Margaret tells of this mom: "A woman woman attending one of my
breastfeeding classes had her thyroid gland removed early in the
pregnancy because of a malignancy, and has been on carefully monitored
Synthroid doses since.  Her questions concerned some radioactive
treatments planned for about a month after the birth.  She didn't know
the exact agent to be used, and it wasn't clear if these were to be
diagnostic scans or a tissue-destroying dosage to clean up any remaining
thyroid tissue."

My SIL had her thyroid removed a year of two ago and the radioactive
treatment later was to remove any remaining vestiges of the gland.  If
memory serves (and admittedly it has lapses, as Pat in Wisconsin
knows!), she had to stay away from her family, i.e. couldn't kiss my
brother or her kids, had to dispose of anything containing bodily fluids
(like dirty Kleenex) in a separate biohazard bag and other such
accomadations as she was considered "radioactive", for a short period of
time.  A couple of days or something.  Besides the not-breastfeeding,
this might have an adverse effect on the baby as well.  If it could be
done later, that would sure be preferable, IMHO.  This mom needs to get
more definitive information on what is going to happen, what drug will
be used and what other accomadations she will be expected to make, then
talk reality with her doctor.  If it is imperative that it happen so
soon, then it can't be helped, but if it can be put off safely until
baby is just a bit older, that might be easier on her and the baby.
Good luck to her.
Marsha, in Indiana

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Marsha Glass RN, BSN, IBCLC~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Mothers have as powerful an influence over the welfare of future
generations as all other earthly causes combined.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~John S. C. Abbot~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~





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