Well, yesterday I kind of emotionally lost it but am feeling better today. On Sun I started getting this weird head pain. Went to immediate care on Tue and they said maybe shingles but there was no rash so he said it was not that and then yesterday I went to my Dr cuz I was not convinced it was nothing and he also looked for shingles. He saw two things on my forehead that were questionable. I freaked out big time because he said I should not breastfeed. THen hours later I got a hold of her pediatritian and he said I could continue. I was soooo happy!!! But that is without taking the antiviral med. If I take the antiviral med, I cant breastfeed her. I woke up today and am thinking I may in fact have it. Pat thought he saw something on my scalp but then my mom came over and could not see anything. So I may take the meds just in case because you have to take it 72 hours within the first sight of a rash. I think the meds are for 7 days. So I just have to make sure that with every bottle, I pump right? And I can pump both sides at the same time each time right?
Oh, sorry to hear! Yes, I would pump every feeding. When she eats, you pump. Yes, both sides at once every time. I did this in the beginning due to some latching issues. I had a great supply for when they finally became good nursers. Pump all week and you should be good! Good Luck!
Pump, pump, pump! Both sides, every time. Ideally near her or watching a video/looking at a pic of her. (Weird but helps). I'm so sorry that you have shingles- that absolutely sucks. There is a sticky at the top of the BF forum, too, with meds that are safe to take while nursing. Some docs are pretty undeducated about what's safe & what's not- your antiviral might be ok. ardon:
Aw, I am sorry to hear about the shingles.. what a pain! Literally! Definitely take the meds and pump for the week until you feel better. Also check out the link Michelle mentioned as I had a doctor tell me I couldn't nurse on certain antibiotics when that absolutely wasn't true.
Definitely get a second opinion on the meds. So sorry you're having to deal with this. :hug: Hopefully the week'll fly by & you can get back to your regularly scheduled nursing.
I continued to bf when I had shingles last spring I consulted a couple LEDs and a nicu nurse and the antiviral for shingles is a derivative of one they give nicu babies. I think you'll be fine. Stupid iPod not LEDs but pedis
I looked it up in the resource I use when I prescribe and both acyclovir and valtrex are listed as lactation safe. they are even pregnancy category B which they don't give a lot of meds. I might ask your doc why he/she doesn't think you should use it if its lactation safe category.
i had shingles when i was pg (horrible!!!!) and i was really worried about taking the meds cuz i knew i wanted to bf after delivery (and that ended up being only like 6 weeks before they came). anyways, i consulted an lc who was also a nurse and either she told me or got me a resource that the meds i was taking would be bf safe. so, i definitely would question that dr again.... and best of luck. hang in there. shingles sucks! but hopefully you'll get some better news/answers soon. take care, jl
