Has anyone heard this one?? I had a mom who required an IVP (dye injected
intravenously to examine the renal system) test ordered on the first day post
partum and was told by radiology not to bf for 48 hours.

Since I was on the unit that day, I called and spoke to the radiologist (a
woman, no less) and said that I was surprised to hear her give this advice to
the mom. I told her that I had never seen anything in the literature
supporting the advice. I could not find it listed in my resources either way,
however, so did not have anything solid to refute with.

The radiologist said " Oh you will not see this in the literature as people
are too fearful of litigation. But anecdotally, we are seeing babies who are
exposed the dye as infants and later experience allergy, even to the point of
anaphylaxis". She stood by her decision and advice. I said tot he radiologist
"what happened to research based practice??"

 I referred the mom to the pediatrician for his advice (since I cannot
"officially" supercede the order of the radiologist, who is MD), told him
what radiologist said, and that I was unaware of any problems with bf after
IVP. He agreed that it would be OK to nurse.

Has anyone ever heard of this?? I know there is a high incidence of allergic
reaction to IVP dye (I thought it was related to iodine, but cannot be
positive and cannot find it in any of my resources right now). If a reaction
occurs way down the road, who is to say that baby was exposed via
breastfeeding as opposed to eating shellfish or some other method? And how
much, if any, of the dye substance goes into the milk? Again, I thought it
was used b/c of how quickly it went to the renal system, thereby being
rapidly excreted, no??? (Tom Hale, are you listening??)

Any insight or similar instances appreciated.

Kathy in NJ IBCLC RN C (Maternal-infant), APN C (Family Nurse Practitioner)
 PhD student hoping to study labor and lactation issues

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