> Is there any reason why a mother who is on renal dialysis for elevated
BUN &
> Creatinine should NOT breastfeed?  I couldn't find anything in the
literature
> saying either yay or nay, so I assume it is OK.  Anyone have any other
> thoughts on this?
>
> Jan Barger, RN, MA, IBCLC
> Wheaton, IL

I'm on peds nephrology service this month.  Renal dialysis comes in 2
forms: Hemodialysis (through blood) and peritoneal dialysis (by exchange of
fluid though a tube that goes into the abdomen).  More adults are on
hemodialysis.  The only thing that I've found added to the blood is heparin
which is not a problem.[this is so it doesn't clot in the dialysis machine
curcuit]  Blood is run through tiny pipes that are permeable to ions and
smaller molecules in the blood and "extra" ions and fluid gets removed -
major oversimplification, but you get the picture.
Breastfeeding shouldn't be a problem, but depending on what access (blood
vessels) they are using, she probably won't be able to nurse the baby as
she's actually being dialyzed (2-3 hours perhaps)  - the needles/tubes are
big and cumbersome and in the way for breastfeeding.

Gail
Gail Hertz, MD, IBCLC
Pediatric Resident
author of the little green breastfeeding book - disclaimer: owner of Pocket
Publications
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