< This woman is pregnant with her second child.  She was told when pregnant
with her first that she could not breastfeed because of severe eczema on her
breasts.  She is using a cortizone creme on her breasts that the doctor said
would not be safe for the baby.   >

Carrie, she certainly can breastfeed. She does need to be careful to minimize the
baby's intake of cortisone - apply very sparingly after feeds. A strong steroid like
Diprosone only needs to be used 2 or 3 times a day. Ointment is usually better than
cream. See a  case report I wrote for the Journal of Human Lactation 1993; 9 (3): 173-75.
Lisa Amir
GP / IBCLC in Melbourne, Australia