I'm talking with a mom who is pregnant and nursing a 2.5yo. She has every
intention of tandem nursing.

She was diagnosed with Graves Disease and prescribed PTU, 50 mg three times
a day. Of course, she was told to stop nursing. She told her doctor, "That
is not an option for me." :-) He is worried about the drug passing through
the milk and causing low thyroid and lowered white cells in the baby. He
told her to stop nursing her older child (who is only receiving colostrum at
this point).

Her LLL leader talked to her liasion and found out PTU is safe for nursing
but requires that the baby's blood be tested every 4 weeks for thyroid,
blood sugar, and white blood cells. I checked the Lactnet archives and found
the response Kathleen got from the Thyroid Society, which gives similar
advice.

She writes:
"Well I think I can handle that with one baby. But how about <older child>?
I
don't want to wean him. He obviously doesn't want to wean. But I don't
know how I can do two kids, every month having blood taken. Then what
happens if they do have a low count, then what? I can stop the
medication and then put my health at risk, or I could give the baby
formula, which goes against every grain of my being."

Does anyone here have experience with this, or other opinions? Are these
blood tests really necessary, and so frequently? I do see where she's coming
from -- I can't imagine taking a newborn and a 2yo to be "stuck" every
month.

Any thoughts?
Thanks,
Janice Berry
Columbus, OH