I've been providing support and info to a mom who has been dx with Lyme
Disease. I have her permission to post here. She is currently exclusively
breastfeeding a 3 month old infant and has just recently weaned her 3.5 yo
(due to the LD dx, she says). I checked the Lactnet archives and was not
able to find anything discussing Lyme Disease that was more recent than
2002. I'm wondering whether anyone has more current info available on
breastfeeding with Lyme. The mom is concerned about 1) the long term abx use
-- both on her and her baby, and 2)possible transmission of Lyme to her
nursling. Her doctor is leaning toward doxycyline for mom, b/c the doctor
believes the mom may have an Lyme Disease co-infection known only to be
susceptible to doxycycline. I've already shared with this mom that no major
health organization advises weaning because of Lyme. But this mom has read
studies that have found Lyme DNA in breastmilk and has also read anecdotal
evidence posted on Lyme message boards by moms who claim their babies have
contracted Lyme from breastmilk. Mom has, thus far, elected not to treat the
baby himself with abx. This mom prefers homeopathic/holistic/alternative
medicine and is very reluctant to give her baby abx. I'd appreciate hearing
of any recent experiences you might have in working with breastfeeding moms
with Lyme Disease so that I might better help this mom work with her doctor
to make a tx decision that mom's comfortable with.

And, in an ironic twist of fate, just today I, myself, have been tested for
Lyme Disease. My physician is pretty certain I have it and is also
recommending doxycycline. I am currently nursing a 33 month old -- about 4-6
times/day. I've read in Hale that doxycycline is an L3 for acute use and an
L4 for chronic use. I'm wondering how these numbers might change taking into
account that an older toddler is the nursling in question. Also, what is the
real difference between acute and chronic use? My physician was recommending
a 3-week course, but a lot of what I've read points toward longer courses of
at least 6 weeks and up to 6 months, so I'm considering pushing for at least
a 6-week course of abx. I will likely just opt for the amoxicillin and load
myself up on probiotics (I've been prone to thrush with this nursling), but
would prefer the doxycycline since it is more effective and also better
targets any Lyme co-infections I could have.

TIA!

Gotta love living in tick-infested southeastern PA!!!

Karen Meade, LLL Leader, nursing student and
mom to 3 breastfed children including a 33 month old nursling
suburban Philadelphia, PA, USA

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