn you not to take it with milk because the tetracycline binds to calcium and won't be absorbed into your body. Thus if you take tetracycline while nursing, the tiny amount that gets into your milk will bind to the calcium and not get absorbed but will come out in the baby’s poop.

a couple of weeks after my DS1 was born i thought i had a UTI-- but i waited for the culture to come back before i started on the antibiotics and it turned out i didn't have one. so you could always do that so you will know for sure if you actually need antibiotics. it could just be irritation. chug tons of water in the meantime!

[tbirdlove]

Thanks ladies. My OB advised me to go to the ER today because I had a high fever and abdominal pain. I do have a bladder infection and was prescribed antibiotics that they assured me were safe while breastfeeding 😊

[vvvvvfee]

tbirdlove, ugh, sorry you had to go to the ER but glad you got the antibiotics!

[grumpycat]

I hope you are feeling better soon!!