Re: Medications/Treatments + Breastfeeding
From: sally (anonymous@obgyn.net)
Sat, 16 Nov 2002 05:22:05 -0600 (CST)
Hi Sue,
sorry to hear about the return of symptoms. But congratulations on your
two kids.
You would need to ask the doctor regarding metformin. I think they say
that a drug such as met should not be taken while breastfeeding unless
the benefits outweight the risks - and perhaps with this dramatic return
of symptoms they do. Perhaps your Dr. would let you start at least on
a minimal dose.
I am personally sure the benefits of breastfeeding your children far
outweighs any risk to them from you taking a low dose of metformin.
Also, your son is now six months and he will be starting solid foods
soon - so the risks should decrease even futher.
Regarding the carbs - perhaps it is best not to go into ketosis. But
you may wish to reduce your carbs (avoid anything refined like the
plague) and limit them to just veges and low carb fruits and high and
unrefined fibre sources - like slow cooking oats, barley, etc. It also
won't hurt to increase your proteins and fats proportional to the
decrease in carbs - as you need plenty of fats and proteins while
breastfeeding.
This is just my opinion, but hope it may help. And your really should
get back to a good and experienced PCOS dr. if you can.
--
Sally
At Thu, 14 Nov 2002, Sue wrote:
>
>I am 29 y/o and very happy to be a nursing mother to DD 6/28/00 and DS
>5/29/02. I seem to be experiencing a backlash in PCOS symptoms after
>the pregnancy...rapid weight gain (10-12 lbs in a week w/o changing my
>diet), increased acne & hair in the wrong places, pelvic pain in the
>ovary region).
>
>Previously, I took metformin from my diagnosis in 10/99 up through the
>first trimester of pgy with my daughter. At that time, I used the Carb
>Addicts diet as part of my treatment too. I had a small backlash of
>weight gain and symptoms after my daughter was born, but not as bad as
>things seem to be now.
>
>Once my daughter was a year old I started up low carb dieting again,
>this time w/ Atkins. (I was still nursing, but she was getting most of
>her nutrition from other sources.) I lost 30-35 lbs, and conceived my
>son when my daughter was 14 months old.
>
>I nursed through pregnancy, and could barely keep any weight on myself.
>I was back down to my pre-pgy weight almost immediately after my son was
>born, 5.5 months ago.
>
>But now my weight's back up again. I'm nursing both kids, and while
>I'll be the first to admit my diet could be lower carb than it is
>currently, it's not so bad that it would explain this horrible return of
>PCOS symptom, which, it seems to me, are more over-the-top than they
>ever were before.
>
>We don't currently have medical insurance, but I'm wondering if I should
>just buckle down anyway and go see a doctor, specifically regarding
>taking up the metformin again. Although I have heard that it is not
>compatible with breastfeeding. Also, I would like to start sharply
>limiting my carb intake again but do wonder if that's healthy for my
>nursing children. (That is, if I go into ketosis will it affect the
>quality of my breastmilk?)
>
>I am 5'3", currently 180 lbs. My personal plateau the last few times
>I've dieted is in the 150-155 lb range. (My personal ideal from past
>experience and before onset of PCOS is more around 130 lbs.)
>
>Should I be on medication for PCOS? Is it safe to go low carb? What
>should my daily limit be? I don't "feel well" and I'm sure it is the
>PCOS symptoms coming back fast and furious.
>
>Can you recommend a maintenance strategy for me?
>
>Thanks!
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