Breastfeeding while on Remicade - New to the forums

Hi everyone,

I've been reading this forum for years, but just decided to actually register today. So this is my first post.

I know this question has been asked before, but I don't see anything too recent. I wanted to know if there are any women out there that have breastfed while on Remicade? I am getting opposing opinions by everyone I ask. My daughter's pediatrician says no, while my OBGYN said it is ok. My gastro also said it should be fine. However, the nurses at my Remicade clinic told me "NO WAY".....

I had Remicade infusions while pregnant, and stopped 2 months before my due date. After I gave birth, I was so happy, I thought I had gone into a complete remission, only for my symptoms to now come back with a venegance. I'm not sure what to do. I have been breastfeeding for almost 4 months , but am weary to go back on Remicade now.

Any experiences would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks :)

ucinmtl,

Welcome to the forum.

The only drug from what I've read that is safe to take while breastfeeding is: LDN, low dose naltrexone.

Do some research on LDN - low dose naltrexone, you can search this forum as they are several threads on this. I can tell you it works! Here's the Penn State research done by Dr. Jill Smith with LDN and Crohns Patients.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21380937

https://www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=38&m=2204683#m2222188, https://www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=38&m=2129791&p=1

According to Tom Hale, the expert on medication and mother's milk, there is virtually no transmission of remicade into breast milk, so no worries. If you need to convince your DRs of this, I suggest you contact your local La Leche League, they will undoubtedly have a copy of Hale's book, Medication in Mother's Milk. See page 498 in the 2006 edition.

For future readers (not the OP): Further reading at the infantrisk.com website indicates that you should not breastfeed for the first four days after the baby is born if your remicade transfusion was right before birth (within 1 or 2 weeks).

Yes, Dr Hale is the one who will know. Really he is the leading bfing and meds expert. On his website you can post a question or you an call and speak directly with a nurse. The nurse who fields the questions has direct contact with Dr Hale (I think her name is Karen???? I was in contact with her about 6 months ago re. bfing my son on certain meds). If he says it is ok I would not worry too much about what others say.

I nursed both my little ones - one for 16 months and one who is still nursing - on various meds. Both of them are healthy, happy guys. For me it was worth the concern and energy to do so. I dont agree with InSoFla that the only med that can be safe is LDN.

jo