Pat writes:

<< Topical creams, ointments, lotions and drops(eye & ear),  aren't usually a
 problem.  The only ones that I am aware of that are more problematic are
 steroid creams and ointments and even those, if used sparingly and not
 often, aren't a major problem for BF mom. >>

When I needed a course of steroid eye drops, in the first trimester of my
present pregnancy (dexamethasone is apparently associated with cleft defects
in animal studies), my eye doc and my midwives' consulting perinatologist put
their heads together and recommended that every time I put the drops in I use
one fingertip to compress the tear duct in the corner of that eye for ten
minutes.

The idea is that actual topical absorption in the eye would be small, and
that compressing the tear duct would prevent the slightly greater absorbption
that might come from the drops running down the tear duct into my throat and
being swallowed.

Is this worth bothering with for bf mothers, think you?   Obviously
first-trimester-gestation is not the same as bf a term infant.  Maybe for
moms of premies?

Elisheva Urbas
NYC
eye's ok now, thanks.

             ***********************************************
The LACTNET mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned
LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's LSMTP(TM)
mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to:
http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html