Update: Thursday I was so congested in my chest that I was having trouble breathing. It was a lousy way to spend the holiday. My dr office was closed Friday, so I went to the CVS Minute Clinic first thing that morning. I had a hunch there wouldn't be anything they could do for me & I was right. He took a listen to my chest & told me to head on over to the hospital. Blake & Alyssa were with me, so we all went to the ER. I was hooked up to some monitors EEG/EKG? I dunno & really didn't care. I just wanted relief & be able to breathe. My chest x-ray didn't show any pneumonia, so the diagnosis was a wicked case of bronchitis. I had 2 double dose breathing treatments then 2 shots (Rocephin & Solu-Medrol). After the 2nd treatment I still didn't sound good enough for them to let me leave, so we did one more single treatment. Finally things started clearing up.
I tried to keep on a happy face!
Someone else had on a happy face too (Hint: It wasn't Blake)!
Now the bad news... The ER dr prescribed breathing treatments, 3-day Zithromax & Medrol Dosepak. The Medrol is a steroid & he advised against taking it while breastfeeding, but told me to check with the pediatrician for more information. He was adamant that the Medrol was necessary to get me well & there weren't any other options. MY BABY DOESN'T TAKE A BOTTLE!!!! Once we left the hospital I called the on-call pedi, since my pedi was still on vacation. The on-call pedi said not to breastfeed because the baby should only have a steroid if he/she is sick & needs them. Hmmmm... Aunt Katie to the rescue. She's the smartest pharmacist I know PLUS she loves her nieces & would never jeopardize their health. She suggested to try the bottle for 24 hours & if Alyssa refused, then nurse. I have to say from the last nursing session at 11am Friday until 11am Saturday WAS PURE HELL & MISERY FOR US ALL! Alyssa cried, I cried, Alyssa cried, I cried, Alyssa cried, I cried. It was a never-ending cycle. Alyssa would sleep for an hour or 2 at a time. We all tried to give her a bottle (Blake, mom-in-law), but she wasn't having any part of it. After 6 different bottles/nipples it was clear she's one stubborn little girl. I tried mixing a little oatmeal in with some milk & spoon feeding her. She was okay with that, but it took about 30 minutes to get not even an ounce in her. I also forced milk in her mouth using a medicine dropper & medicine spoon. I tried all of the tricks that I've ever read about. Different rooms, different milk temperature, distraction, walking, singing, different positions, adding a little juice. Something kept eating at me that the ER dr & on-call pedi just didn't want to take time to really research the risks of this medication to infants while breastfeeding. I read over my resources - kellymom.com, lactmed, Dr. Sears, AAP and NOTHING stated NOT TO BREASTFEED WHILE TAKING MEDROL. I found data that it was only a small amount passed through the milk to baby. If it was truly a serious health risk to Alyssa, I think that would have been clear on each website. After 24 hours of HELL & really no wet diapers I knew it was time to trust my gut & Aunt Katie - I nursed. Sweet Baby Isa was the happiest baby on our block & I was the happiest momma. I still plan to call our pedi on Monday & let her know everything that's happened. I also plan to continue trying to give Alyssa a bottle until she accepts it! I've learned my lesson the hard way about thinking I would never be in this situation where I couldn't nurse my baby.
I finally got the jumperoo out of storage last week for Alyssa & she loves it!
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