Breast Feeding with MS

[MSMomOf3]

Hi everyone. I am new to all of this. I was just recently diagnosed with MS a few days ago. I am in a lot of pain. I get what I call "episodes" throughout the day. It is when my entire body from the neck down becomes inflamed with pain. Kind of like the feeling you get when your foot falls asleep but a hundred times worst and all over my body. My neurologist says it is called "Acute MS Pain". I also had a new baby nearly three months ago. I have been dealing with this pain every since and am getting so tired, so very very tired of the pain. It is wearing me down. I am trying to decide now if I should stop nursing my baby and begin taking medication or wait for another three months to begin medicating? What do you all think? Live with the pain for three more months to benefit my baby or begin medicating and stop breastfeeding altogether?

[Lulu54]

Let me add my welcome to the bunch and congratulations on the new baby.  Those little bundles of joy are great with MS while they are incubating but when born, the body often goes into the mother of all relapses.   It sounds like something similar has happpened to you.

As I read you question i thought about what type of quality care you might be able to give to your baby when you feel this bad. please have this chat wit your  medical team and do what's best for everyone.

[PeninaD]

While "breast is best" is not wrong, the stress of pain is no good for quality milk production, nor for your ability to be the best mum you can be.  The months that you have nursed your little one have already helped build some immunity, as well as bonding, but it is time to care for yourself.

Start your medications. Bottles can still give bonding time, both for you, as well as now allowing dad and others to become more involved, which can give you necessary rest time.  

[supermum_ms]

HI and welcome to our little MS community,

It's probably well known around the world, that mother's milk is the best nutrition for a newborn, as well as for bonding and the emotional health of both mother and child. Breast feeding for at least the first 3months is highly recommended but for various reasons breastfeeding isn't always possible, medical would probably top the list of why breastfeeding stops or never began.

I honestly believe there is a lot more to breastfeeding than the nutritional benefits, i basically can't ignore the mother in this equation and if you are in a lot of pain and avoiding treatment because of what's in your babies best interest, I think you might be overlooking one of the best things for a child is their mother's well being!

You've managed to give your baby the best start but now i think it might be time for you to do what's in your best interest, and that too will benefit the baby  and the rest of your family, not only in the short but in the journey ahead......

Hugs..........JJ