This is a more personal question as I had an acquaintance come to me
for BF advice and after I worked with her for several weeks: with lots
of supplementation, bottles, little or no pumping when she
supplemented.  She finally told me that she had been using cocaine and
that was why she supplemented and dumped what little milk that she had
pumped. She also shared with me that she had been using prenatally,
right up until two days before she delivered.

My question is: would BF while discontinuing the cocaine, help her
baby with sudden withdrawal symptoms?? I am only curious for my own
knowledge. I would never counsel a mom on this type of situation.

Jennifer Mowatt
Nursing Mothers' Counselor


-----Original Message-----

Hello
        My name is Tammy Lawrence. I am a nursing student at the
University of North Dakota. During my rotation in postpartum nursing,
I cared for a breastfed infant who demonstrated possible signs of drug
withdrawal that could not be otherwise explained.  This full-term
infant had an inconsolable cry, irritability and uncontrollable
tremors; blood glucose levels were normal.  It was questionable
whether the mother was using illicit drugs.

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