This is purely anecdotal, and I've never read anything referring to low
milk supply related to Ibuprofen intake, but as soon as I read your post I
had bells going off in my head.  I hadn't put it together until just now,
but I've had a similar problem myself recently.  I had a plugged duct
followed almost immediately by a case of mastitis (on the other side, so
not directly related), and had taken Ibuprofen quite a bit over the course
of 4 or 5 days.  Soon thereafter I almost completely lost my milk on the
mastitis affected side (only getting 1/4 oz. or so per pumping session,
where I'd been getting anywhere from 2-6 oz.), although the unaffected side
seemed fine.  I also started having problems with delayed letdowns; I would
have them, but sometimes not for 10 or 15 minutes after the beginning of a
nursing.  My son (4 mos. old), who generally gains an average of  4 oz./wk.
and had gained 7.5 oz. the week before (he *really* enjoyed the LLLI
conference!<g>) actually *lost* 2 oz!  I've kept nursing often and pumping
after he goes to sleep at night and I've seen a very slow increase in
supply - I pumped almost 1 1/2 oz. last night.  The delayed letdowns
stopped a few days after quitting the Ibuprofen and all seems fine in that
area now.  I'd also be very interested in hearing others' experience or any
references to this problem.

Angie, LLLL in MI
mailto:[log in to unmask]
http://www.geocities.com/~angel_mom
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Mommy to Jacob Drew (8/20/92),
Joshua Brett (8/6/91 - 9/17/91), Our little angel baby 0:-)
and Shane Justin (due 2/16-2/20 - born 3/5/97)

"Breastfeeding is a love relationship" ---Sheila Kitzinger
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

>Bonnie writes:

>The mother is taking ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil), carisoprodol (Soma) and
>hydrocodone with acetaminophen (Vicodin, Lortabs) for "sciatic pain" which is
>so severe that she is unable to walk or care for her babies.  She is pumping
>and dumping her milk (not sure how often) and now getting almost nothing
>after having had a full supply for twins a week previous.  She also has
>undiagnosed nipple pain.  I have not seen her nipples, but her OB and peds
>have ruled out thrush.
>
>I recently heard that a local LC has seen several cases of inability to
>let-down milk apparently caused by high levels of ibuprofen.  What are your
>experiences?  Any references in the literature?  What are her chances of
>getting back her milk supply after getting off the meds if she continues
>pumping.  I recommended pumping at least 4-6 times a day which I felt was a