Although there are so many pros to breastfeeding, it’s really important to weigh the pros and cons of breastfeeding against the benefit (and potential risks) of any psychiatric medications you may be on… and it isn’t necessarily an easy task.
When I had my first child, I wasn’t even sure about breastfeeding – getting up every couple of hours to feed? Being the only one who could feed him? Those didn’t sound like perks to me. But after a second child (who I was also unable to breastfeed due to psychiatric medications) the sense of loss and longing was almost overpowering.
If you are on psychiatric medications and looking to breastfeed, weighing out your options, then you are in the right place.
Determined to breastfeed even if it means pumping milk for your child? That doesn’t necessarily mean being tied down anymore… read my review of Momcozy VS Willow Wearable Pumps… and see which one I recommend (having tried both)!
Talk to Your Doctor
Firstly, it is SO important to get your doctor (or doctors) to give input on this entire situation. There are lots of questions that need to be answered, and potentially changes that need to be made (depending on your medications and situation).
But here are a few questions you could ask your provider(s):
- Is it safe for me to attempt breastfeeding on this particular medication(s)?
- Does this medication come out in breastmilk?
- If so, what are the potential impacts on my child?
- Is there a different (safer) medication I could take while breastfeeding?
- Would stopping my medication (temporarily) while breastfeeding be an option for me?
Please keep in mind that there are certainly other questions that could/should be asked, this is just to get you started.
Psychiatric Medications and Breastfeeding
Just like many other things, there are pros and cons to psychiatric medications and breastfeeding… and only you can truly lay them out (with your doctor’s help of course).
Being able to breastfeed has many health benefits for mother and baby, but you have to know the risks of your particular medication. Then it is advisable to draw a chart with pros on one side and cons on the other… but DO NOT decided based on the sheer number of one versus the other. Assign each pro and each con a number of importance, and use that number to help you decide (again, with your doctor’s help and guidance).
For me, that might look something like this:
Pros:
- Benefits for me and my baby
- No bottles to wash or carry around
- More affordable than formula
Cons:
- Requires me to lower my medication dosage or go off my medication altogether
- Without psychiatric medication, there are many risks for me and others
- Breastfeeding requires a lot of determination and effort
- I would be the only one who could feed my child, limiting my sleep (which directly impacts my mental health)
Then I would assign a weight or value of importance to each bullet point. The number of bullet points on each side is unimportant.
On a scale of 1-5, 1 being unimportant and 5 being the most important, I would rate the pros, and then do the same with the con side. Then add up the values on each side and see which one “weighs” more. I did not write my scale values on each point so that it would not impact your personal decision making journey.
Please keep in mind this is just to help you decide what is important to you for purposes of discussing your psychiatric medication options with your doctor. This is not medical advice. Please do NOT stop taking your medication or change your dosage without talking to your doctor.
How did you decide on a breastfeeding or formula journey with your child? Let me know in the comments below!
Disclaimer: I am not a doctor or a medical provider in any way shape or form, and you should always talk to your doctor before making any changes or medical decisions. This is not to be construed as medical advice.
Christian, wife, “hybrid” mama, I run the site All Behind A Smile to help others like me.
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