Hi Lactnetters,

Has anyone worked with an epileptic mother?  I was a doula for a 25 yr. old
primip who continued to take two anti-seizure drugs and the sedative tranxene
during her pregnancy on the advice of her drs.  She had a great pregnancy and
normal (w. a small amount of pit and an epidural) but long, labor and
delivery.  Her daughter (8lbs.9oz.) was latching on well and beginning to
breastfeed comparatively easily when at a day and a half postpartum the mom
was told she must cease breastfeeding immediately because the sedative,
tranxene, she was on, was contraindicated for breastfeeding.  (We won't go
into why she wasn't told this earlier, despite repeated questioning and
telling her drs. she intended to breastfeed.)  After pumping & dumping for 8
days she resumed breastfeeding, again, without much trouble!  At 3 wks.
postpartum the mom had two grand mal seizures during the night and had to be
taken to the emergency room.  She was immediately put back on the tranxene
and her other meds were increased because, even though she hadn't changed the
dosages and they were ok during pregnancy, they were now very very low.
Now she is in the process of permanently weaning her baby because she is
totally freaked out and exhausted and scared.  My questions are many:  have
any of you worked with an epileptic mom who successfully breastfed?  What
meds was she on? Why would the levels of her meds be normal during pregnancy,
and lower postpartum?  Does anyone know of a substitute for tranxene?  Her
drs. now tell her they don't want to begin fooling with other meds when they
know what works for her.  She doesn't want to have the emotional and physical
turmoil of going back and forth between breast and abm w. pumping/dumping,
etc.  She also feels she needs to sleep more and not have the stress that her
particular breastfeeding experience brought. Any advice will be warmly
welcomed.  TIA, Janaki Costello, IBCLC, C.D. CCE. LLLL