I just got a call from a mother who thinks she might have Lyme disease.  She
remembers being  bitten by something on June 16, now has a red ring (not
clear in the center, not enlarging), wants to know if she should stop
breastfeeding temporarily. Baby is three weeks old.  It's 11:00 pm, I'm at
home, and most of my references are at work. She says the pediatrician on
call for her pediatrician told her it isn't transmissible through breast
milk, but she's double checking.  Anybody out there have any experience with
maternal Lyme disease during lactation?  My advice was to see a doctor in the
morning, because she'll need a definitive diagnosis, with treatment if she is
infected, but to continue breastfeeding since the pediatrician (who's quite
competent) says it's okay.  I'm assuming the baby could be treated, too, if
the ped is wrong, so I don't want to panic and have her pump and dump. Thanks
for any info you can share.

Judy Dunlap, RNC, BA, IBCLC
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