I am behind in reading messages.  Kathleen Bruce responded to my note about
my taking Seldane to help relieve itching when I had poison ivy.  She's
right: Erythromycin and Seldane (and Hisminal) can interact to cause lethal
cardiac arrythmias.--and all medications should be taken cautiously and under
the supervision of a medical provider.

I guess the general point I was attempting to make was that--a woman doesn't
have to suffer through every illness that she gets, relying only on her
endurance and patience to make it through--just because she is breastfeeding.
 The majority of medications are compatible with breastfeeding.

I'm constantly amazed at how easy **it seems** providers give medications to
pregnant women when that baby has direct IV access.  Usually these meds are
necessary--but providers seem to approach this situation with so much more
ease than when prescribing for bfing women.
I've seen numerous women told they shouldn't take an antibiotic, or a common
pain pill, or a basic asthma medication and continue to breastfeed.  When in
fact that baby could  safely be given that actual medication if it needed it.
 How many OB/Gyn dr.'s (not the zealots on Lactnet) will readily admit that
narcotics during labor can have a significant effect on the newborns'
behavior--but then will turn around and tell the post-partum C-sec mother
that the pain pills may get through her breastmilk and effect her baby.

It's just that sometimes I think we have the emphasis on caution a little bit
backwards.

Sorry to create another soap box when we already have plenty!!

Kim Connor PA-C, CLE