Home Forums Induced Lactation aka Adoptive Breastfeeding Medical Interventions to Induce Lactation/Increase Milk Supply Blood clots!!!!! :-(

Last night I went to the ER for pain behind my knees (I had recently had knee surgery, though on the front side!) I ended up having blood clots... I now cannot take the birth control pills that are a part of the accelerated protocol I was on. I have to be on blood thinner for quite some time now and it is now looking like I will not be able to breastfeed my adopted baby due to the blood thinners I will be on. I am REALLY sad about this... Looking for some support. This is a HUGE loss to me...

I'd be interested to know what blood thinner you are going to be on because usually they have you on Coumadin and that is okay to breastfeed while taking. Usually blood thinners are large particles that aren't passed through the milk. I am on Plavix, another blood thinner and it is fine to breastfeed on it. Email Lenore and check with her before you give up hope of breastfeeding.

As far as the protocol goes, bcp's are out after you have had a clot but you can still take dom, goat's rue and herbs. That is the protocol I used along with pumping from the beginning and although I have to supplement, my daughter(10 weeks) and I have a wonderful nursing relationship. I wouldn't trade this experience for anything!!

I totally agree with Michelle. Don't give up. Just change direction. Email Lenore and I am sure you can find a safe thinner to be on. Use a supplementer if you have to the bonding from breastfeeding is so worth it even if you don't produce a lot of milk.

Hello. I am so sorry you're going through this. I have been diagnosed with a blood clot a year and a half ago and I know how that time could be hard.

I have to disagree with Michele about the coumadin. It is excreted in breast milk in large amounts. If you are on low molecular heparin it would be OK to breast feed since it is only excreted in negligible amounts. That is what my vascular surgeon told me.

I'm sure this dilemma would go away soon, it's probably because of your knee surgery and the fact that you might have been unable to move for quite a while after having that surgery.

Good luck, and I am so sorry again. please feel free to send me a message if you need to talk about it.

Edited to say, I am only on Domperidone and fenugreek and I am having milk already. So you can do it without the BCP's. Don't feel totally frustrated. It can be done without the hormones.

Coumadin, also known as warfarin, is on the list of approved drugs for breastfeeding by the American Academy of Pediatrics. http://aappolicy.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/pediatrics;108/3/776/T6

I researched this very thoroughly when I was facing an issue with my blood thinners. Be careful about relying on information that is given to you by people who are not experts in breastfeeding (pediatricians, LC, etc) They are often misinformed.

But be sure and check with Lenore for more information about your specific drug. She was extremely helpful and prompt.

I appreciate all the info - I will check into it more. A different DR today told me the same thing - that I shouldn't breastfeed. That makes 2 out of 2... Seeing a hemotologist in 2 weeks...

I had a pharmacist tell me something was safe to take while breastfeeding and it actually wasn't. I emailed Lenore and she gave me the straight up info. I suggest you do the same thing.
As for the blood thinner I had a friend who had to be on lovenox while pregnant and was able to breastfeed. I can't remember if they changed her script or not but I know she was on thinners for 4 months after birth.

Doctors frequently don't know what is safe to use while breastfeeding. Especially specialists that don't frequently work with bfing moms. They go by what the drug companies say and they usually say no to protect themselves. Dr. Thomas Hale wrote a book about medications and mother's milk. You can look the drugs up in there or better yet, have a Lactation Consultant look them up for you. I am sure Lenore could help as well.
I don't have blood clots, but I was hospitalized for a ruptured appendix. The infectious disease guy totally scared me because of one drug I was taking. When I talked to my Primary doctor she said it was probably safe and when I called my LC, she said it was totally safe.
Hope that helps. Good luck.
Jennifer

GonnaBAmomma which blood thinner are they putting you on? I have a source I can look up the info.

I am on Lovenox and Warfrin (which I will be on for at least 6 months and could be the rest of my life).

Off to write Lenore too! Thanks!