As I am on digest it is hard for me to have the questions at hand and review
at the same time (its a pain to print out my email) but here are a few
answers. The Redbook - the reoport of the commitee on infectious disease
recommends seprating a mother with active TB that was never treated from her
infnat until 2 weeks of treatment - this is regardless of feeding method. If
mom has a positive TB test but negative chest x ray then no need to separate.
If mom has a "positive" chest x ray it should be reviewed with infectios
disease to determine if it represent active disease or "old disease". The key
is that women should be screen during pregnanyc and have an x ray done in the
third trimester so this can be determined long before delivery.  What is also
crucial is to determine how mom became positive. Is there another active case
in the house which will put the baby at risk? Do not rely on the local TB
center. If New Jersey is any indication, their budgets have been cut to the
bone and they provide little support. I could give lots of anecdotes if
anyone is interested but its not really the focus of lactnet.


If a women want's to wean during pregnancy I would give her the same advice
as anyone else weaning - slowly and gently - ONe feed down every 2-3 days.
I also explore why she is doing this to be sure that it is not based on
misinformation but some moms are so miserable when pregnant that they are no
longer enjoying the breastfeeding experience and if the child is old enough
for other liquids I see no point in making her miserable. (PS the consensus
of the people who answered me seems to be that breastfeeding while pregnanyt
did not imporve the side effects of pregnancy such as nausea...)

Hope this helps.

--
****************************************************
*  Deena Zimmerman MD MPH                          *
*  Department of Pediatrics                        *
*  UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School        *
*  1 RWJ Place                                     *
*  New Brunswick, NJ 08903                         *
*                                                  *
*      phone (908) 235-7248                        *
*      fax   (908) 235-7345                        *
*      email  [log in to unmask] (internet)        *
****************************************************