This Is MS Multiple Sclerosis Community: Knowledge & Support

link with vitamin D again?

<shortened url>

From what I've read, a lot of neurologists used to recommend women not breastfeed so they could immediately go back on the DMTs to prevent postpartum relapses. Now there are quite a few studies out saying that breastfeeding itself actually helps reduce the risk of postpartum relapses. My neurologist told me this as well and asked if I was going to breastfeed. I said yes and he was happy we were on the same page and said there's no need to discuss meds yet then. Ironically enough, my initial MS symptoms were tracked back to the exact month that I quit breastfeeding my daughter. I don't know if that had anything to do with it, but it could have kept things at bay.

Hi there. It's great to hear that your doctor supported breastfeeding. Definitely breastfeeding helped me with MS symptoms. I also became much worse when I stopped.

But moms with MS don't have to choose between breastfeeding and MS meds. Copaxone, for example, is considered generally safe by breastfeeding experts. I wouldn't expect neurologists to know this since they're experts in adults and neurology, not in baby nutrition.

For the best advice on medication and breastfeeding, a great source is a lactation consultant or a breastfeeding pharmacologist. Here are a few quick links to check out breastfeeding and medications.

Great overview from Dr. Jack Newman:

<shortened url>

This article is from the American Academy of Pediatrics and gives charts of accepted meds for a breastfeeding mom (includes interferon, baclofen, gadolinium, for example):

http://aappolicy.aappublications.org/cg ... 8/3/776#T6

An overview of how meds get into the milk/baby (this site is great overall):

http://neonatal.ama.ttuhsc.edu/lact/drugentrypage.html