I'd like to add to what LuAnn's wrote, responding to Ann Marie's query
about contraceptive patches.
A few years ago I worked with a third-time, very experienced, breastfeeding
mother who had been prescribed estrogen patches from Day 1 by her OB in
order to ward off the possibility of postpartum depression. Mom started
out exclusively breastfeeding. The baby had been born at term, lost no
weight for the first three days, and had normal urine/stool
output. Several nursing exams showed good milk transfer. However, by Day
11 the baby had gained only 60g and remained jaundiced, and the
paediatrician was concerned about low supply. The mother worked hard at
supplementing with her own milk, but the baby only gained 18g a day. She
eventually stopped using the patches at 4 weeks, and the baby's rate of
gain shot up to 38 - 40g/day until 10 weeks of age (ie more than
doubled). The opinion of a clinical pharmacologist who helped me with this
case was that the estrogen patches had affected not the quantity, but the
quality (the nitrogen [protein] and fat content) of the mother's milk. We
eventually wrote the case up for the Central African Journal of
Medicine. Please let me know if you would like the reference.
Pamela Morrison IBCLC
(rejoined Lactnet, and writing from sunny Brisbane, Australia)
Email: [log in to unmask]
------------------
From: LuAnn Smith
Forgive this delay in reply, as we had been on vacation.
I have just reviewed this info for the LC competency for the year. According
to the website, the combination estrogen/progesterone patch should not be
recommended to breastfeeding mothers. I'll bet there is no specifc
information comparing results against those who are breastfeeding and taking
oral E/P contraceptives or the patch. I've said when asked, to be wary,
assuming the results would be similar. If any one wants specific website
info on the patch email me privately.
LuAnn Smith RN, IBCLC
York, PA
>Subject: contraceptive patch
>Date: Wed, 18 Jun 2003 20:35:19 -0700
>i have searched the archives w/o success - client just started on ortho
>evra
>birth control patch told by her doc that there would be no unfuence on her
>milk supply - does anyone have any info to refute or support this? mom has
>a history of low supply challenges.
>thank you
>ann marie ibclc nursing newly arrived baby three weeks old
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